What did @ainsdawg actually say?
Over 10 months of testosterone therapy, Ains documented a series of physical changes in real time: voice drops and eventual settling, cystic acne around emerging facial hair, body hair darkening, and hair texture shifting toward curly. At the 10-month mark, he noted that his voice had "settled a bit" so he could sing again, and that cracking had reduced. He also flagged that some changes, like significant body hair darkening and facial hair growth, seemed to accelerate closer to the one-year mark rather than appearing early on. This is a personal account, not a medical claim, but it touches on real physiological processes worth examining carefully.
Does the science back this up?
Mostly, yes. The timeline Ains describes is consistent with what endocrinology literature actually shows. Voice changes typically begin within weeks but take months to fully stabilize. Acne correlates with rising androgens and early follicular activity. Hair texture changes are documented but poorly studied.
The Endocrine Society's 2017 clinical practice guidelines (Hembree et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism) outline expected masculinization timelines: voice deepening starts within 3-12 months, facial and body hair increases over 6-12+ months, and skin changes including acne are common early effects. A 2019 study by Pelletier et al. in Transgender Health confirmed that voice changes in transmasculine individuals generally plateau around 12-18 months, which aligns with Ains observing stabilization at 10 months. The acne-facial hair connection he describes, where "ingrown hairs" from emerging beard growth drive what looks like cystic acne, is biologically plausible and consistent with androgenic skin responses documented in dermatology literature.
What did they get wrong (or right)?
Ains got the broad strokes right, and he was honest about the personal, anecdotal nature of his experience. He did not overclaim. He did not say "testosterone will do X for you" in a generalizing way. That restraint matters.
The one area worth pushing back on: conflating ingrown hairs with cystic acne. He says himself it's "more ingrown hairs than cystic acne," which is actually a correction in real time, but the framing is still a little muddy. Cystic acne (nodulocystic acne) is driven by sebaceous gland activity and Cutibacterium acnes colonization under high androgen load. Ingrown hairs from facial hair follicles are a separate, mechanical process. Both can occur simultaneously with testosterone, but they have different treatment implications. If you're experiencing painful nodules around emerging beard growth, it matters whether you're dealing with true cystic acne or pseudofolliculitis, because the interventions differ. A dermatologist, not a TikTok comment section, should make that call.
The hair texture change observation is interesting. He notes his hair became "a lot curlier" with "ringlets." This is a real, documented but not well-explained phenomenon. Androgen receptors in scalp follicles can alter the cross-sectional shape of the hair shaft, changing curl pattern. But the research here is thin, and individual variation is high.
What should you actually know?
If you are considering or currently on testosterone therapy, the changes Ains describes are real and broadly consistent with clinical expectations, but timelines vary significantly between individuals. Dose, delivery method (injections vs. gels vs. patches), baseline hormone levels, genetics, and body composition all affect how quickly and dramatically masculinization occurs.
- Voice changes are largely irreversible once they occur, so this is not a change to take lightly or rush into.
- Acne from testosterone can be severe enough to require medical treatment. A 2020 study by Connelly et al. in JAMA Dermatology found that acne is one of the most common adverse effects of gender-affirming testosterone therapy, and in some cases requires topical retinoids, antibiotics, or isotretinoin.
- Hair texture and body hair changes are real but unpredictable. Genetic predisposition to androgenic alopecia (male-pattern baldness) is also activated by testosterone, which is not something Ains mentioned but is a real consideration.
- The "close to your one-year mark" observation Ains makes is a reasonable heuristic, but some changes continue for 3-5 years post-initiation according to Hembree et al. 2017.
FormBlends does not provide dosing guidance here. If you have questions about your own hormone therapy, talk to a licensed provider who can review your labs and medical history.
Bottom line: how credible is this video?
More credible than most. Ains is documenting personal experience, not prescribing a protocol. He's careful with language, self-corrects mid-video, and does not make sweeping claims about what testosterone will do for anyone else. The physiological changes he describes are consistent with published clinical literature. The main issue is a blurry distinction between cystic acne and ingrown hairs, which has real clinical relevance if viewers are trying to figure out how to manage their own skin. Overall, this is a responsible personal account that happens to align with the science pretty well.