Transitioning to Male (Naturally), and the Adventures Along the Way.

Well done! If you're reading this, it's because you've come to terms with the fact that you're transgender (whether it be FtM, genderqueer, fluid, etc) and you're ready to take the next step! Either that, or you're an awesome, open-minded person that just wants to know what it's like for someone to transition from female to male.

Anyway, waiting for hormones can be really tedious, or maybe you don't fancy taking hormones for whatever reason, so here are some tips to carry you through in the meantime.

Tip #1: Do not think that you have to fit into the stereotypical male role. When I first started my transition, I thought I would have to be ultra macho in order to make sure that people took me seriously. If you're camp, then continue being camp; if you love shopping, then continue! Do not change your personality to conform to the expectations of others! However, you could maybe dial the "campness" down a bit in a public setting, though, to avoid drawing unwanted attention!

Tip #2: Clothes. I'm sure you probably already have an androgynous/male wardrobe, so don't worry too much about going out and buying loads of suits and ties to look ultra macho. Obviously, though, if you have a feminine wardrobe, then try to modify it a bit to be more masculine. Look at what other men are wearing on the High Street. My personal favorite outfit includes formal shoes, formal trousers, a shirt and a cardigan/sweater. The cardigan is there to dial down how formal it is.

Tip #3: Haircut. Your haircut will be the most important thing that you do when you start transitioning. Before you're on testosterone, it will be extremely hard to pass as male with a feminine haircut. If you have a feminine face, having the Justin Bieber type of haircut can help. That type of haircut is also androgynous, so if you're not "out", it will help you avoid all of the questions. When I cut my hair off, I wanted to look androgynous. However, because I have a really masculine face already, it was impossible for me to go out dressed in any female clothes because people genuinely thought I was a cross-dressing male!

Tip #4: Binding. When someone is unsure of your gender, they will look you up and down to try and spot any lumps and bumps that would help them know. If you have a male appearing chest, they will assume you're male! It's only logical, really. If you have a small chest, you may be able to get away with just wearing a couple of t-shirts, or heavy layers... Sweet! If you're heavy chested though, I have a few recommendations. You could buy a binder online, or use waist belts. You could use the Bridget Jones "sucky-inny" pants, or what I had for my first binder -- a wetsuit vest.

Buying a binder online can be very tricky and rubbish if you're hard for cash, but it will always be the best option out there. Sometimes there are projects out there designed to help transguys getting a secondhand binder, so it's always worth researching to see if there's anything suitable in your area. As for waist belts... Before I had my wetsuit vest (which I'll come to), I used chunky waist belts. These worked great when they were glued together, but the metal from the buckle stuck in my back. The material also chaffed a lot! However, it's still better than not binding at all. The Bridget Jones "sucky inny" knickers can be used by cutting the crotch hole out, and then wearing them with the waist bit below the belt and pulling the rest over the chest. This is a cheap method, but it's not the most effective. Finally, we come to my trusty wetsuit vest! I actually got this from an organization for transguys (as said before), and it was fantastic -- sweltering heat aside. It made me look like I had amazing pecs, but I had to get rid of it because it zipped up the front all the way up to my chin. It really limited the clothes I could wear because of this; I was confined to wearing shirts with ties and high neck jumpers.

Tip 5#: Packing - Obviously, Eden does amazing packers, so you don't have to worry about getting a hold of one. These are great for personal comfort, although the bulge in the pants does look good, too. You do need to be be aware of sizing, though, sometimes packers can have the erection look to them! Also, check out STP (stand to pee) devices if needed. The best STP device that I've used is the Fenis, but I've yet to use it in public!

These are the main bulk of my tips. There are other things that one can do, such as not plucking your eyebrows, putting on a deep voice, creating fake facial hair, increasing height, etc, but I have not had any experience in these fields, so I don't know the methods. And yes, I do still pluck my eyebrows, but that's because I like looking like a gay male.

Most of all, though, be confident! Walk with a strut and don't be afraid of what people think. If someone asks you what your gender is, be polite and say male. I usually say male and then whisper "I'm transgender". I know that some people may not want to disclose that, but I prefer people knowing instead of feeling awkward and negative towards me.

Best of luck with your journey! Remember: never conform, don't change who you are, and stay awesome!