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Nov 201520

Wigs

frequently asked questions, how to guides

WIGS

  wigWhat kind of wig would suit my face? Different faces suit different hairstyles - here is a guide
  • Oval - As its name implies, the Oval Shaped Face is longer than wide, with a jaw that's narrower than the cheekbones. Because the oval shaped face has no dominant areas and is so proportional, this face looks good with just about any hairstyle, length or texture. WGS106
  • Round shaped face - a wide hairline and fullness below the cheekbones. These faces look very good with a geometric or linear style. Add height, when possible, and long, wispy side areas to make the cheeks look narrow. Comb hair close to the head on the side and at the nape.
  • WGS104Square Shape Face - comprises of a wide hairline and jaw. Square shaped faces need height on top and narrowness at the sides. Comb the hair off the forehead to add height to the face. Curly texture and wisps of hair around the face break the wide, straight lines common to the square face.
  • The Diamond Shape Face - is characterized by a narrow chin and forehead with wide cheekbones. Diamond shaped faces need narrow sides and fullness at the chin. Bobs work very well for this shape. Avoid wearing height on top or volume on the sides. Use some fringe or bang to cover narrow forehead.WGS100
  • WGS110The HEART Shape Face - has a wide forehead and a narrower chin. Bring some hair onto the forehead to disguise its width. Keep hair close to the head at the eyes but make it slightly full around the jaw, and below and in front of the earlobes.
  • PEAR Shape Face - is characterized by a small or narrow forehead and a rather large pouchy-appearing jawline. Comb hair to add width from the eye level through the crown of the head. Set and comb hair close to the head on the sides and at the nape.WGS069
  • The OBLONG Shape Face is characterized by a very long and narrow bone structure. The client who has an oblong facial shape often has a long, thin neck. Use a fringe or half-bang across the forehead by creating soft waves or curls in the crown and nape areas. This helps to create the illusion of an oval.WGS068
What colour wig will suit me? Often eye colour helps us select a wig colour. We know that red is opposite to green and blue and as such, sets up a beautiful contrast. Blue eyes are a standout when framed with a red wig. Once we decide to go to red, we look at complexion to select the proper red, with fair complexions favoring the light reds, such as Irish Red, and dark complexions favoring the auburns. WGS105Complexion is also a very important guide in selecting hair colour. A strong contrast such as a pale complexion with jet black hair, is great for making people notice your face, but you'd better have a Snow White clear complexion as well. Strong contrast causes the eye to see complexions very clearly, and if that is a good feature for you, you should consider toning down the contrast a bit. You can go too far when toning down contrast. With no contrast at all, your face gets lost completely, like a painting without a frame. We often see this at our salon very often. It can be an interesting effect, but it's not one you normally would want to live with day in and day out. Dark Complexions and eye colours can still benefit from some contrast with hair colour. Often a dark brown complexion will be set off with light chocolate hair, or  jet black. Then light brown complexions get contrast with dark brown hair. It's a vice-versa sort of thing, with the big idea being to get some contrast. The amount of contrast is up to you, remembering that strong contrast causes the eye to focus and pay attention. After the eye is done paying attention, the brain makes decision as to whether or not it likes what it has seen, based on myriads of reasons which include believability. But even the unbelievable can be beautiful. That's one of the great things about wigs. They allow you to change, without really changing. What size wig should I order? Men and women tend to have similar sizes of heads. In fact a lot of women have larger heads than some men. So gender isn't really a factor in head size. The wigs do adjust and are meant to fit smugly. Many men can wear the women's styles of wigs. Just like clothing and shoes, they are slightly different in shape and size even though they are sized as "average". The only other "size" besides average, is "petite" and these do have a much smaller size cap. If your head is unusually small, then you can wear a petite although not many wigs come in petite. If you are looking for petite sized wigs, type the word petite in the search box. How do I put my wig on? Firstly secure your hair. Turn your wig partially inside out. You will see two little tabs about where a man's sideburns would be on the wig. Those tabs end up over your temples and are what you use to tug the wig on. Hold the tabs and put the wig across your forehead. Pull in on the best you can and gently pull the back down over the wig cap. Re-center the wig using the tabs... push the wig back a bit... don't have it too far down. Fit on the wig cap can sometimes be adjusted just by adjusted the tabs at the bottom of the wig cap... are there little bits of elastic and hooks or Velcro there??? Adjust the edges so it feels comfortable. Determine in advance how much stress you're putting on the wig before you wear it for the day. If you are going to be wearing a wig all day or while doing strenuous things (like larp or all day at a faire). Be sure to pin the wig down securely. The wefts of the wig can be hair pinned in. For all day strenuous wear... recognize that it is going to be like wearing a very warm cap. Don't get overheated Sometimes the cap might fit, but the wig might be too full and need to be trimmed down. It is a good idea to have the wig cut at a salon so that the hair length fits the face of the person wearing it. If your hair is short, the wig will just fit over it and you can tuck in anything that may stick out. If your hair is long, it is quite likely you can fit all your hair in without a lump. I have seen long curly hair flatten down enough to wear a very short pixie. It just takes some practice. It will need to be put up and flattened-- preferably with a wig cap--so that it doesn't "pouf out" and make lumps in the wig. Do NOT make a bun. The wig should fit snugly, with the bottom of the wig all the way down to the nape of your neck, and the front of the wig up to your front hairline, somewhat like a swim cap. There may even be ear tabs on the sides that fit in front of your ears and help you to get the wig on straight. If it is too loose or two tight, take the wig off, adjust the tabs at the nape, and try it on again. The wig will need to be brushed or "finger combed" into place once it is on you head. You may secure the wig to your own hair with hair pins. Or if you do not have hair, you may used toupee tape. Do the wigs come styled like in the picture? Do I have to style them myself? All our wigs are designed to be easy to wear and require the minimum of effort to style. How long will my wig last? Human and synthetic can last about the same amount of time. A wig can last from a few months to several years. Like clothing, it depends on how well you treat them and how often you wear them. On the average, a wig lasts about 6 months if worn everyday. What makes a wig more convincing? If you find a basic style that you like but think it is too full or too long, it is best to keep the wig instead of returning it, and having it trimmed to fit your individual face. Remember just because you have bought an expensive wig, that does not mean the style it is going to look good on you. Will wearing a wig ruin my natural hair? Hair grows on the average about a half an inch a month. Pressure does not keep hair from growing. The only thing that will stop hair from growing is lack of circulation or clogged pores.Stay away from "wax" conditioners (like cream rinses). Also, your scalp does need to be stimulated. I highly suggest massaging your scalp vigorous about 15 minutes daily. This can be accomplished by brushing your scalp maybe before you go to bed or while watching TV or reading. It will keep the hair follicles clear and the blood flow going to the roots. I also suggest using our human hair leave-in detangler. It contains a conditioner that helps the skin and hair follicle. How do I care for my wig? Storage - when you remove your wig, keep it on a wig stand (or "head form") to maintain the shape. Smooth out straight hair or fluff curls with a wire brush or pick. Cover with a hair net that holds the style without matting. Avoid leaving your wig near heat (radiators, vents), humidity (showers), or dusty areas. Wearing - once you have become accustomed to your wig, it's easy to go about your daily activities. Just remember to avoid blasts of heat - such as quickly opening an oven door - on synthetic wigs. When cooking, please be sure not to open the oven while wearing your wig. Also, try not to expose the wig to any other heat source, such as a blow dryer, curling iron, clothes dryer, etc. You can use regular mousse daily on synthetic and human hair wigs for extra body and a more natural look and feel. Can I wash my wig? If you are washing a synthetic wig use shampoo and conditioner made specifically for synthetic wigs (do not use a mild shampoo as it will cause the hair to oxidize). Remember to:
  • Put the wig on a styrofoam head or wig saver after washing (do not use cans, lamps, etc.)
  • Use hairsprays made specifically for synthetic wigs.
  • Do not use any form of human hair mousse, gels or spritzers.
  • Any type of heat will cause wig fibres to frizz (lamps, ovens/stoves, heat from body).
  • Do not attempt to cut the wig or hairpiece as it must be professionally done.
  • Do not use use any form of curling irons, hot rollers or blow dryers.
  • We recommend using a Silicon spray to protect the synthetic hair from frizzing, drying out and fading.
Shampooing frequency depends on wearing frequency. Generally, a wig should be washed after every 6-8 wearings in warm climates or after every 12-15 wearings in coolers ones. However, if you're especially active, use heavy hairspray, or live in an especially humid or poor air quality climate, you should wash about once a week to remove excess perspiration and dirt.

Nov 201520

Stand by your Board

frequently asked questions, how to guides

STAND BY YOUR BOARD

  Getting In The Mood So the first stage is to dress for the part, get yourself mentally attuned as a diligent housewife. Skirts must be worn at all times, preferably protected by a pretty apron or pinafore. Setting The Temperature. First look at the care label on the garment to see what fabric it is made from, and what setting the manu- facturers recommend. Some irons actually have a fabric guide the majority do not. Most irons now have thermostatic settings symbolised by a series of dots You just set the iron to the setting marked on the care label. The symbols most commonly used are these: If you are in doubt, please do be cautious. Start with a cool iron and if this doesn't seem to do the trick increase the temperature until the creases dissapear. How easily this happens will also depend on the moisture in the garment, so let's look at judging the moisture. Judging The Moisture. Just like when you first learned to walk in high heels, judging whether your clothes are too damp or too dry to iron is all a matter of balance. If the clothes are too wet when they are ironed you will get a poor finish and they will probably need ironing later. But then again if the fabric has been allowed to get too dry it is often impossible to achieve a smooth, crisp finish. And we do want it crisp, don't we? For most common |fabrics you will need Ito iron them when they are just slightly damp to the touch. If they are already dry, either use the steam setting if your iron has one, or use a small spray such as you might buy for household plants. Just be careful with silk and viscose as these fabrics will show water marks and so should not be sprayed. Chiffon, Practise your technique georgette, crepe and acrylic fibres should only be ironed when they are completely dry.
    Practice Is Perfect Now we have covered the basics of ironing it is time to pop on your pinnies, stand by your boards and practise your technique. Are we all ready? So let's make a start. 1. Dampen the garment if necessary and set your iron to the required temperature for the garment to be ironed. 2. Iron the hems and the seams first, before moving on to the collars, then sleeves and pockets, and finally the main body of the garment. 3. As a general rule always iron in the direction of the grain of the fabric using long, smooth strokes over as large an area as possible. The exceptions to these are: Iron fine wool with a light circular motion. Iron knitted rayon diagonally. Iron embroidery on the wrong side over a thick blanket or pad. Iron tucks and gathers with the point of the iron. Iron heavier materials by laying a damp, lint free cloth on top. This is the only way to get crisp pleats in skirts. And remember girls, once you have taken all this trouble to get your clothes looking neat and smart, do be careful about how you then hang them up. Try to ensure you have enough cupboard space to allow your blouses, dresses and skirts to hang freely. If that means you have to be ruthless at times and actually pass on some of your little worn clothes to Oxfam, so be it. If you are in doubt, please do be cautious. Start with a cool iron and if this doesn't seem to do the trick increase the temperature until the creases dissapear. How easily this happens will also depend on the moisture in the garment, so let's look at judging the moisture.

Nov 201520

Exfoliating Your Skin

frequently asked questions, how to guides

EXFOLIATING YOUR SKIN

  exfoliateSteps: 1. Brush dry skin before getting into the shower. You can use either a loofah, exfoliating gloves or a body exfoliating brush. Start at the soles of the feet and work your way up. 2. Get into the bath or shower and wet your entire body. 3. Apply exfoliating cleanser to your loofah or exfoliating brush or gloves. 4. Scrub your body with it, using gentle, circular motions. 5. Opt for grainy types of cleansers to clean the skin, rather than soap. Choose exfoliating cleansers that contain ingredients such as oatmeal, ground almonds or even sea salt. The grainy texture exfoliates the skin. 6. Make your own exfoliating cleanser, if you prefer. Mix sea salt, olive oil and lemon shower 2juice together, or mix ground almonds and powdered milk. The combinations are endless. 7. Use a washcloth for mild exfoliation. 8. Rub rough spots, such as heels, with a pumice stone or stick. 9. Apply lotion containing alpha or beta hydroxy acids after you exfoliate. This will continue the exfoliating process because the acids further abrade and remove dead skin cells. 10. Be sure to use body moisturizers at least once every day. Regular exfoliating is extremely drying to the skin and will do more harm than good unless the skin is rehydrated liberally with lotions. Tips: Some products are more abrasive than others. If your skin is very sensitive, use as little friction as possible and stick to the least abrasive products. Warning: Never overexfoliate with excessively abrasive exfoliating cleansers, or you run the risk of bursting the delicate blood vessels under the skin. If the vessels burst, your skin may appear permanently flushed. This condition, known as telangiectasia, must then be treated using laser surgery.

Nov 201520

Cache Sex How do they work

frequently asked questions, how to guides

CACHE SEX HOW DO THEY WORK

 

When you were born everything is up inside the abdomen. Now years later, the cavity is still there. In the pictures your have seen the people may have tucked everything back up inside this cavity. Sometimes the opening to the cavity is small and a doctor is required to help drop the tissue down. Mostly the opening to the cavity is large enough to move the tissue up into the cavity without any problem and then if not held in place, the tissue falls back into the normal position. The straps on the cache sex should hold the tissue in place without any problems.

 

This is where a cache sex comes in. Once the tissue is in place, the cache sex holds it in place. Some people use tape and shave the area.



Nov 201520

Learning To Walk Properly

frequently asked questions, how to guides

LEARNING TO WALK PROPERLY

  A graceful walk is actually good posture in motion; the traditional training method is to practice with a book on your head. Now, balancing a book (or anything else) on top of your head forces your body into proper alignment – and that is the foundation of both good posture and an attractive walk! Here’s how your body should shape up when alignment is correct: rib cage vertical, not tilted forward or backward… pelvis straight (if you had a tail, it would hang straight down, not tucked under between your legs!)… knees and feet pointing straight ahead. A plumb line would fall just in front of ankle bone, just behind kneecap, through center of hip joint and middle of waist, shoulder, ear lobe. (If you’d like to check yourself out, you can hang a tape measure down a full-length mirror and see.) When you walk, your footprints should look like this: Feet are turned out just the tiniest bit and placed in almost a straight line – only an inch or two apart. The length of your stride is determined by how tall you are and how long your legs are. (Average stride is about one foot for women.) If you are long-legged and take small strides, your walk may be of the mincing variety… like a goose, it looks silly! Conversely, if you’re petite and have a long stride, you may look like a drill sergeant pompously marching along, and you need to shorten your stride a bit. In doubt about your footprint pattern? Try walking barefoot in wet sand. How your body’s weight is distributed when you stand or walk is vital.   The Mensendieck method of body mechanics advocates training muscles to automatically maintain the “balanced standing position:” Weight is not on heels, but on the “inner margin ball” of the foot, just behind the big toe. Place your feet in a parallel position, tighten buttocks and inner thigh muscles, lower the shoulder blades and stretch the spine, pulling your head back and up (never let your head poke forward like a turtle). There! That’s the balanced standing position, and, once in it, your figure will look its very best! Now, relax a bit (but keep your weight on the inner margin ball of your feet), and start walking slowly. Swing legs from the hip socket (without twitching derriere at every step!) and keep your body aligned: shoulders level, head up and back, shoulder blades lowered, rib cage vertical. With each step, your heel hits the ground first… then weight instantly rolls forward along the outside edge of foot onto the big toe – with which you push off for the next step. This shift of weight is done smoothly, with a continuous, fluid motion. Now that you know what to do, here are some don’ts: Don’t toe in or toe out… shift hips from side to side… take giant strides or tiny baby steps… lead with your head… swing your shoulders… bob up and down. That’s all there is to it! Happy walking… You never looked better! Article kindly published from Karen Ann Taylor's Transgender and Information Library  

Nov 201520

Should I tell the one I love?

frequently asked questions, how to guides

SHOULD I TELL THE ONE I LOVE

Whichever path we choose only one thing can be certain, unless you are very lucky indeed you are likely to endure much heartache and frustration along the way. If the answer is no, you may be committing yourself to a life of secrecy and deceit, if the answer is yes, you will probably run the risk of being misunderstood and rejected. Of course, this will not be the case for everyone and I can only draw on my own experiences to come to these conclusions. However, I am pretty sure that there must be plenty of other transvestites out there whose story is not that different than mine. I can remember being as young as twelve years old standing naked in front of a mirror with my boyfriend carefully tucked out of sight innocently admiring a reflection that had a strange hint of femininity about it. At this time I had no idea why I did this, all I know was that it felt pleasant and comforting. At sixteen having secured a Saturday job and having some spare money, I found myself inexplicably purchasing woman's underwear, wonderfully soft silky and delicate panties and bras. I built up quite a collection. Whenever I was alone I would select my favourite items, put them on and spend hours parading in front of the all-important mirror savouring the pleasant feeling it gave me. To my absolute horror my secret collection was discovered by my mother and for the first time in my life I was made to feel guilt and shame for my behaviour. Despite being hurt and confused by the subsequent anger and derision, I quickly replaced my confiscated belongings, found a more secure hiding place and continued to dress up as often as possible. At seventeen I met and fell in love with my first real girlfriend, Irene, and as our relationship blossomed I longed to let her in on my little secret, but the right moment never seemed to come. When we arranged to spend a weekend away together at a caravan park in the countryside an idea suddenly occurred to me. As we unpacked I feigned annoyance telling my girlfriend that I had forgotten to take any spare underwear with me. I managed to persuade Irene to lend me some of her's and she gave me a pair of skimpy powder-blue satin panties. Feelings Later on in the local pub she playfully teased me that the outline of her panties were clearly visible through my trousers and what would all the other customers think if they know what I was wearing. I had engineered the situation but failed to take full advantage of it and express my true feelings, something I have always regretted. Instead we laughed and joked about it, I suggested that maybe I could borrow some of her underwear in the future but this was met with a cool response. The act of wearing those panties in her presence and with her full knowledge was an extremely elating experience, but not wishing to upset Irene I pushed the matter no further. However, I could not stop the compulsive desire to dress up and so I carried on in private and my little collection started to grow. I obtained a skirt and blouse, a dress, more underwear and some makeup. Our love for each other grew and at eighteen we married, moved away from home and started to make a life together.We were very happy together, but I felt that there was something missing, I desperately wanted to tell my new wife about my peculiar habit, but could not find the words or the courage to do so. As a compromise, keeping my own feminine belongings well hidden, I suggested that it might be fun for me to dress up in some of her clothes as a game, a prelude to sex. In my naivety I imagined that this solution would make it easier for Irene to accept my needs to cross-dress and that, although it was not exactly what I wanted, I at least had the opportunity to dress in feminine clothes in her presence.  
  Uncomfortable I should have been more honest and come clean, it was an uncomfortable arrangement for the both of us. Although Irene let me indulge myself it was far from perfect, she was confused that her husband, a man, should want to wear her clothes for no apparent reason other than a game, and for my part I was gaining very little pleasure from these occasional opportunities. For me, dressing as a woman had nothing to do with sexual gratification, I didn't want to become a woman and I definitely wasn't gay, and yet because of my inability to express my true feelings those were the thoughts that were going through my wife's mind. And with no logical explanation from me, who could blame her really? I spent long hours deliberating over the problem and trying to figure out a way to tell Irene, I became obsessed with wanting her to understand me. The pressure of keeping this secret to myself was starting to become an intolerable burden. It was such a simple, harmless and innocent pleasure, so why did it evoke such misunderstanding and prejudice? It wasn't something dirty or perverted, in fact quite the opposite. When I had rid my body of hair, slipped into skimpy lace trimmed underwear, pulled on my stockings and high heels, put on my skirt and blouse, placed my wig upon my head and applied my makeup I stepped into another world, a better more peaceful and gentle world. The stresses and strains of everyday life seemed to drift away, worries and anxieties were replaced with an aura of beautiful tranquil pleasure. How could this be so wrong? I stopped requesting our little game and reverted to dressing in secret again, alone and isolated, but at least I was dressing as a woman for my own reasons and not as a compromise. I continued like this for some time and life went on - we had two beautiful daughters and we went through the normal ups and downs that all couples have to endure. On the face of it we were a very happy, healthy couple except that I was leading this terrible double life. On the one hand I was the respectable loving husband and father and on the other this person who craved to dress up as a woman in secret because there didn't seem to be any other choice. The burden of keeping my feminine half hidden soon began to take its toll and I am sure my family suffered as a consequence. I became increasingly bad tempered and irritable and started to turn to drink for solace. I couldn't see it then but I became a pitiful creature full of self pity and sorrow, and it was all my own creation. I went through bouts of depression and guilt, throwing away all my feminine belongings, promising myself that I could live without it only to find a couple of months later that the irresistle urge would return with a gretaer intensity. I would then go out on mad shopping sprees replacing everything that I had lost, and so began an expensive destructive cycle that was to last for fifteen years. Every so often I approached Irene asking her if she would agree to my dressing up in her presence, but my requests were always greeted with an emphatic no. This did not help my growing anxiety and depression, but it was not her fault, it was mine. Why couldn't I have just been more honest from the beginning. It would have made life so much easier...  
  Mistake In one last desperate act I took advantage of a weekend alone with Irene while the children were staying with relatives and persuaded her to let me dress up in front of her. She agreed, but it was a mistake, a very big mistake. I felt so happy as I prepared myself, ensuring that I looked my best. Irene's jaw dropped as I entered the room in my favourite outfit, high heeled court shoes, stockinged legs, a short black velour mini-skirt, a wine coloured blouse, my face fully made up and my mousey blonde wig. she could not bear to look at me and after only fifteen minutes sitting on the sofa together she ran out of the room. I following and found her sobbing uncontrollably on the bed, she couldn't cope and was devastated, and it frightened me - this time I had surely gone too far. I had seen Irene upset before but this was different, I had a real feeling that I could lose her. That scared me. I loved her dearly and couldn't even contemplate life without her. Stripping off and scrubbing my face I stuffed all my feminine belongings into a large refuse sack and put it out with the rubbbish. I tried to comfort her, promising her that I would change, that I would block my compulsation out altogether, but it did not last long. How shallow my promise was. Once again I found myself purchasing the clothes, underwear, make-up, shoes and wig that I could not live without, and again I started to dress in secret. Then something happen to change my life again, I had embarked on a quest to become a writer. I had always been quite artistic and I thought this would be a new way to express myself. After several rejected manuscripts I decided to follow some advice and write something I know about intimately. After one more rejection, my first short story was accepted! I was overjoyed and when I told Irene, to my surprise, she shared my joy. She said she was proud of me and pleased with my success. Misconceptions As subsquent scripts were accepted we began to openly discuss my strange obsession for the first time. In the evenings when we took our regular walk in the woods I was able to explain to Irene about the many different aspects of transvestism, why people did it and most importantly why I did it. It was wonderful to be able to talk like this, to explore the myths and misconceptions and my wife listened with genuine interest and curiosity. It was like a huge burden being lifted from my shoulders and I felt ten years younger, the relief at finally being understood was incredible. I still dress up on my own when I have the house to myself because I know that it's not Irene's cup of tea and I respect that, but now there is a big difference. I have not exactly got her blessing, but I do have her understanding and sympathy and that is very precious to me. I no longer suffer from depression or pangs of guilt and can enjoy my cross dressing for the simple pleasure that it is. I now only feel happiness in the knowledge that I have a one-in-milion, long suffering, loving and understanding wife.

Nov 201520

Sounding Like a Woman

frequently asked questions, how to guides

SOUNDING LIKE A WOMAN

Fortunately for us, there is no such thing as a 'normal female voice'. Our voices are almost as individual as our faces, and any individual voice is capable of great variation. We can speak nasally, harshly or huskily almost at will. You will, no doubt, think your voice is too low in pitch, but bear in mind that pitch is only one factor in a voice, and other factors can compensate for low pitch. Earth Kitt's voice, for example, is very low pitched, but is unmistakeably feminine. In fact, a low pitched feminine voice can sound very sexy. It is important to remember that your are not trying to get a completely new voice, just to feminise your own existing voice. Your dialect or accent should be preserved, and you should be careful to keep your individuality. Relaxed self confidence is a necessary first step in developing your new feminised voice. Undue tension in any part of the body will interfere with the easy functioning of the vocal chords. This is often accompanied by excessive concentration which also prevents natural speech. Before starting an exercise, stretch your muscles to remove any undue tension, and then relax. As much like a cat as possible, stretch and relax. Try to avoid doing the following speech therapy exercises when there is too much background noise - complete silence would be ideal. It may even be a good idea to draw the curtains to help dampen the sounds of the outside world. Stretch, and relax.... Breath Control After relaxation, breath control is the next most essential in feminising your voice. Good speech stems from breathing correctly and in a controlled way. If you cannot control your breath you will not be able to control your voice. Stand with your body weight slightly forward, with heels lightly on the ground, shoulders loose and head erect. Take a deep breath and allow it to escape slowly and evenly. Practise this once or twice before attempting to use your breath to speak. When you do speak, be careful not to spend all of your breath at the beginning of the phrase. You should have enough to last comfortably until the end of the phrase, or even have a little left over. Allow any extra breath to escape without sound. A puff of air at the end of the phrase is both unnecessary and unfeminine. Controlling your breath as above, repeat the following phrases: I am going shopping today Could you tell me the time please? Can I try this blouse on please? Practise these over and over, until you're happy with your breath control.  
  sounding2.jpgPitching Right Male voices are generally lower in pitch than those of females. Therefore, a woman with a very low voice and male inflection stands out. Pitch and tonal range are not the only differences between male and female voices - only a part of the difference. The object of these exercises is not to produce a falsetto, but to incorporate higher notes into your speaking range. The voice is closely integrated with personality. Inflection, volume and voice quality are used to express emotion. Trust your natural femininity and have fun with the exercises! Continued relaxation is very important - stretch and relax... Pitch is determined by the degree of tension in the muscles controlling the vocal chords, which are in turn controlled by your own perception of the sound you are making. When you want to sing a note, you don't tense your vocal chords deliberately - instead, you hear the note in your mind and the vocal chords adjust themselves, the process is subconscious. Speech works in the same way. Vocal muscles can, however, be exercised - and flexibility improved - provided that you have plenty of breath and keep your neck and throat muscles relaxed. Before starting any exercise, here are a few points to remember: Avoid smokey areas Avoid stress so you can develop a pattern of relaxed and easy breathing Develop a different speech rhythm - melodic rather than a business-like staccato pattern based on a narrow range of notes. Bearing this in mind, try counting 1-2-3... 1-2-3... 1-2-3...... Then, raising the pitch a little (though still speaking, not singing), repeat again. Keep practising at different pitches, and the exercise will help you to add a more melodic character to your voice. Voice Variety In this exercise, the voices you use should all be very different. Try to approach each as best you can, but don't be disheartened if your first efforts are disappointing. Variety is the spice of life - try as many different voices and pitches as you want... Husky Feminine Voice - "It is time I went home now" Low pitched, but less husky voice - "It is time I went home now" Medium pitch feminine voice - "It is time I went home now" Higher pitched voice - "It is time I went home now" Try them all again and again until you feel confident in a variety of voices - you can learn to use all these voices in everyday speech to express your different emotions, just as we all use our own male versions naturally.  
  Setting the tone A further difference between male and female voices is their tone. In puberty female vocal chords lengthen and the lining of the pharynx becomes thicker and softer. This produces a mellow, soft tone. Male vocal chords increase in mass and length, and the pitch descends. These tonal differences can be manipulated by using exercises to lengthen the vowels. Working on neatening your pronunciation will also pay dividends. Research shows that women's pronunciation is 'correct' for a greater proportion of the time than is men's. However, this does not mean that you need to change your accent - merely to be more careful in the way you speak. Stretch and relax. Breathe easily... Sound the first letter of the phrases softly, feel your mouth forming the sounds, and stretch the vowels a little: OO L-ah L-ah Ahoy ahoy - stretch to A--hoy ahoy that ship ahoy Cold, cold, it is so very cold Boom, boom, the gun went boom Stretch and relax. Breathe easily... now try it again... Once you are satisfied with your lengthened vowels, at least for the present, you can move on to your inflection. Quality Inflection When we speak we do not do so in a monotone. Rather, our pitch rises and falls naturally. This modulation of pitch is known as inflection, and it is this that gives our voices their expressive qualities. Inflection is especially important in personal conversation - it shows whether or not we are listening attentively. Many of the diffferences between male and female voices - especially in inflection - arise from the kind of things we say. An employer does not coo softly at someone receiving a reprimand, nor does one bellow sweet nothings into the ear of a lover. Generally speaking, women use inflection more than men. This reflects their nurturing role with children - although the quality is still visible in women who do not have (or want) children. The next exercise is designed to improve your inflection. Stretch and relax. Breathe easily. Then try saying: OH - (pitch drops) No - What (pitch drops) a (pitch drops) pi - (pitch drops) -ty I can't (pitch drops) and I (pitch drops) won't (pitch drops) believe (pitch drops) it Step (pitch rises) up Step (pitch drops) down Be (pitch drops) qui- (pitch drops) -et!  
  Putting it all together It is time to put together everything we have learnt so far. So, stretch and relax, breathe easily, then repeat the following nonsense rhyme, trying out all that you have learnt: Dong Dong Dong! Bonged the great big gong. The Hong Kong gong Had a long sad song Of woe and wrong, Of woe and wrong! Bong Bong Bong Dong Dong Dong Bong Bong Bong Bong! Dong Dong Dong You can hear the gong In old Cantong. The Hong Kong gong In old Cantong You can scarcely hear the gong The Bong-Dong gong Remember, it is all a question of practice - and if you can manage to clearly recite the above rhyme, while paying attention to the techniques we've covered, you'll know you've made excellent progress. Try listening to yourself with a tape recorder, and continue to work on your breath control, tone, variety and inflection until you are happy with the way you sound. Stretch and relax, breathe deeply... Stretch and relax, breathe deeply... Good luck! For a more in-depth guide to elecution, please see our Speech Therapy Course which includes four audio cassettes, which take you through voice exercises allowing you to practice and evaluate your progress.

Nov 201520

Whats In Your Handbag

frequently asked questions, how to guides

WHATS IN YOUR HANDBAG

I think the oddest thing in mine is a four-inch nail. No - it's not for emergency repairs to the dancefloor after I've been dancing, but more of that in a bit. First, a few things which are not in my handbag... Once upon a time, when I had a larger handbag, it always contained a hairbrush. My current one does not. Before putting on my wig I brush it thoroughly. However, touching up the wig (once it's on my head) is better done with the fingers. Brushing can leave the wig with a flat, unnatural look. Fingering creates a more untidy appearance which looks much more natural. So - when I'm out strutting my stuff I don't need a hairbrush. I sometimes carry a spare stocking or two in case of ladders, but there aren't any in my bag at the moment. The darker the stockings one wears, the more important this is - the slightest damage to a black stocking is glaringly obvious. Currently, mine are pale - a shade the manufacturer calls 'natural'. With these, the sort of damage stockings pick up on the dancefloor is very hard to see. They don't last forever of course, but they are wearable in a worse state than black ones. The down side to this is that the paler the stockings, the better job you need to make of shaving your legs! Another thing absent from my handbag is money. It's hard to dance with a bag flapping about on your shoulder. For disco numbers, there's a kind of teenage charm about dancing around your handbag, but it's a bit limiting - having to keep to a single spot on the dancefloor. When it comes to ballroom dancing, the bag is just a nuisance. It's best just to leave the bag where you're sitting, but an unattended handbag containing money is not a good idea. My money goes into a little purse on my belt - it looks a tad like a hand grenade, but it is very useful!  
  handbag3.jpgAlso absent are most of the make-up products I use - foundation, blusher and eye make-up are all missing. I've tried carrying these, but found that once they were on they were on for the night. The only make-up items I carry with me are a couple of products genuinely useful for repairs during the course of an evening. One item of make-up I do carry with me is face powder, with a couple of little pads to apply it. Dancing in a wig is a hot business. They say that horses sweat, men perspire, while ladies only glow. A night at the disco can have me glowing like a pig. As the glow trickles down my face, a little extra dab of powder can fix a multitude of sins. I also use the powder as a base for lipstick - the other make-up product I carry. I tend to suffer from slightly greasy lips and used to have a lot of difficulty in getting the lipstick to take, especially on the lower lip. A bit of powder (not too much) leaves my lips dry and ready for the colour. Actually, I use the lipstick more often during the course of the evening than the powder. A little bit of extra lippie can do wonders to a face that's starting to lack something or other. More - there's something deliciously feminine about sitting down and putting on your lipstick. Along with the lipstick, I also carry lip-liner - invaluable in defining a sharp edge to lips that have become smudged over the course of an evening. (See our make-upguide for hints on applying make-up) An essential accessory for both make-up products is a mirror. It's handy for checking whether more make-up is necessary,and indespensible for putting it on. I used to carry a plain rectangle or round mirror, but found it was apt to break if carried in a handbag. Apart from the risk of seven years' bad luck, broken glass is dangerous and certainly not what I want to find on thrusting my hand into the bag. It also spoils the impression, sitting down doing one's lips with a shard of broken mirror in the left hand - deliciously femme?? Get real! The mirror I use today is actually 2 mirrors, normal and enlarging. They are in a solidly constructed hinged case which, when shut, preserves them from harm. Both mirrors are useful - the normal one for checking the appearance of my whole face, the enlarging one for work on my lips.  
  handbag.jpgTransgender Resources A Survival Kit for a Night on the Town, By Annie Peters Lipstick is not the only thing that can wear off during the evening, and I also carry a small perfume spray. I think it's important to smell nice as well as look good. Spraying it on is, of course, another action in the deliciously feminine category, but don't overdo it - your fragrance should not precede you by too much! Less feminine is a handkerchief - and not a delicate lacy one, at that. I have already mentioned 'glowing like a pig'. When the glow stings the eyes something substantial is needed to blot it. Used with reasonable delicacy, the hankie can be better than a tissue for mopping up the glow without wrecking the eye make-up. Carrying tissues as well could be a good idea - but I tend to use a bit of paper from the toilet. It does well enough, and avoids the accumulation of a layer of disintegrated tissue at the bottom of my bag. In some places the toilets run out of paper - but more can sometimes be had if one has the gumption to ask at the bar. Much more ladylike than a hankie is a nail file in a little plastic case. Rough nails not only look less than perfectly femme, but wreck stockings. It also has a little hook at the end for removing dirt. Dirty nails - varnished or otherwise - are a real no-no. Also metal are four small safety pins. I keep them pinned together for convenience - a solitary safety pin at the bottom of the bag is very hard to find, and when a safety pin is needed it's usually needed in a hurry. A cluster of four pins is much easier to locate. Their purpose (need I tell you girls) is emergency repair to clothes. At the bottom of the bag, with the pins, is a small card with a dozen or more kirby-grips. The grips can be useful for keeping a wig fixed to one's real hair - especially if the wig's webbing is past its first flush of youth. Another use for a hair grip is to pin back one's real hair if it seems determined to escape from the confines of the wig. That's especially important if wig and real hair are different colours. And that leaves only... the four inch nail. It's for the toilet. As a trannie out on the town, one has to be careful about using toilets at all. There are places - mostly gay - where there isn't any great problem about using the ladies, but it shouldn't be taken for granted. Be careful, and check it out first - but it is sometimes possible. In several ladies toilets I've used, the sliding part of the bolt has been missing from the cubicle doors. A nightmare scenario is to be sat there with my knickers down, only to have a woman with more sensibility than sense burst in on me. At best, a trannie is only allowed in the ladies under sufferance - and there are limits one must not cross. So... slide the four inch nail into the bolt fixings and it's securely held. A handy tip, perhaps. Remember, you read it here first!

Nov 201520

Silicone Siloxane Breast Manufacturing

frequently asked questions, how to guides

SILICONE SILOXANE BREAST MANUFACTURING

Ultra thin, high tear strength PUR translucid film ( the external skin of a breast form) High purity, high durability silicone gel. We use siloxane oligomers as raw material for the polymerisation of the vinyl end capped and addition cross linkable poly siloxane polymer. f880_1945genresbreasts.jpg High efficiency platinum catalysts (the platinum compound promotes the cure of the silicone to a gel consistency). Adhesion Promotion compound (to ensure perfect adhesion of the silicone gel to the PUR skin for maxium durability of the breast form).  f880_1946genresbreasts.jpg  
  We need to thermoform the outer skin into the shape of a front and back side breast form. This is done in a heated mold and vacuum. After the application of the silicone gel nipple inside the front skin and the completion of its curing cycle, we can then form a closed envelope by welding together front skin and back skin slongside its perimeter. Yet we leave a small orifice on the top of the envelope through which we shall fill in the liquid silicone gel later.   Now we need to prepare the silicone gel. After polymerizing and end capping the siloxane intermediate, we need to purify the resulting silicone gel polymer from volatile components by filtering and a following distillation process at 200 degrees C under high f880_1941genresbreasts.jpgvacuum. The result is a viscous, high purity, transparent, 100% silicone liquid with a content of 99.95% of non volatiles, a silcone polymer which is useful for medical applications. In order to form a silicone gel suitable for a breast form the polymer needs to be cross linked by means of a "cross linker compound" and a platinum catalyst.       To "cure" the polymer to a gel, we now admix the cross linker/Platinum compound in an adequate ratio to accomplish a life like mobility and consistency. The silicone polymer, cross linker and platinum compounds are now inspected by quality control and released for manufacturing.   Now we fill the liquid cross linker compound and platinum catalyst containing silicone gel into the skin envelope. After curing the silicone polymer to a gel the breast forms are being conducted to the finishing department. Finally the filling orifice is closed, the excess skin trimmed and after a final inspection the breast forms are ready to be packed into master cartons for warehousing and shipping.

Nov 201520

The Realities of Gender Reassignment

frequently asked questions, how to guides

THE REALITIES OF GENDER REASSIGNMENT

For the transexual, the challenges that have to be faced in making the great changes involved in gender-reassignment can be so enormous as to shake one's resolve at every step of the way. But, with careful consideration and adequate forethought, they need not be overwhelming. However, anyone who assumes that the challenge lies in learning to dress properly, wear nice clothes, maintain an attractive hairstyle and to use make-up to good effect is really only scratching the surface. True, these aspects are important and cannot be overlooked if one is to fit into the new role, but they do not transcend all and if pursued without consideration of the vaster and more critical realities of becoming a woman, they may become rather superficial. After all, clothes, make-up and appearance are the prime considerations of the transvestite, but for the transexual the entire issue goes to the very core of ones being. Both the cause and effect are so all-embracing that a very realistic attitude to the deeper issues affecting women needs to be developed by the transexual. Biological women are many things in the eyes of men. They are the giving, yielding sex, traditinally bending and surrendering to the more agressive and powerful male. The very sexual act itself puts them (traditonally) into the underlying and characteristically subservient position. They are the nuturing sex, capable of imparting unique shelter, security and love to their children. The bonding between a mother and her child starts at the very first moment of holding and suckling, and from that time on, the relationship has a special quality that cannot quite be equalled by the father. Despite the unique role of women in the continuance of mankind, they are often cruelly reviled and denigrated. Motherhood is supposedly honured and even deified in all societies, yet women are often treated abominably, are objects of lewd humour and are used as chatels and servants by their lords and masters. Women have had to fight through history for their rights in a male-dominated world. Consider some historical facts: All the great religous leaders have been men - Jesus, Mohammed, Confucious and Buddha for example - as have been every pope, archbishop and, until recently, ordinary clergy in most churches. In politics women leaders have almost exclusively been during the post-war years. The UK, India, Pakistan, Norway, Israel and others have all had female leaders in recent years, but look at what women have had to endure to reach those positions of eminence. The first milestone of modern democracy was probably the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, but it took another 700 years before women began to be granted the vote in most countries. The emancipation of women has opened up opportunities in many professions and businesses. Women lawyers, doctors, accountants and company directors are today an integral part of the community and not objects of curiosity. However, there is a downside and it is far from pleasant. Pornography, frequently featuring women in all sorts of highly exaggerated, distasteful and downright lewd situations is churned out by a multi-million dollar sector of the publishing and film industries, supported by an army of writers, webmasters, photographers and artists. This industry is forever testing the limits of public tolerance, including child pornography and satanism.  
  Hostility to women also seems to have taken on a new destructive face in our society and is a matter of concern to sociologists, theologians, the law and the medical profession. Prejudice, supression and even violence are never far away. The same sort of prejudice and ignorance affects the transsexual in many other areas of our society. We know that if we are to enjoy peace of mind we must shake off the disturbing ambivalence which can make a misery of our lives. But equally we have to recognise that there are limits which preclude us from moving into a cosseted and beautiful world of sheltered femininity. None of us has gone through the process of growing up and developing as females from the day of our birth, even though our instincts tell us that that is what should have happened. Transsexuals go through emotional turmoil, enormous pain, inconvenience and expense because they know that they really are women trapped in a mans body, and this is the price of escape and fulfilment. However, I have not met one who has said that she would not go through it all again if necessary. I have not met one who has not felt profound relief in getting rid of the penis and testicles which have been the hallmark of male superiority since the beginning of time. Equally though, I have not met one who has not had to confront society's ignorance and prejudice. These problems should be faced with as much honesty and courage as one can muster. A transsexual must recognise that in addition to the stigma conferred on him by his or her condition, there are other hardship is involved in simply living life as a woman. Some may try to take refuge in self-imposed isolation, thus creating a sort of ghetto for themsleves and associates. This is a state to be avoided if humanly possible. As I see it, these are the fundamental considerations that must be confronted: Am I happy and proud to be a woman? Am I happy to accept the known and established limitations which are inevitable in living as a woman, keeping in mind that living as a woman and womanhood itself are not quite the same thing? As I am now a woman or in the process of becoming one, can I honestly accept the tolerable limitations of womanhood? In accepting these limitations can I also recognise it as my duty to my sisters to fight for and uphold the rights of women in terms of equal compensations for equal work, the same levels of security that men expect and the same freedom from oppression? Am I prepared to accept that role-reversal is not my aim? Am I prepared to accept that there is a poor future for a world in which there is a dominant and an inferior sex? Not everyone will be able to answer these questions affirmatively, but we all owe it to ourselves to confront the realities of becoming a woman with the knowledge that it is loaded with obstacles. But if these questions can be answered objectively and with honesty, the chances of succeeding as a real creative woman, making a distinct and valuable contribution to society, will be much enhanced.

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