• birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    2 days ago

    Pro tip, for transfems and transmascs and enbys (and yes, cis too!) all alike, here’s some tips;

    Skin & Hair wash routine

    Don’t go overboard with all those complicated skincare routines (unless if medically necessary), despite what the pharma want to tell you. Just use warm/lukewarm water and soap (while showering), maybe body lotion after.

    Use sunscreen on days with high UV levels, or if you’re going to spend a while outside. I cannot recommend this enough, unless if you want to promote from ‘tan’ to ‘pain’.

    For washing head hair, apply shampoo first on wet hair and let it stay for a few minutes before washing a bit of it off. You know you’re doing the shampoo right if you can go through your hairs easily with your hands.

    Conditioner is mostly a thing for giving the hairs volume. If you use it, do it after the shampoo’s washed off a bit, and use it sparingly. I think it goes on the hair ends, but correct me on that if needed.

    If you feel your hair is dandruffy, you’re washing it too often or too little; if it’s getting twisted and hard to go through, maybe the water is ‘hard’ (full of calcium), and you’ll need a filter. Or comb after shower-washing. I can rec föhning your hair while you comb it, it makes the hair much easier to go through and also fuller. The föhning is mainly useful if your hair is longer than your hand.

    Body hair shaving

    Use a “women’s” razor (often pinkish, yeah, I know… but those are better designed to shave the legs, even if hairy). Shave in the direction your hair grows. So if it goes ///, then shave -->. Don’t press on the skin, go just such that you barely can feel it.

    While your hair might then be slightly taller, they’ll look a little thinner for a longer while and the skin is not going to be as irritated.

    Because body hair shaving takes a fairly long time (30 min), I usually do the legs first, and the more sensitive areas last.

    Shower then and gently dry after, and then moisturise with a body lotion, preferably non-alcoholic.

    All hair, whether bodily or facially, grows in cycles of about six weeks. Typically, they’ll be more visible after half that. If you want to shave more often, that’s okay, too. But remember to moisturise, especially if your skin is sensitive!

    Facial shaving

    If you want it all gone:
    This is non-permanently, because it’ll grow back in a day or three, maybe a week if you started growing facial hair recently (less than 5 years ago). If you want to remove it for longer, look at the next spoiler.

    Use a manual razor where the head is a disposable of metal, they tend to be able to shave to the skin. The electric bigger ones don’t really do so. Wash your face first, dry gently, and then apply shaving cream. I recommend a non-alcoholic basis one, those don’t hurt if you get a small wound by accident.

    Apply the cream everywhere where the hairs grow. After that, put a bit of cold water on your razor and shave; don’t press hard. You should feel the skin, but it shouldn’t hurt. If it does, stop and put a bit of warmer water over the hurt area, then continue for the rest and then wash it off with warm water.

    If you do the area above the upper lip, then start with that, then the cheeks, then the rest, and once done, wash off with warm water. After that, apply aftershave.

    If you want it shorter or to maintain it:
    Above tips apply, but the cream is less important on a beard/moustache area if you want to keep that. If it’s a stubble, still use cream. Use an electric razor where you can adjust its length. You can press more against the skin, as the knifes won’t cut much.

    Waxing/Epilating/Laser, Electrolysis

    Waxing is temporary. It’s not as painful as laser or electrolysis, and more affordable. Still pretty handy. It’ll delay the hairs getting back for a bit, and might reduce them a bit if done often enough, but not really wholly. They can go along with a sort of wax-specific cream so it’s even less painful.

    Epilating is by far the most affordable of all three options. You can buy one and do it yourself. It also hurts more than laser or electrolysis, in my opinion. Slight risk of ingrown hairs. Unlike wax strips where you yoink them out all at once in a given area, you do it bit by bit.

    Laser/electrolysis … now that is better! if you have the funds for it, and want it reduced/gone altogether forever. Electrolysis is the most effective, laser reduces it but can also remove it. They’re much more expensive and do hurt (like pincing hairs but x5). But an ice compress helps a lot, and it takes about 20 min per session. The hairs will be gone completely for multiple weeks, and if done often enough, will be reduced or gone altogether (6-11 sessions). The most painful areas are the mouth, crotch, and front legs. The first session will hurt most. I can say that, though it felt freeing afterward.

    Check your insurance; some places allow you to reimburse for laser/electrolysis, though might ask to send pictures. In my case I did not want to do so, and so paid it out of pocket.

    It doesn’t matter much whether you do it before or once on HRT (though on estrogen dominance, hair is a bit thinner, and vice versa with testosteron dominance), though it does matter whether your hair is easily visible against the skin or not. You might then need a different laser.


    Hope that all helps!