Stuff: Seeing the Girl Appear

By J.J. Atwell

Do you enjoy seeing the girl appear?

When you are getting ready to go out as your girl self, what is the process like for you? Do you enjoy seeing the girl appear in the mirror? Can you hardly wait for the finished product?  

Let’s think about that. You’ve just stepped out of the shower, so you are all clean and have shaved in all the important places. You look in the mirror and you see a guy. So you wrap a robe around yourself and start the process. Shapewear?  Makeup? Which is first?  

For me it’s shapewear. At least, once I’ve cooled off from the shower. On goes the underwear (with padded hips/butt) and the bra with whatever size forms I’m going to use for that outfit. Then I put on a robe. When I look in the mirror at that point, I still see a guy. Probably because it is my guy head on top of a poorly defined body hidden under that robe. Time to move on to the next step.

Let’s Add Some Makeup

My next step is the makeup. I’m still in the robe so that I don’t inadvertently get any makeup on my outfit. On goes the foundation to get a good base. But there is no color. Out come the various shades of makeup and brushes as I work to create a more feminine face. Brows become more defined, blush on the cheeks, shadow on the eyes and then lipstick to complement the outfit. Now looking in the mirror, do I see a girl? No. I still see my guy self, but with makeup on. Something more is needed.  

Does the Outfit Help?

Time to take off the robe and get dressed. Well, not completely dressed. No sense putting on the shoes and jewelry just yet. But at least I’m in the outfit and enjoying the feeling. Looking in the mirror now, do I see a girl? Well, maybe if I squint. But there is one more major step to erase the guy and bring out the girl.  

The Crowning Glory

It’s usually at this point that I put on my wig. Brushing it out first and then pulling it on my head. More brushing to get it to lay right and a bit of spray to keep it in place. Watching this happen in the mirror completes the image I’m after. Now I see a girl.  

Not Done Yet

Even with that vision of a girl in the mirror, I still need a few more things to complete the presentation. Got to slip into some shoes and add jewelry. I use clip-on earrings and must admit that it often takes me a few tries to get them on correctly. I’m just not used to watching myself do this in the mirror and my first try inevitably results in getting them on backward.  Sigh. Once I conquer that setback, it's time to add a necklace and bracelet. Of course, that all has to coordinate with the earrings and the rest of the outfit. But I find myself looking in the mirror at that point and just seeing a girl. My guy self is gone.    

I’ll Be Back

I’d love to hear from you about when the girl appears during your transition.  In the meantime, I’ll be finding more Stuff to write about. I welcome comments here on Stana’s page or by email at Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com.

Camila Morrone

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