Tag: makeup

Ask Hannah!

by Hannah

I love your makeup! It looks so good, can you help me with some ideas?

Thank you! I love my makeup as well but I can’t take credit for it. Almost every time I’ve gone out in the last few years I’ve had my makeup done by Cajah Salon. I’m not bad at my own makeup but I’ll never, ever be as good as my makeup artist.

Every person has different skin and face shape and facial structure and makeup goals. Different products and different techniques work differently on different people. And! Your makeup process and products will likely change over time. I’m amazed at how often I am reminded about how much I don’t know about makeup. I leave it to the experts.

Many salons offer makeup services and many also offer makeup lessons. Yes, this might be out of your comfort zone but I would recommend looking into options like that and chatting with an artist. They should be able to suggest products and techniques that work for YOUR face and skin. Again, it may be out of your comfort zone but I think it will be worth it.

Love, Hannah

Have a question for me?  Oh yes you do.  Ask me here!

Saturday Night Makeup Party

by Hannah

It’s humbling and exciting when you realize how much you don’t know. I’ve been wearing makeup for almost twenty years and over time I’ve adapted to a changing face in terms of shape as well as through the natural progression of aging. I use different techniques and products today compared to ten years ago.

So much about makeup isn’t even about lipstick and eyeshadow. Skincare, diet, and vitamins all play a part in how your makeup will look. And with so many options out there it’s important you find the right shade and the right product.

Admittingly this can be overwhelming.

Allllll of this was running through my head (and it was hard to keep up in the heels I was wearing lol) during the monthly MN T-Girls event this past weekend. On Saturday we were treated to makeup demonstrations and one-on-one help and private, afterhours shopping at Cos Bar in Edina.

This was our third visit and each visit surpasses the previous. The enthusiasm from the artists is contagious and omg we all felt so beautiful. It’s easy to feel that way during a makeover but I think there’s magic in details and subtlety. What I mean is when someone brings attention to something small that you don’t really think about. My artist complimented me on my feminine cheekbones and my fair skin. I have been riding that high for days.

I’ve been struggling with color correcting for a few months (again, our skin changes and therefore our makeup needs also change) and with my artists’ help I was able to add a new foundation and technique to my skillset.

Makeup can be overwhelming, especially when you understand how much makeup has to do with skincare and taking care of yourself. So much about makeup has nothing to do with brushes and eyeliner, but rather exfoliation and whether you’re getting enough vitamin C. But makeup, like many things, requires commitment.

As I drove home my brain started to process everything that I learned and I became excited about makeup all over again.

This was a wonderful evening. I cannot thank the fantastic people at Cos Bar. Incredibly supportive, absolutely affirming, and the best of the best.

Love, Hannah

Ask Hannah!

by Hannah

I was doing some searching for makeovers in the Twin Cities seeing though I will be visiting soon and ran across these two places and I was wondering if you had any thoughts on them.


https://www.be-luminous.net/
https://www.evrymakeupstudio.com/

Oh my goodness I have not heard of either of these two!

Luminous Beauty, according to their website, offers makeup and photography at a mansion in Minneapolis. They are very LGBTQ+ inclusive and one of their services discusses gender-affirming makeup:

Transformative & Gender-Affirming Makeup: Open a whole new world of possibilities with our inclusive makeup applications and lessons for individuals exploring gender expression. Our skilled artists provide a supportive and encouraging environment that helps you feel comfortable and validated in your own skin. Choose a Transformative Makeup Application for a night out on the town or a Gender-Affirming Makeup Lesson where you can master basic techniques or experiment with advanced looks. Our lessons will empower you to express your identity with confidence.

Evry Makeup Studio offers makeover services, including makeup lessons. I love that Evry reminds us that makeup is for everyone and that not everyone will benefit from the same techniques and products:

At EVRY MAKEUP STUDIO, we teach you to master the makeup how-to’s, help you host memorable makeup parties and remind you that makeup doesn’t need to be cookie cutter, there is room for EVRYone!

These are both wonderful resources and I can’t thank you enough for sharing them. I hope you have an amazing time and please let us know about how much fun you have!

Love, Hannah

Have a question for me?  Oh yes you do.  Ask me here!

Ask Hannah!

by Hannah

I really appreciate your site as I feel similar to you in many ways. I too am a straight, married girl and really love going shopping and experiencing life in traditionally feminine attire. My questions….you list places to go in the Twin Cities for makeup as well as a recommended wig shop. Unfortunately Sunnies Wigs in Minneapolis has closed. Do you have another recommendation? As far as makeup….do you call ahead for appointments and request a certain person? When you go, do you go in “male” attire and change after the session or do you go dressed and ready to roll? I ask because I would like to get my makeup done and then go shop for a wig. I would love to go to Le Femme Mystique, but it’s not entirely in my budget and I don’t really need photos or help with the outfits themselves. I hope to hear from you. Thank you for all that you do for girls like us!

For wigs I go to Creative Hair Design. Lovely people, outstanding selection.

Like wig shops, salons are used to girls like us. You are not the first, the only, or the last t-girl in their makeup chair that week.

Do I request a certain person? No. I’ve been going to the same salon for years and I have become friends with my artist. I don’t need to request her as she is the only artist at this particular salon. But on the occasion she isn’t available I schedule an appointment at Ulta. Since this may require going to a different location each time and I am not familiar with the individual artists at each location, it’s impossible to request a certain artist.

But I don’t worry about that at all. Again, salons are used to girls like us. I know I am not the first t-girl in their chair and neither will you be. Although I don’t feel it necessary to disclose that I am transgender when I make an appointment somewhere other than my normal salon, I understand many of us want to. I get that. If you feel this is relevant then I would recommend not saying that you are a crossdresser, even if you identify as such. That word leaves a lot to interpretation and, let’s face it, is predominately sexually charged. Instead I would suggest telling the person who schedules your appointment that you are transgender (if you feel like disclosing this).

When I go for my appointment I go in girl mode. I wear what I plan on wearing that day. Please don’t go to your appointment and use their bathroom to change from boy to girl mode. The bathroom is for customers to use, not for you to transform in. It’s just awkward for everyone if someone else enters the restroom and there you are, in a stall or in front of a mirror, halfway between gender presentations.

Again, salons are used to girls like us. I show up for my appointment looking like absolute trash, lol. I am very much a Man In A Dress. But after an hour or so, I look a lot more femme. Makeup artists are trained and paid to help someone look amazing. They are very much used to working with a client, regardless of their gender or anatomy, to enhance their appearance.

On a related note, I feel a little… silly showing up with a male face while en femme. But I would feel even sillier leaving with flawless makeup in boy mode.

I toooootally get the apprehension of makeovers. Promise. But try not to overthink it.

Love, Hannah

Have a question for me?  Oh yes you do.  Ask me here!

Post about makeup

by Hannah

****I apologize for the very boring title to this post. When I have ideas for a post I jot down some notes and a working title as a draft until I can think of something more fun. Anyway, I posted this after I changed the name and well, we’re going with it, lol.

I tend to overthink. About everything. Sometimes I overthink about WHAT I NEED to think about. What I mean is that sometimes I wonder if I am putting too little thought, OR too much thought into something.

Of course, I also overthink about WHY I overthink, but that is a question for my therapist.

I DO think that girls like us and anyone outside of the gender binary (who are not out to everyone in their life) tend to overthink. To go down the proverbial rabbit hole of What Ifs.

And this is not a criticism. Not at all. I get it.

We are afraid of small, innocuous things leading to being found out. We might be terrified about shaving our legs because we are afraid someone will think we are doing that so we look better in stockings.

I mean, that’s why I shave my legs.

But the reality is that I don’t think very many people will jump to that conclusion. If I see another male presenting person with shaved legs, I don’t assume that they like to wear femme clothes. And that’s coming from someone who DOES shave their legs because I wear femme clothes.

If I see a man with shaved legs I honestly don’t know or care why he does that. I don’t give it a second thought… and I don’t think anyone else does either. It’s rare that I even NOTICE it. I also know that I will never know WHY they shave their legs. I mean, who cares? It’s not like I am going to walk up to a complete stranger and tell them I noticed their legs and I was curious why they shaved them. I mean, that is just weird. No one does that… or at least no one should.

But I get it. We consider these potential outcomes because we tend to look at our gender identity and our wardrobes as things that we need to protect. We protect them because we know that most people will not understand this side of us AND could lead to… well, an outcome we are terrified of.

And I can relate. In my male life I am terrified of being found out that I am a crossdresser. I am paranoid of someone seeing the lace edging of my panties. That revelation could likely lead to conversations I don’t want to have with people I don’t want to be out to.

In almost every way I would rather be outed as Hannah than as a crossdresser… if you understand the differences.

Overthinking can prevent action. Paralysis by over analysis, if you will. We get so caught up in the What Ifs about going out en femme that we never end up going out en femme. Again, this is not a criticism. I get it. I was there. Sometimes I am still there.

But we NEED to think about being safe. Whether it is rethinking a certain pair of heels on an icy sidewalk, where we are going to go, and who we might see. Again, we are protecting our gender identity… both of them.

One thing we tend to overthink about is what I mentioned earlier. What will people think? Again, the reality is that you won’t know. I don’t know WHY the guy at the gym shaves their legs. I am not going to ask. On the flip side I am not going to know what the dude at the mall thinks of Hannah. I am not going to ask.

Again, that would be weird.

There are some conversations en femme that we do need to have, however. And it’s normal for us to play out hypothetical questions in our mind. We rehearse what we will say. We speculate what we might be asked. This can easily lead to overthinking. But again… I get it.

I get a lot of questions about makeup appointments and makeovers.

What will they think of me?

What will they ask?

Have they ever done makeup for someone like me before?

IF there is an answer for these questions, the answers are probably:

They are likely thinking that you are their client and they want to make you happy

They are likely going to ask about your goals

And very likely yes, absolutely

It’s normal to overthink the first and third questions. We’ll get to the second one in a moment.

Makeup artists tend to be people who LOVE makeup. They know how makeup makes someone feel as they likely can relate to how the perfect lipstick shade can make someone happy.

When it comes to goals I want to offer my perspective on something. Many of you ask me if you should disclose that you are a crossdresser when making the appointment. My thought is, well, if you want. BUT I would suggest using a different term. “Crossdressing”, through no fault of our own, tends to be thought of as sexual and as a fetish. I mean, it MIGHT be for you but that’s another topic for another time.

The reason I suggest avoiding that term is that since it’s kind of stigmatized it’s possible that someone else might think that your gender identity is a kink. And… I don’t know, I don’t think a lot of people want to assist someone who might be, well, aroused by it.

I personally don’t disclose that I am transgender, either. I don’t think it matters… and based on my experiences… well, it doesn’t matter. More on that in a moment.

BUT! I do understand WANTING to disclose this. Not because of the makeover ITSELF (again, more on this in a moment) but because, well, I do not want to get a makeover from someone who does not support the trans community.

It hasn’t happened but the thought of showing up for a makeover and the artist refusing to work with me because of my gender identity is heartbreaking.

Anyway, the reason I don’t disclose my transness is that my perspective is that I am a girl and some girls get makeovers. AND! over the years and after countless makeovers I have realized that once you are in the chair and looking at the brightly lit mirror and chatting about makeup… your gender identity, your anatomy… none of that matters.

Almost every makeup artist will ask me what my goals are. The look I am going for. This is when I need to be specific. This is when any girl needs to be specific. Especially a girl like me. If I tell my artist I want to look as feminine as possible. That I want to look as beautiful as possible. That I want to look like a girl… I know what I mean but your artist probably doesn’t. We all have different ideas and perspectives on what femininity means. It could mean blending in with the other girls at the mall or it could mean being the belle of the ball.

lol, that rhymes.

Instead of these vague goals, I need to be specific.

I’ve been going to the same artist for almost every makeover I’ve had over the last three years or so. The “goal” chat doesn’t happen very often anymore as she knows, in her words, my “signature look”. I do mention to her if I have a photo shoot or if I need a certain eyeshadow to compliment an outfit but most of the time I let her work her magic.

When I am chatting with a new artist (for me, anyway) I do talk about what I would like.

Earlier I wrote my transness doesn’t matter when I am getting a makeover. And I don’t think it matters to the artist, either. At the most recent MN T-Girls event I was chatting with the artists at Cos Bar as to how I anticipated the evening going. I mentioned that some of the girls may not have had a professional makeover before or haven’t ever spoken to a makeup artist. I mentioned that some girls may want help in creating a feminine look… but may need some coaxing when it comes to what that means to them. Do they want contouring to change their face shape appearance? Do they need help with making their lips a little fuller? Do they want help with minimizing certain features, such as eyebrows or their jawline?

Typical requests for girls like us.

One of the artists remarked that these requests are common for all of their customers.

And I couldn’t agree more.

Cis women have makeup goals too. They also might want to minimize or emphasize certain features. They might also want to change the appearance of their face structure. Highlight their cheekbones, draw attention to… or from… part of their face.

No matter what our anatomy is… or what gender is marked on our driver license, we all have skin, we all have a face, we all have our goals. My makeup goals are different from your goals and my wife’s goals… because we have different faces. My wife has a cute, heart-shaped face… she doesn’t need contouring. But I do. I have fairly shapeless lips so I need help with a sharp cupid’s bow.

Whether you are getting your first or billionth makeover, I encourage you to not overthink it… but I do encourage you to think about your goals. Be specific. Bring a photo. And have fun. You’re going to look amazing.

Love, Hannah

Makeovers and Shopping!

by Hannah

This past weekend was the monthly MN T-Girls event and it was a return to one of the more popular events… makeup lessons and personal shopping!

We were treated like queens at Cos Bar in Edina, Minnesota. This was our second visit to Cos Bar and it was absolutely a treat to be back. Makeup is one of the most intimidating and, well, effective aspects of femme presentation and moments like these are simply amazing for the group.

Part of the intimidation is the shopping itself. We were lucky to have a private, after-hours event so we could shop in a comfortable environment. Just t-girls… how amazing is that??

The evening was a mixture of makeup techniques and shopping with talented and super fun makeup artists to find the right foundations and lipstick shades.

I was so happy to spend the evening with friends and makeup artists. Is there a better way to enjoy a Saturday night?

Thank you to the lovely ladies at Cos. If you need a makeover or need help shopping, please pay them a visit.

Love, Hannah

Halfway to Heaven and Just a Mile out of Hell

by Hannah

I like spring and autumn. They are what I call transitional seasons. Winter in Minnesota arrives with the energy of a relative that you sort of like but you know they tend to quickly wear out their welcome. Winter lingers. Winter is stubborn. You are never quite sure when winter will end… or begin. Autumn is, well, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Once we limp our way out of a long, hot summer we know that autumn is essentially borrowed time until winter barges in with all the subtlety of a wrecking ball.

Spring is similar. Winter takes its time leaving. It is not usual for Minnesota to see snowflakes or to see a large snowbank in a Kohl’s parking lot still melting in April. Spring has to share a few weeks with winter until summer comes in fast and hard.

Our state has a reputation for long and cold winters. But we are not thought of as having humid and sweltering summers. We do and it’s unbearable at times.

Thus, I enjoy spring and autumn, the calm, if you will, before the extremities of winter and summer.

And yes, this is a website about, well, whatever this website is about. You have not inadvertently stumbled upon a weather blog.

As a bi-gender person, my physical appearance is either going to be boy OR girl (in the binary sense). In a way, I am either summer or fall. I am Doc Martens or stilettos.

When I transition from him to Hannah, I am straddling the line between two worlds, if you will. I slowly leave HIS life as I take baby steps… and then strut into HER world. This is a physical transformation but it is also an emotional and mental change as well.

Most of the days that I am en femme are Saturdays. Not every Saturday mind you. I tend to plan Hannah’s day, whether it’s for a photo shoot or for meeting up with the T-Girls, for earlier in the day. My wife and I like to unwind after a long week on Saturday evenings so I make every effort to spend that time with her. Thus, Hannah’s day begins rather early. Or, in a more accurate sense, the “process” of Hannah emerging begins early.

Friday nights are a mixture of omg this was a very long week and I don’t want to do anything this weekend and omg I can’t wait to spend tomorrow en femme. It’s a combination of not wanting to do ANYTHING on Saturday AND getting excited about all the things Hannah has planned.

My alarm sings way too loudly and way too early on Saturdays. It’s almost cruel that the first thing I see in the morning is my reflection. I immediately get discouraged about the seemingly insurmountable impossibility of turning THAT into Hannah.

I slip out of my nightgown, put on leggings and a comfy t-shirt, and head downstairs in an effort to get as far away from a mirror as possible.

I have my coffee and start to wake up. Coffee is… hot, comforting potential. A cup of ambition, as Dolly Parton said. I start to feel like MAYBE I can pull off looking somewhat cute. I set down my mug and get to work.

I undress and I am a blank canvas. This is not to say I am about to create a beautiful painting, mind you. As anyone who has picked up a paintbrush knows, a canvas can be the foundation of a masterpiece or a disasterpiece. It could be meh. It could be inspiring.

All I know is it’s time to get to work.

Shaving, foundation garments, my corset, my lingerie, my stockings, my heels, my dress, my wig, my jewelry, my purse… all set.

As I do these things, whether shaving my face, tucking, or pulling the laces of my corset, I am looking into the mirror. I am constantly moving so I don’t have time to really think (or reflect, lol) on how I look.

But eventually the dust (and glitter) settles and… there I am in the mirror.

And I look terrible. But I knew I would so it’s not toooo soul-crushing.

What I mean is that I am wearing a cute dress, my corset and forms have teamed up to do their best in giving me curves, and I have legs for days.

But HE is looking at me. I still have his face. Bags under my eyes, a slight blueish hue on my jawline, every wrinkle and crow feet that the years have given me. It’s not until my makeover that I feel better, that I feel femme, that the transformation, be it physical, emotional, and mental, is complete.

Makeup is amazing. My makeup artist is a gift from God. She is so good that my iPhone doesn’t unlock for Hannah… but as soon as I remove my foundation and eyeshadow it recognizes me.

Hannah struts out of the salon with the confidence of a four year old in a Batman t-shirt, with the confidence of a drag queen in platform stilettos.

It’s a sharp contrast to how I feel when I am leaving my home as I drive to my makeup appointment. I am, like spring or autumn, in a transitional state. HIS face, HER body. Halfway to heaven… a mile of out of hell. Almost beautiful but there’s work to be done.

Now, this is not to say that Hannah is happier than he is. I like both of my genders, both of my lives. Hannah’s world and Hannah’s reflection is one of beauty and bodycon dresses and stilettos. His life is quiet. Both worlds make me who I am. I need both halves to be whole. I will never choose one over the over and I don’t have to.

But goodness do I hate that drive to the salon. I hate catching glimpses in the rearview mirror. I hate the weird, unsettling, and dysphoric reflection.

Going out into the world en femme isn’t easy, especially the first time. It takes a lot of courage to wear makeup and a cute skirt and killer heels. But as hard as that is to do sometimes, it’s nothing compared to what it takes to interact with others in this weird state of girl body and boy face.

As my artist finishes my foundation, contouring, and eyes, she hands me a mirror before she picks up her lip liner and lipstick.

“How does that look?” she asks.

I look amazing. After all, she does amazing work. But there’s also the feeling that every trace of him is gone.

Not that I dislike HIM, mind you. I love him, lol. I like both halves of me. But my goodness I don’t need to see that tired old man when I am wearing a dress.

I tell her I look amazing and I thank her for all the work she is doing.

I’m sure she can hear me breath a sigh of relief.

Love, Hannah

La Femme Mystique Returns!

by Hannah

Specialty and dedicated services for girls like us are few and far between. I frequent salons allllll the time that generally cater to cis-women. I have had many makeovers from Ulta, MAC, and Sephora and while it’s true I may be the only t-girl in a chair getting her makeup done at any given time, I am not the first, nor will I ever be the last trans woman in that salon.

For some of us we aren’t ready to visit a place like these. We worry if the makeup artist has experience when it comes to the common makeup needs a girl like us has. I need more color correcting and contouring than my wife does, for example. We also want to work with an artist that is comfortable with a trans woman.

Most of the emails I get are from t-girls and crossdressers asking where to shop and find clothes that fit. But I also get a lot of emails asking where a girl like us can get their makeup done or if there’s a transformation studio in their area.

And honestly? There probably isn’t one. Studios and salons like that are not very common and they cater to a very niche cliental. If you live in an area that is fortunate enough to have one, you are indeed lucky.

Since I live in the Twin Cities (the collective term for Minneapolis and Saint Paul) I often get asked if there’s a transformation studio in the area. Most of these inquiries are from t-girls and crossdressers already living here or from those who are visiting the area.

Due to COVID many businesses paused some of their services but as we make our way out of the woods of the pandemic we are seeing many of them return. I am thrilled that makeup artist and photographer Rebecca has reopened La Femme Mystique!

I visited Rebecca a few years ago and had a lovely afternoon. She did my makeup, had a lot of girltalk, and took amazing photos.

I’m so happy she’s back and I know she would love to help you look your best.

Love, Hannah

Ask Hannah!

by Hannah

Can you tell me a good place to get a makeover and maybe a picture at a fair price (I’m a crossdresser)?

Thank you!

There are salons alllll over the world. I live in Saint Paul, Minnesota and I exclusively visit Rita Ambourn and Cajah Salon.

Google is (usually) our friend. If you search “makeovers + (city name)” you will find options. Sephora, Ulta, and MAC also do makeovers and in my experience are all very transfriendly. However, these salons paused makeovers during COVID and I am not sure if they have resumed doing them.

When it comes to scheduling a makeover, I never disclose that I am transgender or that I am a crossdresser. I totally get why some of us feel this is necessary, however. For some of us, we want to make sure that the artist is comfortable with meeting with a girl like us. Let’s face it, there are too many people in the world that hate the transcommunity. For others, we want to find an artist that is skilled when it comes to doing makeup for, well, a girl like us.

But here’s the thing. Every face shape is different, skin is different from person to person, makeup goals are different depending on the occasion.

If my wife and I each sit down for a makeover, we will each have a completely different experience. Not because she is cis and I am trans, our experiences will be influenced by things that have nothing to do with our genders.

She has a cute little heart shaped face. Mine is more square. Because of this, I need a lot more contouring than she does.

I have hair growing out of my cheeks. She does not. Therefore I need color correcting.

My wife has a light skin tone. Mine is darker. We each will use different foundations.

My wife tends to go for a more natural look. I am looking for BOLD.

None of these things have anything to do with gender. Some women have facial hair, some women have a square jawlines and so on.

I’ve been asked at every makeover I’ve ever had “what are we doing today?” This question is really asking “what are your makeup goals?”. My typical responses can be:

“I have a photo shoot today and I need makeup that can stand up to bright studio lights.”

“I’d like an eyeshadow that compliments the color of my dress.”

“I am wearing a light layer of foundation, could you please build and contour on top of that?”

“I prefer a really bold lip color and I love overdrawing my lips a little.”

“I’d love to accentuate my cheekbones.”

“I have a square jawline, I’d love to minimize that.”

“I feel like trying a smokey eye today.”

Again, none of these goals are saying “turn a boy into a girl”. These responses are specific and attainable.

As for photos, if you are in the Twin Cities area and you would like to schedule a photo shoot with my photographer Shannonlee, please email me and I will be happy to put you two in touch with each other.

If you are not in the area, again Google is your friend. I do understand wanting to find a photographer that is LGBTQIA+ friendly, so searching “LGBT photographer + (city name)” is the way to go.

Love, Hannah

Have a question for me?  Oh yes you do.  Ask me here!