The things we do for Beauty. Owww...

[Lady_Oracle]

My heart goes out to all of you gals with gray hairs. I'm dreading getting electrolysis, so far laser is working really well for me. But it's really painful either way since I have super sensitive skin. I can't imagine electrolysis.

DOWN WITH THE HAIR!!!!!!!!

[Allyda]

My heart goes out to all of you gals with gray hairs. I'm dreading getting electrolysis, so far laser is working really well for me. But it's really painful either way since I have super sensitive skin. I can't imagine electrolysis.

DOWN WITH THE HAIR!!!!!!!!

Oh I can deal with the physical pain, it's the financial pain after sinking nearly 2k into my own lasers and IPL that's hard for me to endure.

Allie

[Evelyn K]

Yeah I actually have WHITE no greys. My melanocytes said, "you want pigment? then it's going to be either all, or nothing at all..."

Had my 2nd laser session yesterday. Mustache area was teh ow as usual.

This is my machine.

[Evelyn K]

Today I welcomed an epilator into my life.  Actually not as bad as I remember the 'epilady' was... but I still had to bite down on a rolled towel.  Lower left done... charging up for round two.  It's gonna be a long night.

Anyone ever try an epilator on their beard?

[Allyda]

Anyone ever try an epilator on their beard?

I doubt it would work Evelyn. Facial hair is a very very cruel evil thing. Usually they're roots are too deep and long. Pluck one with a pair of tweezers and you'll see what I mean. Nope, I doubt the epilator would do anything but cause a lot of unnecessary pain and disappointment. Just my $.02 though. If you try, let us know how it works out?

Allie

[Emmaline]

I remember someone saying it can cause scar tissue on face.  (Not verified)

I love the epilator I got... but it takes soooooooo long.

[Lady_Oracle]

Oh I can deal with the physical pain, it's the financial pain after sinking nearly 2k into my own lasers and IPL that's hard for me to endure.

Allie

ahhh yeah..another reason why I'd like to avoid electrolysis..Sooo pricey, the place I plan on going to if I do, quoted me 100 for 1 hour session. A hundred hours of electrolysis, is a lot of mula.

[Evelyn K]

^^ I don't get it, how many hairs can a technician do an hour? 50? 100? Wot the hell...

[Kamyu]

I plan on doing laser first for my facial hair. I'll follow it up with Electrolysis for the ones laser doesn't get.

[Allyda]

^^ I don't get it, how many hairs can a technician do an hour? 50? 100? Wot the hell...

Some technicians can do more than 100 per hour, but they are usually the more pricey ones. I haven't really did much checking yet though. I'm just ATM looking for places to get it done, and until I have the $$ there's no sense in booking any yet.

Allie

[Evelyn K]

I want to find a place that has two technicians, one for each side.

[KimSails]

The advice I received about choosing an electrologist is to check for small scars at the folicle site after each session. If you see any scarring, go somewhere else.

Kim

[Evelyn K]

Electrolysis can be scarring? Wouldn't a few weeks of exfoliation slough it off? Really how invasive can electrolysis be?

[StevieAK]

Get references from trans clients.  I went to one for a year every three weeks trying to get done but never better. My electro person I use now kills them dead. I feel blend worked best for me as at first I did thermolosis (sp) ? And had scabs on my face, so very uncool.  Not all electro is equal and don't just go to the lowest cost provider but go to the best. God help the poor friendless person transitioned as this trip  costs lots of both

Stevie

[Ahlexandrah]

I can tell you about my beauty rituals and they are very very exhausting sometimes...

I shave myself whole body all 3-4 days then after every shower I oil, cream and put sunscreen on my skin. Every once in a week I sleep with plenty of coconul oil in my hair, I use hair conditioners and I straighten my hair every day to get rid of my beachy waves. Whenever I do make up it takes for me 30-45 minutes and that is every time I go out (even if it is for shopping). I wear sometimes corsets with 24 steel bones to make my waist even smaller (69cm right now I could decrease 5 cm with it already). I tip my fingernails into olive oil every time I put off my nail polish. I have to do my eyebrows 1x a week. I sometimes  create my own honey and avocado + aloe vera masks to smoothen my face skin. I bleach my teeth with baking soda and strawberries. I hope I didnt forget anything .. :3 So yes, this is hella exhausting and I guess all the guys out there have it a lot easier, they just stand in front of the mirror trimm their beard or what ever shave their chest maybe and underarms + "bikini zone" and thats it. I mean thats just so unfair lawl :/ Sorry if that is a little bit off topic but I cant talk about electrolysis since I havent ever done that so I just decided to share my rituals to maintain very feminine and healthy

[KimSails]

Electrolysis can be scarring? Wouldn't a few weeks of exfoliation slough it off? Really how invasive can electrolysis be?

I am definitely NOT the expert, just relaying information as it was told to me by my therapist.  She is not an expert in electrolysis either, but has many years of experience working with trans folks, so I trust her input on what she has seen that has/hasn't worked for her clients' transition.  She has seen clients that were scarred by bad electrolysis.  The scars are similar to those that you see of people that had bad acne as teens.  You are not going to get rid of them through exfoliating. You may not be able to get rid of them at all.

Kim

[Allyda]

I am definitely NOT the expert, just relaying information as it was told to me by my therapist.  She is not an expert in electrolysis either, but has many years of experience working with trans folks, so I trust her input on what she has seen that has/hasn't worked for her clients' transition.  She has seen clients that were scarred by bad electrolysis.  The scars are similar to those that you see of people that had bad acne as teens.  You are not going to get rid of them through exfoliating. You may not be able to get rid of them at all.

Kim

This is scaring the hell outta me ^^___^^ as I have patches of grays left my laser won't get, and I'll need electro to clear my face once and for all. I already have enough facial scarring from my 91 accident. After hearing this I'm going to be very careful who I choose.

Ali

[Julia-Madrid]

I want to find a place that has two technicians, one for each side.

Hmmm, double the pain for you Evelyn...    Unless you are really lucky, every time they zap a hair it feels like they've pushed a hot needle into your face.  And (in my case) every 10th follicle or so REALLY hurts - enough to make my body twitch slightly.

I'm not sure whether they've told you that you need to grow your facial hair so that there's around 1.5mm of it visible.  Otherwise they cannot tweeze the little beasts out afterwards.   Every 2nd day I arrive at work as the bearded lady.  It's not so elegant, and does wonders for my dysphoria 

I would almost seriously suggest that electrolysis requirements more of a commitment and $$$ than SRS.

[Tessa James]

Kamyu I would advise that a person wait till after months of HRT to assess what body hair needs further treatment by laser and electrolysis.  I found my body hair changed dramatically on HRT with some thick, dark body hair slowly changing to soft, light velous and more feminine hair.  Facial hair is different and much less, if at all, affected by HRT for most women.

[Lady_Oracle]

So I just finished my 6th session of laser today! My technician raised up the setting a bit more and holy crap that was the most painful session yet. I burst into tears as soon as the session was done. Most of the pain has resided but I know it's only cause of the meds she prescribed me. If I didn't have these pain meds, I'd be in sooo much pain right now. I'm happy to see all of my hair cleared. This just might be my last session, if not the next one definitely will be.

She said I probably won't need electrolysis, I hope shes right cause my pain tolerance sucks