#I love you gender queer community

[mayonesamitch]

An imperfect guide to a transgender haircut! (For the boys, or anyone who wants a masculine haircut)

So, if you're reading this, you probably want a haircut. Whether you're trans, non-binary, or cis, this is a guide for getting the perfect masculine haircut. I made this specifically for my trans/non-binary folks, but if you're a woman or even a cis man, you can use this guide too!

I'd also like to note that you don't need short hair to be anything, you can express yourself the way you want! As long as you're happy.

Step 1: Why You Want Your Haircut

You first need to figure out why you need your haircut. If you're trans, you probably want it to pass more or to help with dysphoria. If so, you probably want to look for something that a cis man would have. If you look at men's hair closely, you can tell one common pattern, short on the sides, long on the top. Having these kinds of haircuts will definitely get you to pass more and get those gender euphoria points.

Now, let's say, you want something more androgynous. Like, a woman or man can have it, then you're probably looking for something like a short shag or an e-boy cut. These are typically longer but rarely go below the face. If you have more waving and voluminous hair, then these are perfect for you. Of course, if you want that androgynous look.

Step 2: Working with what you have

There are a lot of hair types in the world. There are also a lot of head shapes. So, try to pick a haircut that will do good things to your looks. You don't want a bad haircut. That will ruin your social life for a few months. Instead, think about what features you want to accentuate. For example, if you have a round head, maybe aim for a high fade so your head looks longer and sharper. If you have curly hair, try looking for something that will work with the curls.

You also want to note if you have any scalp or skin conditions. For example, if you have eczema, specifically on the scalp, then you're more prone to dandruff. Some people also just have a lot of dandruff, even if the wash their hair regularly. So if you are prone to that or anything similar then try to choose something shorter. It'll be a bit easier that way to deal with the dandruff that way. Also, if you really want to, you can get a buzz cut as well. I know that's the most optimal hair cut for stuff like that, but I don't know how willing most people will be able to do it. So, generally speaking, a shorter haircut will work better. (I'm not someone with excessive dandruff, so I'm not an expert when it comes to this information. I'm using information I researched.)

Step 3: Choosing how to do it.

So, you chose your haircut. Now, how are you gonna do it? Well, you have a few options. One, you can do it yourself. If you do it yourself, then you are taking a risk. Assuming you're not a professional, it could end up looking bad if you do it wrong. However, if you're scared of going to a barber or your parents don't allow you to go to barbers, then doing it yourself is optimal. If your parent/guardian is a barber then they can do it for you. Just show or tell them what you want and they'll hopefully do it for you. Both of these options are free (hopefully) and also allow you to avoid talking to other people you don't know.

Okay, so let's just say you want to go to a barber. Then you might just go to your regular old barber. However, I generally recommend going to a barber shop made specifically since that's where they're most experienced at. Also getting a male barber will get you someone who's more experienced with men cuts, so if you don't know what to get, you can ask them what you should get. If you get a female barber though, it should be about the same. Male barbers just know more about male hair. However, I'm sure a female barber will be able to help you the same. This option will have you talk to people you may or may not know, so keep that in mind. Also, it costs money. So, hopefully you can pay for that.

Step 4: Asking for the haircut

So, you have everything planned out. Now, it's just asking for it. If you're an adult, then you don't need to ask anyone. So this part is made for people who are still living under their parents roof, using their money for everything. If you're cutting it by yourself, then you don't really need to ask. I know some parents are chill about it. However, many are strict on a lot of things. So, if you're not a risky person, you might want to ask them first. Same if your parent is a barber.

If you're going to a barber shop, then it'll take a bit more to ask. First, you need permission, since your parent/guardian is paying for it. Then, you would have to choose the barber shop and basically everything I said in step 3. So, again, more talking involved, but it'll be worth it.

If they ask you why you want to go so short and masculine all of the sudden, you can either come out to them (if you're not cis), tell them why you want it (Assuming you don't want it for the gender aspect of it) or give them an excuse. (Again, if you're doing it for the gender aspect) I know many people don't live in supportive households, so saying an excuse might do. Something like, "My hair gets in the way." Or, "It's easier to manage." Will do. Prioritize your safety. If your parents are already suspecting that you're not cisgender and are not supportive of trans people and an excuse doesn't work, just don't do it. It'll be very hard to convince them. So, prioritize your safety. Don't risk it. It'll be very difficult, but just wait.

Common haircut terms you might be looking for

So, that's all the steps to getting a masculine haircut. So these are some terms that you might be looking for.

Low/Mid/High taper fade

Textured Fringe

Crew Cut

Short Shag

Wolfcut

Mullet

Quiff

Okay, so that's all! If you have any questions feel free to ask me. Again, even though I made this specifically for the trans men, anyone who's nonbinary, a woman, or a cis man can use this guide.

Also, this is the haircut I have. It's a mid-taper fade, open bang, thing. Don't know the exact name but I pass really well in it.

Okay, well that's all for now. Hopefully this helps!

[lapdogchase]

gender microlabels are really cool to me bc a lot of the time they're like, metaphors almost, for how someone experiences their gender. like constellunyx, which is a gender connected to the moon, stars, & the connection between the moon & stars. or mechuatic, which is a gender related to mechanical sharks or fish. or lunaboy and solgirl, which are a gender related to the moon + femininity while being a boy, & the sun + masculinity while being a girl, respectively. or genderfunky, which is when ur gender is funky and goofy, and has a really fun flag. like i genuinely think it's so cool!! i love it & i wish microlabels weren't so looked down on both within and outside of the queer community bc it rules!!!

[blondebrainpowered]

GIF by Into Action

[hauntingofhouses]

i know I've mentioned my interpretation of mizu's gender a million times on here but i don't think i ever fully elaborated on it.

so on that note i just wanna ramble about that for a bit. basically, it's my reading of the show that mizu is nonbinary, so let me dig into that.

putting the rest under the cut because it ended up being pretty long lol. also here have a cute mizu pic of her being happy and most at ease with herself, symbolised by her letting her hair down. <3 ok let's proceed.

thus, when i refer to mizu as nonbinary, i am interpreting mizu as a woman, but not ONLY a woman. not strictly a woman. she is also a man. she is also neither of these things, she is something in between, while at the same time she is none of these at all. i've said as much many times, but i just don't want people to think that when i say nonbinary, it inherently means a "third androgynous gender" that essentially turns the gender binary into a gender trinary. not only is that going against what the term nonbinary was crafted for (to go against rigid boxes and categorisation of gender identities), but also, not all nonbinary people fall under that category or definition, and that's definitely not the way i interpret mizu.

okay before i go deeper i'd just like to address some important things. first of all, this post is an analysis of canon, and thus everything i am arguing for is about my own interpretation of the show, and not some baseless projected headcanon i am projecting onto the character. please remember there is a difference between an interpretation (subjective; interpretations will differ from viewer to viewer, but ultimately it is firmly rooted in evidence taken from the source material) VS a headcanon (unrelated and often even contrary to what is presented in canon; opinions wildly differ and they cannot be argued for because there is no canonical evidence to back it up).

ALSO please note that nonbinary is an umbrella term. this means that it applies to a vast range of gender identities. other identities that fall under the nonbinary umbrella include agender, bigender, genderfluid, and so on. however, it's my personal preference to use the term nonbinary as it is, simply because i'm not a fan of microlabels (more power to you if you do like them and find they suit you more though!).

also, before anyone fights me on this, let me clarify further that gender means something different to everyone. it's not your biological sex or physical characteristics. but at the same time, gender is not mere presentation. you can be a trans woman and still present masculine—either because you're closeted and forced to, or because you just want to—and either way, that doesn't take away from your identity as a woman. same goes for trans men. if you're a trans man but you wear skirts and don't bind or don't get top surgery, that doesn't make you any less of a man. because gender non-conformity exists, and does not only apply to cis people! some lesbians are nonbinary and prefer using he/him pronouns while dressing masculinely, but that doesn't mean they're a man, or that they're any less of a lesbian. neither does this mean that they're a cis woman.

the thing about queer identities in general is that, like i said, they mean something different to everyone, because how you identify—regardless of your biological attributes and fashion or pronouns—is an extremely personal experience. so a nonbinary person and a gnc cis woman's experiences might have plenty of overlap, but what distinguishes between the two is up to the individual. there's no set requirements to distinguish you as one or the other, but it's up to you to decide what you identify as, based on what you feel. either way, by simply identifying yourself as anything under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, you are already communicating to the world that you are not what a conservative, cisheteronormative society wants you to be.

which is why i find all this queer infighting on labels to be so ridiculous. because we're all fighting the same fight; the common enemy is a societal structure that divides us into set roles and expectations purely based on our biological parts. that's why biological essentialism in the queer community is a fucking disease. because by arguing that women are inherently weak and fragile and soft and gentle and must be protected from evil ugly men, while men are inherently strong and angry and violent and exploitative of women, these people are advocating for the same fucked up system that marginalises and abuses women as well as effeminate and/or gay men.

anyway. i'm going on a tangent. this was meant to be a blue eye samurai post. so yeah back to that— the point i'm trying to make is that there's no singular way to identify as anything, as everyone's views on gender, especially their own, is specific and personal to the individual.

so with that being said, yes you can definitely interpret mizu as a gnc cis woman and that's a totally valid reading of the text. however, interpreting her as nonbinary or transmasc also doesn't take away from her experiences with misogyny and female oppression, because nonbinary and transmasc folks also experience these things.

me, personally, i view her as nonbinary but not necessarily or not always transmasc because i still believe femininity and womanhood is a very inherent part of who mizu is. for example, from what we've seen, she does not like binding. it does not give her gender euphoria, but is instead very uncomfortable for her both physically and mentally, and represents her suppressing her true self. which is why when she "invites the whole" of herself, she stands completely bare in front of the fire, breasts unbound and hair untied. when she is on the ship heading to a new land in the ending scene, she is no longer hiding her neck and the lack of an adam's apple. we can thus infer that mizu does not have body dysmorphia. she is, in fact, comfortable in her body, and relies on it extremely, because her body is a weapon. instead, what mizu hates about herself is her face—her blue eyes. she hates herself for her hybridised racial identity, hates herself for being a racial Other. hates that she has no home in her homeland. thus it is important to note that these are not queer or feminist themes, but postcolonial ones.*

* and as a tiny aside on this subject, i really do wish more of the fandom discussion would talk about this more. it's just such an essential part to reading her character. like someone who's read homi k bhabha's location of culture and has watched this show, PLEASE talk to me so we can ramble all about how the show is all about home and alienation from community. please. okay anyway—

nevertheless, queer and feminist themes (which are not mutually exclusive by the way!) are still prevalent in her story, though they are not the main issue that she is struggling with. but she does struggle with it to some extent, and we see this especially during her marriage with mikio, where we see her struggle in women's domestic spaces.

on the other hand, though, she finds no trouble or discomfort in being a man or being around other men—even naked ones—and does not seem stifled by living as one, does not seem all that bothered or uncomfortable navigating through men's spaces. contrast this to something like disney's mulan (1998), where we do see mulan struggle in navigating through men's spaces, as she feels uncomfortable being around so many men, always feeling like she doesn't belong and that she's inherently different from them. mizu has no such experiences like this, as her very personality and approach to life is what can be categorised as typically "masculine". she is straightforward and blunt. her first meeting with mikio, she tells him straight to his face that he's old while frowning and raising a brow at him. she approaches problems with her muscles and fists (or swords), rather than with her words or mind. compare this with mulan, who, while well-trained by the end of the movie, still uses her sharp wits rather than brute strength. this is a typically "feminine" approach. it's also the approach akemi relies on throughout the show—through her intelligence and persuasive tongue, she navigates the brothel with ease. mizu, in contrast to someone like mulan and akemi, struggles with womanhood and femininity, and feels detached from it.

thus, in my opinion, mizu is not simply a man, nor is she simply a woman. she is both. man and woman. masculine and feminine. she has to accept both, rather than suppress one or the other. her name means water. fluid.

as a side note, while i do believe mizu is nonbinary, i also primarily use she/her pronouns for her, but this is a personal preference. i find it's easier to use in fanfic (singular they is confusing to write stories with, but again, that's just my feelings on it, and this is coming from someone who uses they/they pronouns). i also lean towards she/her because it's what the creators and all the official promotional copywriting of the show uses. and even though i am a "death to the author" enjoyer, i feel that when interpreting things that are left open-ended, it does help to look at the creators' take on things. also because, in general, being nonbinary simply doesn't necessitate the use of they/them pronouns. nonbinary is not just a third gender. it's about breaking the binary, in any which way, and that's exactly what mizu does, constantly.

also, i'd also like to mention that one of show's head of story even referred to her with the term "nonbinary", rather than simply "androgynous" (see pic below). and it's possible this could be a slip up on his part, in which he believes the terms are interchangeable (they're not btw), but regardless i find it a very interesting word choice, and one that supports my argument.

so anyway yeah that's my incredibly long rambling post.

TL;DR nonbinary mizu rights 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 congrats if you reached the end of this btw. also ily. unless you're a TERF in which case fuck off. ok i'm done.

[noh07]

fuck gender dysphoria ^^

hey tumblr, i've heard that gender dysphoria was being particularly mean to someone today. wanna all go on a hunting-dysphoria-down date together and punch the shit out of her? ^^

who's coming with us?

i love you guys, and I want all of you to feel loved and supported

[clawsextended]

in my perfect world everyone makes so many lesbian muses the men then have to deal with the exact same behavior when every single post ever written isn’t about dick.

[bli-o]

heres your reminder that you dont have to shave to be femme and actually feminine ppl w more body hair are so fucking pretty

[priestblaster]

is anyone else been getting force fed a disturbing amount of casual biphobia lately????? i really do try to go out my way to avoid it but it's been everywhere and about everything???? sometimes i think bisexuals should be meaner

[mayonesamitch]

New video

It's different from my usual videos I post but I felt like making it and I haven't seen many people make videos like this one. If any transgender, transfem, or transmasc people watch it then please tell me if I did okay explaining everything. Hopefully I don't get cancelled.

You can watch the video here.

Also Ness (@mizuruifan9 on Tumblr) helped me a lot in this video. He's a cool fella. His Tumblr is here.

[torahtot]

ok ive had enough of queering judaism. can we start judaizing queerness now. or something

[shoechoe]

can't help but notice a lot of tumblr users will dunk on taylor swift while listening to 0 women musicians whatsoever

[fishpeanits]

what makes humans so beautiful is our diversity. we are intelligent creatures that cannot expect ourselves to fit into narrow labels of what we are “supposed to be”.

explore your identity. educate yourself on how anti-queerness is rooted in racism and colonialism (specifically the erasure of nonwhite cultures and how it led to modern day issues). if you can find community, don’t be scared to connect to it. try new things. expand your horizons. see the empathy and compassion in the world.

open your heart. there is love in your soul and kindness in your veins. there is still enough time for you. i love you and all that you are. happy pride month. i’m glad you’re alive and here to read this.

and if you feel like queer people are in anyway unnatural or wrong: reflect on what environmental and social factors led you to hold your current morals. do you have your own thoughts on these matters, or do you echo the voices of people who have thought for you?

[silly-rainbow-worm]

it's crazy to one day wake up and finally you feel queer joy 😭

coming out as gender fluid and going through the journey of exploring myself and my identity and what feels good for me and even exploring my sexuality and where I stand on that with being gender fluid and just having the most amazing partner/boyfriend ever who supports me and shows me unconditional love, it really shows me that even when it's hard there is joy 🥺

queer joy for me is feeling so happy to the point that I cry tears of happiness when listening to Chappell Roan and dancing around our (me and my partners) bedroom with my pride flag.

I have never been able to express myself in this way and I have never been happier with who I am and who I'm becoming 💕💕

[alltheoutcasts]

Happy pride to the closeted

Happy pride to the people who physically can’t come out for their safety

Happy pride to the people who have no idea who they are

Happy pride to the people who know who they are

Happy pride to the people who have partners to celebrate their love with

Happy pride to the hopeless romantics

Happy pride to all the single pringles

Happy pride to the people who are scared to tell that special someone they’re in love

Happy pride to all the ally’s

Happy pride to all the queer elders

Happy pride to the people who just figured out they’re queer

Happy pride to those who can’t go to a parade

Happy pride to those who can go to a parade

Happy pride to the people with supportive friends

Happy pride to the people with non-supportive friends (get new friends, honey you deserve better)

Happy pride to the people in love with their straight best friends

Happy pride to the people with little to no romantic/sexual attraction

Happy pride to the people with hyper religious family’s

Happy pride to the people with super accepting family’s

Happy pride to anyone I missed.

Happy pride to everyone

[rebellum]

Gently sitting down white trans people and explaining to them that no matter their gender most white trans people can and do use the "white woman's tears" tactic

[averlym]

which is gayer? SIX or Adamandi (real)

adamandi