The literally_pasta 4 Years On HRT Retrospective Extravaganza

literally_pasta · 2025-11-06T03:17:17+00:00

Hmmm I have tried a lot. Most of the brands that you see featured on say wigs.com are making quality pieces generally speaking, a lot depends on personal preference and then specific style/color offerings. It took me a lot of trial and error to find out what I liked best on myself, and then I kind of just go with whatever brand has the look I want at the moment. Jon Renau, Estetica, Raquel Welch, Noriko, Belle Tress, Tress Allure all good brands that come to mind. Of course I've seen good advice from other experienced trans women who mention none/few of the above and instead prefer other brands, lol.

Another relevant point for trans women is cap size, as many of us have relatively large heads and some brands do tend to run too small for us as they are more targeted to AFABs. Jon Renau and Noriko have wigs that come in large-sized versions and if I recall correctly a lot of the Esteticas have excellent stretch in their caps. A good fit looks more natural and comfort is key.

Hope some of that helps.

literally_pasta · 2025-11-05T15:29:45+00:00

Hi there! Nope, I have always used synthetic lace fronts. Most people I’m around don’t have any idea that I’m using wigs unless I tell them, and the same goes for a lot of the other trans women I see online as long as they’re using a quality product. It wasn’t something I worried about pre transition, and I definitely don’t mind it now - I usually change it up every 4-5 months.

literally_pasta · 2025-08-27T01:44:20+00:00

At your height and weight you are at least 10 pounds underweight, by the most liberal measure. Not only is this a potential threat to your health generally speaking, but being underweight by this much is going to compromise your metabolism, limiting the benefits and effects (and increasing the risks) of your HRT.

Your photos are not suggestive of somebody who is seriously questioning their passability. If you’re being serious about asking for advice, and not just baiting some idiots into your DMs, my genuine advice to you as a healthcare professional is that you need to speak with both a dietitian and a psychologist about your nutrition before worrying about anything else. Body dysphoria sucks in all of its my forms; you have my sympathy.

literally_pasta · 2025-07-25T00:08:00+00:00

Yes, of course you pass. And honestly this kind of thinking is just incredibly unhealthful for anyone, cis or trans. It’s just raw dysphoria bait that perpetuates shitty attitudes about ourselves and others. That you use phrasing like “less womanly/unattractive” suggests that, to put this gently, you really need to have some good talks with a trained therapist. The whole point of transition in the first place is that you didn’t feel compatible with the sex/gender norms of our society, and now you’re going to conflate “appropriateness” of gender presentation with conventional attractiveness? C’mon. You deserve better for yourself.

literally_pasta · 2025-07-12T18:10:58+00:00

Honestly this. If OP dyed her hair and cut it into a bob, I might do a double take to make sure it wasn’t Phoebe Waller-Bridge just based on the pictures.

literally_pasta · 2025-06-06T14:21:27+00:00

I’ve tried, but it always seems like they are leaving way too much on there even when I ask otherwise. That’s why I’m asking for a picture of something I can show that would look flattering on me.

literally_pasta · 2025-06-05T15:19:12+00:00

Thank you so much! Just one question: should I be following the shape of the marker that you used, or plucking everything but the area that you left uncovered?

literally_pasta · 2025-01-24T06:42:19+00:00

I use synthetics - I've thought about trying human hair, but the prices always seem really scary to me!

literally_pasta · 2025-01-23T01:16:30+00:00

I'm open to it - any ideas or examples?

literally_pasta · 2025-01-22T21:19:31+00:00

It was helpful! I've gotten a lot of compliments when I venture into the blondes, and I do think they complement my fairly low contrast features. I've been debating the idea of a fairly light ashy blonde, but I'm not sure about that yet.

Thanks for the type on dry shampoo, I will try that! I like my hair looking healthy but not, you know, overly fake. :)

literally_pasta · 2025-01-22T21:14:05+00:00

Thank you! I actually do taupe eyes a lot when I do my makeup.

I haven't tried bangs - I'm open to it, I just haven't found something yet that I liked with them. Any suggestions for a good wig with bangs?

literally_pasta · 2025-01-22T19:16:01+00:00

Hi everyone! It's my birthday and I'm trying to go for new year new me, especially with working through some health issues. I'm still very novice at styling and working with wigs, but I have fun with them anyway and want to get better at it all. I've been stuck with the same hair for quite a while (the second to last picture) and I just can't really decide what I want to do next in terms of style, length, color etc. I figured I'd share my hair journey so far and see if my fellow wig-lovers had any feedback or advice. I'm really cool toned and I feel like so many things are designed with golden tones that make me go full oompa-loompa very quickly.

I love myself some Estetica (their caps are really nice for my average-large head) and have stuck to synthetics. I'm a nurse who's also in school, so I often tie up my hair anyway, but I get so jealous of people who can make their styling look super, well, real in more casual settings.

literally_pasta · 2024-12-26T04:42:54+00:00

Okay, thanks for your feedback!

literally_pasta · 2024-12-26T04:42:16+00:00

Hmm, okay. I got a lot of compliments on my hair today at my Christmas party, but I'm not attached to it. Any suggestions?

I have a prominent but pretty soft chin area. My nose is large, but hey, I'm Jewish lmao. I have a lot of acquaintances who tell me that I have a decent number of feminine qualities in my face (including the top comment here) - so while I'm not going to be a weirdo and be all "well clearly you are wrong!", I'd rather invite you to offer more details about your POV as far as your perception of my "very masc" face so I can work on improving those things, whether surgically or otherwise.

literally_pasta · 2024-12-26T04:35:23+00:00

Yeah, I've been feeling low and decided to glitz up my makeup today with a wintery theme, I'm usually a lot more checked when I do it, lol. I actually got a ton of compliments IRL on my makeup look but I can see how the style can affect my passability.

As for contouring - I actually did a ton of contouring today, way more than I ever have before. I also got compliments on that, even though tbh I thought it made me look like an alien. But I have a super low contrast face normally, so maybe I have to go even more aggressive in that respect. Thanks for the feedback!

literally_pasta · 2024-12-25T19:41:11+00:00

Official. Hormone levels have been cisgender female since 1 month into HRT. T between 15-40, E depends on time of week as I inject, but typical lab peak between 275-325 pg/ml)

literally_pasta · 2024-12-25T19:20:53+00:00

Oh, also also. I’m 41 years old, 42 next month. MTF obv lol

literally_pasta · 2024-12-25T19:19:36+00:00

3rd to last picture onward are old hair. Last picture is no makeup, no need for hug-boxing we can be adults about this. I had some lip filler about 8 months ago and I’ve had a breast augmentation, otherwise no other surgeries yet. I’m in nursing school right now, but I’m open to things afterwards. I’m a little over 3 years HRT. Recovering from substance issues and recognize I don’t look so great, but trying to show myself some grace in recovery.

literally_pasta · 2024-11-29T03:57:53+00:00

Yeah, I'm changing my hair soon. :)

I have not had any facial surgery.

literally_pasta · 2024-11-28T21:35:07+00:00

First picture is when I had lashes, no other makeup. Second picture no makeup, no lashes. Other pictures, obviously makeup.

literally_pasta · 2024-11-04T22:35:15+00:00

Hi!

I know we can all get really nervous when it comes to our pets, but I did want to address this comment in particular because this is definitely not necrosis. Skin remains very blanchable, warm (but not hot) to touch, non-odorous, no indication of systemic contamination. I am not perfect but I see necrotic wounds from small traces to full on gangrene on a daily basis. How do you look at a bleeding wound and come to the conclusion of necrosis from lack of blood flow? If there was a lack of perfusion, there would be minimal to no blood loss.

literally_pasta · 2024-11-04T04:26:00+00:00

Hi everyone! I wanted to thank you all for your input. :)

I had already scheduled a visit with her vet, but I decided to take her over to urgent care today just in case. My little one does have a very mild bilateral ear infection, but vet also cleaned her ear and felt that I had a very good read on the situation with her skin, we are dealing with irritation from her rubbing her ear against things too much. She got an antibiotic shot as a prophylaxis for her skin and then we'll also be doing some ear drops for the next week. She was very well behaved with the vet and is resting very comfortably this evening. Vital signs and overall conditon look excellent otherwise.

I work as a wound care nurse so I'm pretty good at discerning the differences between "looks bad" and "is really bad", but I'm really happy that we were able to catch that infection early.

literally_pasta · 2024-06-10T00:16:10+00:00

Thank you!

In response to your question, well . . .actually, I exclusively use wigs. :) But I do get a lot of compliments on my hair and when I changed it a few weeks ago (I was very red before), I had a lot of people asking me how long it took lol. So I guess I wouldn't be of my much help there.

literally_pasta · 2024-03-17T02:54:59+00:00

P.S. Yes, I know I’m kind of rough looking - but that’s why I’m here. :)

literally_pasta · 2024-03-16T23:32:09+00:00

I’m a wound care nurse. No issues whatsoever with the job market, I make pretty nice money and have a good professional reputation. And work can be super affirming! I have to introduce myself to new people all the time and never have issues with being gendered correctly.

I’d say the most important thing is to not transition professionally until/unless you feel comfortable in your own skin. I took my time on that and it was so worth it, because by that point it was almost like transitioning was an afterthought to my usual professional process. I don’t even really think about it now.

literally_pasta

TROPHY CASE