Pre-T face shaving

[TheBear]

Hi everyone

I've read that it's advisable to shave any peach fuzz off of one's face as guys are either clean shaven or stubbly. Only pre-pubescent boys have fuzz. Therefore I want to get rid of mine ASAP but I'm not totally sure about the best way to do it?

Should I use a decent tri-blade razor and shaving gel, or would an electric foil shaver be better?

I'm pre-T, trying to do everything possible to de-feminise (is that a word?) my body as much as I can but am a bit worried about cutting my face to shreds whilst getting rid of my fuzz! I didn't dare risk my first attempt just prior to my hospital stay, but now that I'm back in the comfort of my own home, I'm wanna get rid.

Having never been clean-faced minus my pale fuzz, will being without it be massively noticeable to others? I need to take whatever steps I can to reduce my dysphoria, so for psychological reasons I want to shave it off. However, I'm a little concerned how I will explain my actions to my partner if it's likely to be glaringly obvious when she walks through the door.

I got my hairdresser to square off my hair in front of my ears rather than automatically tapering it, so they look like men's short sideburns now, which better suits my already masculine cut. Sigh, if only I could have proper ones though. I need T! It took me a while to pluck up the courage to ask my hairdresser to make the adjustment as she cuts my wife's and parents' hair too and isn't known to be discrete!

Thanks for your advice. :-)

[David27]

I started shaving pre-T I've only cut my self once and it isn't really that bad. I use a disposable 3 blade razor and shave every 2-4 days. I've heard that dry shaving isn't advisable for pre-T. I don't think it has helped me pass, but it makes me feel better if I shave. I've been on a low dose of T and I have some black hairs, but thick blonde whiskers at the corners of my mouth. Unless someone is looking for it they probably won't notice, but it seems to be a subtler gender cue.

Also if you shave you have to shave often enough to not get a peach fuzz shadow if you trying to hide the fact that your shaving.

[Contravene]

I was wondering about this myself since I have tons of peach fuzz on my face. I used to shave it with a cheap, men's disposable razor but I stopped and I'm letting it grow out. Most of it is soft vellus hair but ever since I stopped shaving I've noticed some areas that are turning into terminal hair. I've heard a lot of cis guys say not to shave the peach fuzz too often when you're young (or in our case, pre-T) because it may lead to difficulty growing the hair out later so you'll be stuck with bald or light patches in your beard where the hair will grow slower as a result of shaving it so often. Of course, I'm not sure how true that is but a lot of guys stand by it. I used to shave my legs and noticed that effect there, I have patches on my legs that grow really slowly, so maybe there's something to that theory.

Right now I'm planning on letting my peach fuzz grow then once it becomes too noticeable I'll trim it with a pair of clippers rather than completely shaving it all off. I'll still get the nice psychological effect of grooming my beard, the hair will continue to grow and I might even get some rugged looking stubble if more of it goes terminal.

So my suggestion is to just trim it but if you still want to shave it all off, I think a razor and some shaving cream would be plenty for peach fuzz. Also, if it's light I don't think it will be too noticible if it's trimmed or gone.

[Declan.]

I dyed mine with beard dye back when it was still just fuzz and it looked great.

[em444]

I have shaved many times since I was a  kid and to be honest I often do cut myself but only because I'm really clumsy and bad with my hands. Nothing too bad though, the only problem with cutting yourself is that it looks pretty bad and it makes it obvious that you've been shaving. Anyway I think the person who cuts your hair could do it for you? or even an experienced friend? I stopped shaving myself and now occasionally ask whoever is cutting my hair at the baber shop to do it for me.

[Simon]

Most transguys have shaved something in their lives before they attempted shaving their faces (pits or legs?). Shaving your face isn't any harder than any other area. I used cold water (it closes your pores) and shave with the grain. Believe it or not, if you're out of shaving cream try hair conditioner. It'll actually give you a closer shave and moisturize your skin at the same time. Personally, I don't like electric shavers. I have really coarse hair and find that it pulls some out, ouch. Oh, and as far as someone noticing you've shaved off the peach fuzz I wouldn't worry about it. If they're nosy enough to ask just say someone pointed it out so you got rid of it, no big deal.

[AdamMLP]

I've never cut myself shaving my face, even with pretty blunt razors.  My knees on the other hand... ouch!  Go with the hairs.  It's not noticeable at all, or at least no one's noticed in the two years or so I've been doing it, except my missus can tell from close up when I haven't.  I always use bladed razors, my dad's old electric thing can't get close enough to cut off the thin vellus hairs.  One thing to watch out for is your sideburn area, I don't have a mirror anywhere private any more so I'm shaving purely by feel in the shower (makes me feel like I'm in the French Foriegn Legion as I read somewhere that they don't get to use mirrors either), and it gets a bit difficult not to take chunks out of there, but I'm assuming you have access to a mirror.

[Dante]

I shave my face for psychological reasons--I don't pass at all, but it's an incredible mood boost when you touch your face and it's got that slightly sticky texture from being freshly shaved instead of being very soft from all the tiny hairs. It's not noticeable at all unless you're looking for it, but I'm guessing that if someone were passing it would probably help to reenforce the male appearing face.

Anyway, I have those cheapo disposable razors, and I just shave whenever I shower. I don't even need shaving cream; just the water is fine and I haven't cut myself yet. (I never really shaved anything before except my armpits occasionally, so it's not like I have a lot of experience with it either.) The hair doesn't grow back that fast so I've found that's often enough.

[assorted_human]

I use the tri-blade razors and I've cut myself often. Then again I can't seem to shave it smooth unless I shave the same spot a couple times in different directions. My peach fuzz hates me. I used shaving cream and gels when I first started. I cut myself the most doing that. Then I dry shaved and that worked but my skin hated me for it even a couple days after having shaved. Now I use lotion, I apply it about 5 minutes before shaving to let it soak in. I've cut myself a lot less since doing this and it keeps my skin from burning.

[maximusloverus]

I use a simple tri blade razor and it does just fine with me. I like the stubbly feeling when the hair starts to grow back. Just makes me feel like hey I actually could grow a beard when I start T. For me shave gel works the best for a smooth shave and plus I like the smell of it also. 

[geek]

Gilette Mach 3 here, shaved Pre-T, cant be bothered now

[TheBear]

Hi everyone

Sorry for the delay in replying. I've not had quiet time until now to get back onto the forum over Christmas.

Well, I finally did it. I shaved off my peach fuzz late Christmas Eve using an old electric razor. I thought I'd try that first and see what the result was before going out to buy a proper Gillette razor. I was surprised. It actually did a pretty darn good job and didn't irritate my skin in the process either.

My fuzz was very light before and so far, neither my wife, nor anyone else has noticed that it's gone. I can see the difference though and to me it looks and feels better. I'll just keep a close eye on it in the mirror to see when I need to shave again. 

Every little thing helps as far as I'm concerned, especially at the moment when I've been feeling especially depressed. My wife has twice in the past couple of days made negative remarks about me wearing men's underwear full time now. The first time, she made some reminiscent comment about when I used to wear normal underwear, implying that I'm now weird for refusing to ever wear that stuff again. And yesterday she was watching me get dressed and looked at me in disdain, remarking that don't I find men's boxer trunks uncomfortable or tight on my legs? I replied absolutely not, which is true and that I'm much more comfortable now since making the switch a couple of months ago, meaning more comfortable in every sense.

Occurrences like this just make me feel even more sick to my stomach that I can't be out and proud yet and have the support of my loved ones for being true to myself. If my wife is struggling to accept the change in me (meaning I can no longer ignore my need to be a trans man), then I can only imagine what my parents' reaction will be if / when they find out. They will surely think I've completely lost my mind. Especially as my mum is already freaking out right now about my decision to have no more revision surgeries on my leg every 3 months or so to buy it a bit more time but not get rid of the pain. Instead my choice is to lose my lower leg next time to give me a shot at getting some quality of life back as I'm so very tired of the frequent surgeries that can't cure the problem and lessen the pain. It's b___y ironic that I have a genetic bone growing condition that is seen in men 90% of the time and hardly ever seen in women.  Just makes me even more p'd off and frustrated that I can't yet be my true self and live full time as male. Why is coming out to loved ones so hard?

Sorry for sounding off. I'm having a down day. :-(

[sneakersjay]

I used to shave my peach fuzz in the shower the same way I used to shave my legs. Then put on aftershave when I got out of the shower.

Currently I have a beard trimmer and trim once a week, and just use that to get close on my neck.  I never use a razor/shaving cream.  I do it before showering so I can wash off all of the hair and stubble.

[Simon]

Currently I have a beard trimmer and trim once a week

This might be a wee bit off topic but it ties into the subject. I've wondered what the average rate of growth is for facial hair. The only guy I ever lived with was my dad and he had a beard so that is of no help to me in that department. Last night I shaved everything but my goatee and sideburns. By tomorrow evening I'll have noticeable stubble. In about a week and a half I'll have a quarter inch of growth. Just wonder if that's about average?

[sneakersjay]

This might be a wee bit off topic but it ties into the subject. I've wondered what the average rate of growth is for facial hair. The only guy I ever lived with was my dad and he had a beard so that is of no help to me in that department. Last night I shaved everything but my goatee and sideburns. By tomorrow evening I'll have noticeable stubble. In about a week and a half I'll have a quarter inch of growth. Just wonder if that's about average?

Sounds about right.  I like my beard short, but more than 5 o'clock shadow. But I'm too lazy to trim daily, and obviously too lazy to shave, period!  LOL  I haven't had a clean-shaven face in about 3.5 years, since I could at last grow a fairly decent beard.

But my beard is too patchy still (more chin strap than sides) to grow a real full beard.


Jay

[em444]

Hi everyone

Sorry for the delay in replying. I've not had quiet time until now to get back onto the forum over Christmas.

Well, I finally did it. I shaved off my peach fuzz late Christmas Eve using an old electric razor. I thought I'd try that first and see what the result was before going out to buy a proper Gillette razor. I was surprised. It actually did a pretty darn good job and didn't irritate my skin in the process either.

My fuzz was very light before and so far, neither my wife, nor anyone else has noticed that it's gone. I can see the difference though and to me it looks and feels better. I'll just keep a close eye on it in the mirror to see when I need to shave again. 

Every little thing helps as far as I'm concerned, especially at the moment when I've been feeling especially depressed. My wife has twice in the past couple of days made negative remarks about me wearing men's underwear full time now. The first time, she made some reminiscent comment about when I used to wear normal underwear, implying that I'm now weird for refusing to ever wear that stuff again. And yesterday she was watching me get dressed and looked at me in disdain, remarking that don't I find men's boxer trunks uncomfortable or tight on my legs? I replied absolutely not, which is true and that I'm much more comfortable now since making the switch a couple of months ago, meaning more comfortable in every sense.

Occurrences like this just make me feel even more sick to my stomach that I can't be out and proud yet and have the support of my loved ones for being true to myself. If my wife is struggling to accept the change in me (meaning I can no longer ignore my need to be a trans man), then I can only imagine what my parents' reaction will be if / when they find out. They will surely think I've completely lost my mind. Especially as my mum is already freaking out right now about my decision to have no more revision surgeries on my leg every 3 months or so to buy it a bit more time but not get rid of the pain. Instead my choice is to lose my lower leg next time to give me a shot at getting some quality of life back as I'm so very tired of the frequent surgeries that can't cure the problem and lessen the pain. It's b___y ironic that I have a genetic bone growing condition that is seen in men 90% of the time and hardly ever seen in women.  Just makes me even more p'd off and frustrated that I can't yet be my true self and live full time as male. Why is coming out to loved ones so hard?

Sorry for sounding off. I'm having a down day. :-(

I know how hard things can be, hang in there, things will get better at some point...a big hug for you

[Darrin Scott]

I shaved random hairs on my face pre t, but now I hardly shave at all. 

[Calder Smith]

I'm pre-T as well and I have a little hair growing above my lip. I've thought about shaving but I'm afraid of cutting myself lol.