How to Be a Feminine Guy

Co-authored by Tannya Bernadette and Eric McClure

Last Updated: October 9, 2022 References

Femininity is cultural and often created socially. This leads to certain assumptions regarding what appears to be feminine or masculine. How you become more feminine depends largely on your self-definition and feelings about gender expression. Being a feminine guy might mean making changes to your appearance or your behaviors to fit more into society's definitions of femininity. To appear more feminine, take good care of your skin, update your wardrobe to include some tighter-fitting clothing, and shave your facial hair off. To act more feminine, cross your legs when you’re sitting, speak with a higher-pitched voice, and be polite. Most importantly, be confident and embrace who you are!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Appearing More Feminine

1
Keep facial hair trimmed down and manage body hair. One of the easiest steps you can take to appear more feminine is to remove your facial hair. Use a razor and shaving cream to get rid of your facial hair, and shave regularly to fend off the 5 o’clock shadow. If you want to take it a step further, shave your legs, arms, and chest to get rid of your body hair.
- Electric razors tend to leave a little stubble behind. Use a standard razor and shaving cream to get a cleaner shave.
- Get a shower gel to shave in the shower if you want to moisturize your skin after shaving.
- Women and feminine people are generally expected to have less body and facial hair, but keeping it is perfectly fine!
2
Moisturize and practice regular skincare techniques to maintain blemish-free skin. Find a skincare routine that works for your skin type and budget. Wash your face daily with a high-quality face wash. Use eye cream to brighten the skin around your eyes. Use lotion every day to keep your skin healthy, happy, and smooth.
- Wear sunscreen and a hat if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the sun. The sun’s rays will damage your skin, making you appear more masculine.
Tip: If you work out a lot or have a job that requires a lot of sweating, get a good cleanser to clean your pores and refresh your skin.

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3
Wear tighter-fitting clothing that complements your body shape. Men tend to wear baggier clothing than women do, so updating your wardrobe to include some tighter clothing is a simple step you can take to appear more feminine. When lounging around, try some short shorts and a tight tank top or T-shirt. For formal events, try tighter slacks that ride a little higher on your waist and a form-fitting suit jacket.
- Trade in your standard-cut jeans for some slim-fit or skinny jeans. Pack the XXL T-shirts up, and get some flattering tank tops and V-cut shirts that are a little more form-fitting.
- If you’re on the bigger side, avoid going so tight that your clothing hugs your body. Pick clothing items that make you appear slimmer and have more folds or textures on them.
- You don’t have to wear women’s clothing to be a feminine guy, but you can if you’d like! Try wearing skirts, dresses, or flowy blouses if you want to try out some women’s clothing.
- Feminine clothing style is all about fit and color. You don’t have to wear anything tight if that’s not your vibe, but try balancing out your outfits a little more carefully to choose coherent looks.
4
Grow your hair out and style it in a way that works for you. Women tend to have longer hair than men, so growing your hair out will help you appear more feminine. Wait 6-12 months for your hair to grow out and style it. Brush it regularly and experiment with flat irons and curling irons to find a hair style that works for you. A ponytail is a simple choice, but you can really do it however you want. Let it hang loose in a simple straight cut, braid it, or tie it up however you’d like!
- Hats can be your best-friend when your hair is in that in-between state where it’s longer than short hair but not quite luscious enough to work with longer styles.
5
Wear makeup to accentuate your feminine features. Women are often expected to wear makeup, but it can also be a great way to express your femininity. Get a high-quality foundation that matches your skin tone and get a concealer to cover blemishes, pimples, and discoloration. Use blush to brighten your cheeks a little and make your face softer. Use eye shadow to make your eyes pop and give you the classic feminine look.^{[1]
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- If you’re uncomfortable with wearing makeup, skip it! Your brand of femininity doesn’t need to match everyone else’s picture of what femininity is.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Behaving More Femininely

1
Speak with an upward inflection and raise your pitch when speaking. To sound more feminine, raise your voice half an octave to make it comfortably lighter. When having everyday conversations, speak with a slight, upward inflection to make your voice sound softer. While it might feel kind of awkward at first, you’ll get used to speaking differently after a week or two!^{[2]
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Tip: Practice at home and when you’re in the shower. Talking to yourself when you’re hanging out at home is a good way to internalize your new voice.
2
Cross your legs when you’re sitting down and sit up straight. Body language is a big element of gender expression. Men tend to sit with their legs spread out, taking up a lot of space in the process. To seem more typically feminine, cross your legs over one another when you’re sitting down. When you’re standing, keep your legs closer together.^{[3]
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- Bring your elbows in when you’re standing so that they stay on your sides. Women tend to stand like this more frequently than men.
- Slouching tends to be a masculine move. Sit up and stand up straight to keep your frame straight and appear more woman-like.
3
Be more polite to come off as soft and gentle. Generally speaking, women tend to be more polite than men, which is because they are expected to be this way. Say “please” and “thank you” whenever you can, and use softer language to express complaints or concerns. For example, instead of saying, “I don’t know what you want from me,” say “I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand what you’d like me to do.” Managing your tone will give the overall impression that you’re more feminine.^{[4]
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- This is where the stereotype that women are passive-aggressive comes from. They aren’t passive-aggressive, they just tend to state complaints politely!
4
Trust your intuition and listen to your instincts. To get in touch with your personal vision of femininity, you need to recognize that ego, social norms, and logic are going to get in the way. Leave your reservations aside and start to trust your natural instincts. Be confident that your own emotional truths are worth exploring and engage with them to develop a better sense of what it actually means to be emotionally intuitive.^{[5]
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- As you learn to ignore your ego, you’ll notice that it’s easier to calibrate how you feel about yourself without shading your self-image with society’s expectations for you.
- Being sensitive just means that you accurately identify your feelings and respond accordingly. This is commonly seen as a feminine trait because men are stereotypically seen as more logical and prone to ignore the way they feel.
5
Accept who you are and embrace it with confidence! Unfortunately, people can be judgmental. If you find people critiquing you or trying to put you down, ignore them. They’re just projecting their own insecurities on to you. Own who you are be proud of it. With enough confidence, you can make any look, style, or behavior your own!
- Stand up for yourself and tell your friends if they’re ever being cruel. They may simply not recognize that they’re behaving in a way that’s upsetting you.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I shave my pubic hair?

Community Answer

Rinse the area for about two minutes with very warm water (take care that the water isn't hot enough to burn or scald your skin). This will soften the hair shaft and make the area easier to shave. You'll definitely need to use some shaving cream or gel if your hair is course and wiry. Go slow, shave in the direction of the hair growth, and make sure you stretch the skin around you scrotum so you don't cut your skin. Remember to go slow and be careful. To prevent after-shave irritation, apply an after-shave gel specifically formulated for the pubic region to the area.
Question

Isn't it more about your demeanor than appearance?

Community Answer

That depends on what you define as feminine, but using refined mannerisms, walking with upright posture, and swaying and/or rotating your hips in a forward and back motion could usually be considered feminine mannerisms.
Question

What if your parents won't accept you doing it, but you really want to?

Minibean

Community Answer

This one's really difficult to answer. It entirely depends on who your parents are and what your own goals are when it comes to this kind of thing. If your parents see feminine men as a bad thing, unfortunately all you can do is wait it out. You can still do it without them knowing. Just make sure you behave more masculine around the house. Bring a change of clothes with you if you want to wear feminine clothes when you go out.

Warnings

Be careful about violating the dress code at work. Depending on where you live, it may be legal for your employer to reprimand you for wearing heels, makeup, or having a certain hair style. It’s unfortunate, but it’s a reality in some states and countries.

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