I used to have great eyebrows. But in high school, I attacked my Brooke Shields-thick arches with a pair of tweezers, methodically ripping each strand from its follicle. I looked down into the sink and was shocked by the mass of loose hairs in the basin. Skinny brows were supposed to make my face seem more open, lighter, and less aggressive — that is, more feminine. I thought the look was timeless, but two decades later, I am trying to revive what came to me naturally. Not because they’re back in style, but because I’m transitioning, and I need to look a lot less like a girl.
Everett McCown, MS, LPC-I who counsels transitioning people as Program Manager for Outpatient Mental Health and Addictions Services at Cascadia Health in Portland, Oregon, tells Allure that temporary appearance changes can help alleviate body dysmorphia. He says, "The exploration looks like folks trying on different clothes at home, sometimes wearing a more gendered item like glasses that others may not notice. People can express themselves in a safer and more subtle way."
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Cis people automatically assume many trans people want to assimilate and "pass" for cis. That’s not true: many of us simply seek to alleviate our gender dysphoria, hoping to align our inner sense of self with our physical appearance. While many trans people do opt to have gender-affirming procedures, like facial feminization surgery (FFS), vocal cord surgery, laser hair removal and electrolysis, trachea shaving, and certain kinds of liposuction to change our bodies, these options are expensive and invasive. Not all insurance plans cover them, claiming they aren’t “necessary,” though for many trans people, they’re an essential part of transition, not elective or casual grooming.
In addition to the wardrobe experimentation McCown mentions, using makeup, selfies, and other non-invasive approaches to aesthetics such as eyelash extensions to align our outer appearance with who we are are more accessible options for many trans people. There’s no post-op recovery time. Aside from the pain of waxing, there is minimal discomfort. Also, although none of these procedures are permanent, they aren’t as expensive as surgery. One minor change, like Bambi-length lash extensions, can make someone’s face look more typically feminine; after the initial installment, monthly upkeep is usually under $100. Maintaining even up to five personal care services a month is often less per year than a single surgery, paying out-of-pocket. It may not be ideal, but for many people, it’s the only option to get the look that eases the extreme discomfort of gender dysphoria.
My Quest For Masculine Disney Prince Brows
During the beginning of my transition, I coveted Disney prince eyebrows. In my imagination, I have eyebrows thicker than Aladdin's magic carpet, wide dark wedges that wiggle when I talk and make my face look serious and handsome. During my transition, I noticed subtle changes in my facial structure: my brows thickened, nose got a little bigger, cheekbones moved, and jaw squared. Within a year, I no longer looked like a woman. I looked like my own brother. The only place where femininity still lingered was in my eyebrows.
