Making long hair look more masculine/androgynous...on a girl.

[Wanderer09]

Is this even possible?

I've mentioned this problem of mine in my last progress thread, but now I'm going to specifically ask for advice about it. I'm physically female but don't completely identify as such, and lately I've been longing for my appearance to match my inner self more closely.

I love my long wild hair. It's a part of me. While I find nothing inherently feminine about it, the rest of society does, and that upsets me somewhat because it isn't who I am.

I go back and forth on cutting it. Some days I want to shave it all off. Others, I couldn't bear to part with it. I know that if I cut, I'm going to be so annoyed with the maintenance, the styling...and I'm finally at the point where I've grown all my layers out, and I'm so happy having one-length hair.

While I endlessly ponder whether or not to cut, do you have any ideas for masculine or neutral styles, or anything else I could do with my hair?

[rowie]

You could try looking at hairstyles for men with long hair on google. Perhaps even movies like "Lord of the Rings." I'm a guy growing my hair, and my hair is not even long enough but I still get those "You look like a girl" from behind comments! So I know how you feel.

[Kyla]

If you do decide to cut your hair, I think a buzzcut can be a pretty androgynous style. If you decide to keep it long though, a simple ponytail or topknot seems pretty masculine to me. :)

[lillylonghair]

If you love you hair,don't cut it. Who cares what society thinks? I have a lot of arm tattoos and ''people'' seem to think this somehow means I'm trashy or assume I drink or do drugs. But I like them so I don't care.

[Mountaingrrl]

Congrats on growing out your layers! A ponytail, English braid or knotted bun are what I think of as masculine/neutral long hair styles. Choice of hair toys can make a difference, too. Bandanas, buffs and hats can do a lot to indicate your gender style.

[Night_Kitten]

I think I saw a similar thread where a guy asks for advice on styles that are considered more masculine a while back, but I can't remember when exactly...
Maybe some of the suggestions he got can help?

[jujube]

Low ponies.

[getoffmyskittle]

All one length and no bangs is the best I can come up with, since I've never seen a guy with layers and/or a fringe (on long hair, anyway).

[Pantha]

I would have thought that it is the whole dress style that suggests masculinity or femininity not just hair length. I am female but do not have the most femanine of jobs, working mostly on building sites in combat trousers and full PPE, mostly wearing mens jeans and plain T-shirts when outside of work. Despite my mid thigh length hair which I mostly wear in a cinnamon bun or nautilus bun, and long finger nails, most people who know me would agree I am not a feminie female.

At the same time, I say wear your hair however you want to, who cares what anyone else thinks.

[Raponsje]

I think a low pony box-braid is masculine.

[slz]

do you have any ideas for masculine or neutral styles, or anything else I could do with my hair?
Low ponytail, low english braid, low bun - anything that sits on the nape. Avoid coloured accessories : a plain wooden stick for buns, black or hair-coloured ties for ponytails or braids. Oh and buns should be contained and not "puffy". Braid can be tight or loose, as long as it's not too 'fluffy". Same for ponytails --> banded ponytails are best.

[racrane]

Everyone else suggested good styles, I'll just say it doesn't matter in the end what others think, even if it's frustrating at the time. It's what YOU like or dislike about something.

[Tabitha]

banded ponytails are best.
This is a style which Beatnik Guy wears very effectively.

[Xandergrammy]

I agree with the others who say that you should wear your hair the way you like it and that makes you feel the most "yourself". There are so many great heads of hair here that happen to belong to men. Take a peek... trolleypup, dave decker, DavidN, beatnik guy are some of the names that pop into my head but there are lots more.

[emelnd]

Brave heart style Dutch braids on two sides is pretty masculine. Those black long hair ropes on the braids maybe.

[Toadstool]

All one length, parted on the side?

[emelnd]

http://www.councilofelrond.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Crafts&file=index&req=viewarticle&cartid=13&page=2

Legolas's hair here is pretty masculine. Especially the second one with the lace braid.

[emelnd]

Also, men with beautiful long hair also struggle with society, even though usually it looks nothing feminine. I also say go with what you think looks good and don't just cut your hair because of society. After all, you are out of the ordinary and not conforming to society anyway!

[Jimothea]

I don't know if you're keen at all on messing with it on a regular basis, but I would think that if you were, that would be a great way to play up the androgynous/masculine look. To me masculine looks are, oh, you know, broader about the shoulders, squarer around the head and jaw, that type of thing. So maybe styles that don't emphasize the things women's styles usually do; long necklines, gentle slope of the crown, petite shoulders, etc. Any type of braiding/bunning that would build up blockish angles would work, to a certain extent (obviously not if you use a hairstick bedazzled in sparkly butterflies or something, lol). Of course that's just my opinion, and may not work at all for your lifestyle, build or profession...?

Or, should you decide to cut/trim/layer it, you could go to a barber and ask for cutting advice, since they deal largely with men to begin with.

HTH! Let us know what you figure out!

[Mesmerise]

I agree with the others that low ponytails and simple English braids are good styles (and typically what I'd see worn by guys with long hair here). However, I also think clothing is more important when looking androgynous, although I'm sure you're already on track with that anyway!

[swearnsue]

Low pony, bandanas, no pink toys, maybe tie the pony with soft leather strips or black scrunchies. Wear your hair up hidden in a cap or hat. You could try a modified Dog the Bounty Hunter thing with small braids/feathers. Don't go too far tho, he's hideous. Use hair products that don't smell girly, use traditional smelling guy stuff that will trigger that idea into people's heads. Aqua Velva, Old Spice, IDK but you get the idea.

[julierockhead]

Have you seen the HBO series Game of Thrones? The character Eddard Stark has the perfect sexy long hair 'do for a man EVER:crush:. Would work just fine for longer hair too, his is only about shoulder length. The key for the look I think is the dirty/neglected/slept on nature of it.

[teal]

I love my long wild hair. It's a part of me. While I find nothing inherently feminine about it, the rest of society does, and that upsets me somewhat because it isn't who I am.

I think the question here isn't what to do with your hair, it's what to do with society's opinion of you. Do you want society to treat you as androgynous, or do you even care about what society thinks of you at all? (Consider it carefully: Do you really truly care, or do you just want things to be "easier" - ie. your appearance to speak for you - when you are out and about?) If you truly don't care, then do what pleases you with your hair... which, apparently, is nothing. Because, as you say, you love your long wild hair.

Clothing choices might help, instead of changing your hair. For example, a person of either gender in a golf tee and khakis with long wild hair would not present as 'feminine' to me.

As an aside, I identify as a female but I don't wear makeup and I don't "do" my hair often... and when I do, it's because I want to and it's a style that is pleasing to me. I don't give a rodent's posterior about what anyone else thinks of my looks. This is the way I was made, and I'm not going to put myself into indentured servitude (the morning "beauty" routine) to present some other face to the rest of the world. Don't get me wrong - I certainly see value in being presentable for work and dressing for occasion. Participation in society is a worthy endeavour. However, letting society dictate the criteria of my individuality is a leech on the soul, in my opinion.

[Athena's Owl]

look at male hairstyles that were popular in earlier centuries. I'm thinking of Lucius Malfoy's hair in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - long hair pulled back in a low ponytail and tied with a long tailed ribbon bow. for longer hair, start with a low fishtail braid.

I don't know if you want a masculine appearance or if you want to genderplay. but with long hair, I think you may wish to look to more formal male fashions - I'm talking suits, here, and shirts with ties. Combine these with breast binding for good effect.

[McFearless]

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I feel like you care too much what society thinks. Just be yourself and project who you are onto the world, not the other way around. If somebody thinks long hair is feminine, that really has nothing to do with you. You are not being forced to identify as somebody you are not. It sounds like you love your hair and don't want to be without it, so the answer to me is very obvious. Don't cut your hair to fit into the definitions of others.

[macherie]

There's an Asian cosplayer called Jin Josin who excels at this - she's got knee length hair herself but has excelled a male character. Have a look here:
http://behindinfinity.deviantart.com/

[lapelosa]

I'm a fan of androgyny. I don't know if this is really true or not, but it seems like transgender has come some way -- people who identify with the other side of the aisle don't feel the same compulsion to go all gender-stereotype as much. I think. I'm thinking of Eddie Izzard's style in the 90s with the pants and tight t-shirts -- people who would meet him would say, but if you're going about as a girl, don't you have to wear a skirt? And he'd point out that lots of girls don't wear skirts.

Anyway, I agree with other posters that it's the whole package, not just the hair per se. Lots of guys wear long hair!

[SilentGuardian]

I agree that clothes can play a part in how you are perceived.

People consider me to have a masculine appearance. My hair is layered and a bit past shoulders, but I always wear it loose, except at work. I don't wear makeup, and my clothes can be considered masculine. I wear plain jeans and usually a band tshirt. My clothes are loose, which hides my figure.

There aren't many long-haired menfolk around here, but the rare ones I see wear it either loose or in a low ponytail. Sometimes I see motorcycle dudes with the multiple bands, but their hair isn't in the greatest shape.

[TheStorm]

If it's an overall masculine look your after then I'd say it's much down to build, posture and attitude as well as what you wear and how you style your hair.

[Mutinous]

I don't think it is the length that is the problem here. As has been suggested, low ponies, low fishtail braids are a good way to go. As a male (both physically and in terms of my gender identity) I think it is more the combined effect of my hair plus the way I dress that represents my masculinity if that makes sense.

I think singling out one physical thing and trying it adapt is far less effective than looking in a more holistic sense. In the sense that if someone had a buzzcut but was wearing a dress and makeup, society would link that to femininity, and likewise, if someone had long hair but was wearing a suit and tie, they would linked to masculinity.

[bte]

Men tend to wear long hair in a more untidy style. Very easy to achieve!

[Chetanlaiho]

I've been mistaken for a guy quite often in my life (mostly due to clothing choices) and about a year ago someone mistook me (from seeing me from behind) for a guy while I was wearing a braided bun with hairsticks with rhinestones in them *shrugs*.

Personally I think it's the clothes, build and attitude that decide for most people whether someone looks feminine or masculine. Considering I don't have an overly feminine figure, wear baggy tshirts/hoodies and pants 90% of the time and I don't wear make-up or overly style my hair I guess I can see how some people see that as masculine. Since I got bangs it has definitely decreased though xD

To me most hairstyles can be masculine if the rest of the 'image' matches. I know guys with MBL or TBL hair that I would not consider feminine, ever. They mostly wear it all-one-length down, or a simple low ponytail. I think even an English braid would work quite well.

[Sagi1982]

I think straight cornrows and similar styles are kind of masculine.