Author: Hannah

Hannah is a t-girl who blogs about advice, fashion and activism in the transgender communuity

Ask Hannah!

by Hannah

I am trying to help a trans friend of mine find her first really good wig. She has been saving for awhile.  Not a theatrical wig but a natural everyday.  Do you have a recommendation as to where to go?

For some of us, our wig is the most defining part of our presentation.  I always feel my hair completes my look.  Choosing your hair is a very important and a very personal decision.

It’s also a big change.  When I present as male, my hair is short and easy to maintain.  However, as Hannah my hair is long and needs a lot more attention.  Getting used to going from short hair to shoulder-length locks takes some time.  I would recommend investing in a less expensive wig at first and getting used to your new look.  It took me a few styles before I found one that was really ME.  I’m glad I didn’t a lot of money on one wig and only to find out that look wasn’t right for me.  Most of us try a few different styles before we find the right one.  Once you find the right one, then it might be time to invest a higher quality wig in that style.

Make sure you educate yourself between the differences between different types of wigs, such a synthetic or human hair.

I started to buy my hair online when I wanted to try different styles and looks.  I was able to try different styles and lengths without spending a lot of money.  Of course, you get what you pay for and many times I ended up replacing it after a few months but it was good to be able to try different looks before I found the right style.

I recommend visiting Sunny’s Hair in Uptown if you want to shop in person.

I recommend checking out Corrie Dupay‘s advice on taking care of your wig, as well.

Love, Hannah

 

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Midwest Makeup Supply

by Hannah

Corrie Dupay is a makeup artist extraordinaire and owner of Midwest Makeup Supply and Femme Makeovers, both in the Twin Cities.  She has recently announced she is making a change in her career and is closing her wonderful makeup shop to focus on Femme Makeovers.

We as a community are beyond fortunate to have such an amazing talent in our city.  I’m sad about the closing of her store, the MN T-Girls have had two events at her store, but I am breathing a sigh of relief that she is still available for makeovers.

For details on her plans, please see the announcement she recently sent out below.

Hello everyone!

Some may already know this but yesterday I made an announcement (via our Midwest Makeup Supply Facebook page) in regard to closing Midwest Makeup, my Uptown retail location, on October 20th. 

Please do not worry! This is a very good thing on all fronts. I WILL be keeping my studio space at Vandalia Towers. Not being tied down to the retail part of things will allow me SO much more flexibility when it comes to doing the thing I love, which is helping YOU and doing makeovers, dress up sessions and outings. 🙂 Change is a good thing and I’m SUPER excited about the coming months!!!!

I will be liquidating my retail store inventory as the close date approaches so please let me know if there’s anything you’ll want. I’m still working out details – my phone number and email might have to change – but I’ll be sure to keep everyone updated with things like that. I also am toying with keeping a limited amount of product (foundation, powder, beard cover, etc.) at my studio – but am not sure yet. If that would be beneficial to you – please let me know. If I get enough positive response about it – I’ll definitely consider having that as an option.

As always – thank you SO very much for your support. It’s an amazing thing to be able to do the work I love!!

Love, Hannah

Ask Hannah!

by Hannah

I have not seen your blog on Xdress for a while. just wonder why

That is an excellent question.

Not too long ago, I started to blog for Xdress and I had a lot of fun doing it.  There was talk of an expanding partnership and I was told the staff was very happy with my articles and they generated a lot of comments.

I wrote about a few blogs for them and then…nothing.  I would submit a blog and would be asked for another one shortly after it posted but I haven’t from them in a while.  I have reached out to them but still nothing.

I am not sure what happened, but if you would like to see my blogs on Xdress again, drop them a line and let them know!

Love, Hannah

T-Girls and T-Grilling!

by Hannah

Minnesota’s summer is winding down beautifully in an almost elegant, graceful way.  The days are increasingly cooler and shorter and although fall isn’t here yet, can see it getting closer with each moment.

The backyard barbecue is one of the season’s biggest tradition.  To be able to eat outside with friends and get to know new people is one of life’s smallest but greatest pleasures.  Most people attend them in flip-flops, but leave it to the MN T-Girls to pair brats with stilettos.

Last night was our monthly event and one of the girls graciously welcomed our group into her home and backyard for one last night of grilling, conversation and fun.  It was a perfect night and provided an opportunity for some new members to get to know the group in a very low-key way.

Very special thanks to Marcia for hosting us and for grilling as well as to all the t-girls who brought something to share.

Love, Hannah

 

PFLAG Events for September

by Hannah

PFLAG_TClogoPFLAG‘s mission is uniting people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) with families, friends, and allies.  PFLAG is committed to advancing equality through its mission of support, education, and advocacy.  PFLAG has 400 chapters and 200,000 supporters crossing multiple generations of American families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

PFLAG was the first support organization I heard of when I was growing up.  I attended their meetings a few years ago and found it was a supportive, and inclusive community.  PFLAG is a wonderful group, especially for our spouses and family members and I am happy to promote the events the Twin Cities chapter has scheduled.

Please join us for our September program and support groups.

 

OutFront’s Anti-Bullying Initiatives.
Join Blaine Kelley & Cat Salonek to learn about the Anti-Bullying Initiatives taking place throughout the programs of OutFront Minnesota. While Blaine will discuss the efforts of our Youth & Schools Program including our GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance) Network that serves over 160 schools throughout the state Cat will detail the work being accomplished through the power of community organizing!
“A graduate of The University of Minnesota where he designed his own degree entitled, “Intersectionality; Critical Analysis for Social Justice” Blaine Kelley now serves as the Youth & Schools Coordinator at OutFront Minnesota.
His current position finds him traveling the state to meet with hundreds of students each year finding out what’s important to them, what’s going on in their lives, and presenting a plethora of workshops related to LGBTQ+ identities. When not working in schools or on the road, Blaine serves as advisor for the MN Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Network’s Leadership Council working with 20 students from across the state to develop leadership skills and make plans for the greater GSA Network of over 150 middle and high school GSAs.”
“A graduate of The University of Minnesota where he designed his own degree entitled, “Intersectionality; Critical Analysis for Social Justice” Blaine Kelley now serves as the Youth & Schools Coordinator at OutFront Minnesota.
His current position finds him traveling the state to meet with hundreds of students each year finding out what’s important to them, what’s going on in their lives, and presenting a plethora of workshops related to LGBTQ+ identities. When not working in schools or on the road, Blaine serves as advisor for the MN Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Network’s Leadership Council working with 20 students from across the state to develop leadership skills and make plans for the greater GSA Network of over 150 middle and high school GSAs.”

Tuesday, September 18 at 6:30 pm
Union Congregational Church
3700 Alabama Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416

Support groups will directly follow the program at 7:30 pm.

Love, Hannah

Pre-Makeover Skin Prep and After Care

by Hannah
Corrie Dupay is a makeup artist extraordinaire and owner of Midwest Makeup Supply and Femme Makeovers, both in the Twin Cities.  She is a friend and hero to girls everywhere.  She is beyond talented.
Corrie has a newsletter that she sends out with helpful makeup tips like these and is reprinted here with her permission.  I am certain you’ll find this useful!  You can sign up for her newsletter here.
Love, Hannah
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello my Darlings!

Today we will chat about pre-makeover skin prep and the importance of makeup removal after your applications.

Before we get into that – I want to say thank you to those of you who take time to send me messages. Whether it’s just to say hi, ask a question or a quick follow up to a session – I can’t express how much those messages mean to me. Nothing brightens my day more than hearing stories of how having your makeup done, doing a lesson or just some basic guidance on things you’ve struggled with (like beard cover or false lashes) has made you feel so good and confident enough to step outside of your comfort zone and do something new. I love it! And I thank you for it!

😀

XOXO from your favorite makeup guru,

Take care of your skin!!

Today I’m going to answer a question I get asked a lot – which is: I booked a makeup application with you, what do I do to my face before I arrive???

This is a great question! But before we get into day-of preparations, I want to quickly touch on the importance of your daily skin care routine. At minimum I suggest everyone should wear a sunscreen. It helps protects your skin from harmful rays and sun damage that could potentially lead to skin cancer!! And we do not want that!! I suggest a broad range sunscreen with SPF of 30 (this is just what I like to wear, but consult with your dermatologist with any skin-related concerns).

I also suggest a light moisturizer to help hydrate your skin. It doesn’t have to be something fancy or expensive, just something to keep your skin hydrated. My favorite is by Embryolisse – it’s light weight and works well on all skin types.

Okay – back to day-of preparations. I generally like people to arrive with a clean face, clean shaven as possible. The cleaner the shave, the better our end result will be. As far as putting any sort of products on your face after you’ve shaved, using a moisturizer is fine, but try to keep it as light as possible.

The reason I prefer you don’t put a lot of (or any) product on your face prior is because I’m not always sure how it will react with the other products I’m going to be using. It could cause the foundation to slide around or primers to pill up (making it look like you have dry skin, etc.). Once you’re in my chair, I have all the products to properly hydrate and prepare your skin for a long-lasting application.

So let’s talk about makeup removal and skin care after your application is over. It’s really important to be properly removing your makeup at the end of the day. Sleeping in your makeup can irritate your skin, clog your pores and overall – just isn’t good for you!

You can remove your makeup using makeup wipes, liquid, cream or gel removers, or my favorite: The Makeup Eraser (a reusable towel that only requires hot water…and WORKS super well!)! Unfortunately – makeup removers are not all created equally so you may find some brands will do a better job than others.

Sometimes – depending on the makeup – you might need an additional remover that is specifically formulated to remove eye makeup (especially if it’s waterproof!). You can use soap and water to remove your makeup, but it could cause some irritation or burning, especially if you have to really scrub to get it off. I feel though – it’s best to use an actual makeup remover – it’s gentler on your skin and doesn’t strip your face of the oils that some soaps do.
Once you’ve fully removed your makeup – I suggest that you apply some moisturizer – mainly to add back some of the oils that may have been removed while taking off your makeup. You could also use a post makeup spray as well. These help rejuvenate, replenish and refresh your skin after you’ve removed your makeup. Skindinavia makes one that is nice.
Also – if you suffer from really dry skin – you could use something heavier after you’ve removed your makeup to help soothe and repair the skin barrier. I like OxyDerm Recovery Balm by Graftobian. I will put this on my face before I go to bed if my skin is really dehydrated. It’s really heavy, but really hydrating so why I suggest using it at night. You’ll wake up with super soft, super smooth skin though! 🙂

And one last thought on this topic – drinking lots of water will help keep your skin nice and hydrated. Just like the sun, caffeine, smoking, alcohol, etc. can all be drying or damaging to our skin so stay hydrated!!

Things to Remember:
1. Use sunscreen
2. Use moisturizer
3. Remove your makeup.
4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

If you have any suggestions for topics, please feel free to send them my way at makeovers@midwestmakeupsupply.com

Questions or want to request an appointment? Email me at: makeovers@midwestmakeupsupply.com

Be sure to check www.femmemakeovers.com for more info.

Every Body Fits

by Hannah

I received an email the other day from Alicia Lagan whose son came out to her as transgender two years ago.  As she watched her son start taking hormones and adapting to his new life, she noticed he had a hard time finding clothes that fit his changing body.

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Alicia and her business partner were moved to create a new company named ‘Every Body’, a clothing line for transgender teens in Los Angeles, but with plan to have stores internationally.  Their mission is to help make shopping easier for the transgender community, something I think we all would benefit from.  We all want to feel comfortable in what we’re wearing and to not be treated poorly while shopping.  Every Body is committed to tailoring clothes to fit kids the way that they would like by designing a specialized size chart.  Once opened, the store will be a one-stop-shop for everything, whether it is undergarments, necessary accessories, and other clothing that fit correctly so one can express themselves as the gender they identify as.

At this point they are raising money for their project.  If you’d like to learn more about Every Body and help a difference in the lives of our LGBTQ youth, please visit their site.

Love, Hannah