Hair Removal-order and specifics

[Jacqueline]

Greetings all,

I am sorry if this should be under beauty but I have several questions about hair removal.

The mantra I keep seeing, start electrolysis yesterday. Okay, I wish I could have but now that I am starting to catch up with my internal identity...

1-Is there a suggested order to go? Start with what bothers you the most? Start with the face, start with unmentionable spots?

2-I am not yet on hormones and that may take awhile. If I were to start HRT in a month to a year, does that change the answer to question 1?

3-There is someone in my area that is trans friendly. Is it best to stick with one provider for everything? I am being cheap and asking, is it advisable or not to use coupons/groupons for inexpensive sessions on back or other less private spots. Is that a bad idea  or rude to your other technician?

These may all be questions that are more opinion based than fact. If any of you could answer with your reasons I would love that.

Thanks so much. Love to  all,

Joanna

[Mariah]

Often we start with the face  because facial hair is a definitive no no generally for ladies. Plus it's removal helps us pass much more easily, but otherwise there is no real hard fast order as to what area to hit first. A lot of that will depend on where you dislike shaving, epilating, waxing or plucking the most. HRT has done wonders to deal with much of it for me to the point that it's less necessary on the rest of the body than it used to be, but never the less I have a few spots I want to finish up anyway. Hugs
Mariah

[katrinaw]

Hi Joanna,

There are certain schools of thought, but at the end of the day, its really up to you.

Your choices depend on what concerns you the most, what you can afford etc... also when you intend to go FT

If you have really dark facial hair and it grows rapidly, then that may make sense first, HRT in most places except face softens, lightens hair and on body can eliminate it... If you need to shave multiple times per day then get it Lasered/Electro'd off soon as possible, most hair has a regrowth cycle that can be a very long time... so that's why its usually first on the list, next may be voice or Tracheal shave, but that depends on how pronounced, Voice again depends on whether you can re-train your voice or not... HRT can be started at anytime... most want it ASAP

As to whether you have a "friendly" Laser/Electro ... other things clinic near you then it makes sense, but just check out the forums here, there are many topics that talk about these sort of things here.

But at the end of the day, its up to you... what in your  mind is the worst and you want sorted first?

L Katy 😘

[Julia-Madrid]

Hi Joanna

Start with your face, no doubt about it.  If you have dark hair you can start with laser and see how you respond.  Some people are luckier than others.  If you have light hair then it's the joy of electrolysis, about 18-24 months of weekly torture.

HRT often knocks out body hair - torso and limbs - but not with great speed.  You may need laser on those areas as well.

Hair removal is probably going to equal or exceed the cost for my SRS, and I'm one the minimally haired people.  I suggest you find a good place, close to home, and negotiate a long-term discount once you're happy with how they work.  For example, I have 1,200 minutes of electro for €2,400, which is a good price where I live.

You could consider one of the very few places that does a whole-day electro session on your face.  I know a few girls who've done this.  It's an absolute torture, but would likely clear your face in around 8 sessions.  The downside is that you have a beard by the time you're ready for a session.  Urgh!

So yes, in answering your question, start electrolysis yesterday, or last year even

Hugs
Julia

[rachel89]

if your doing electro, I would start with chin area first and also the upper lip. It seems like the chin area is the most dense (along with the upper lip), so doing this first will make shaving and applying makeup a little easier. You should also start the upper lip because this is the most painful area to do, so doing this early means you can spread out upper lip electro over several sessions, plus doing this early on will make the rest more tolerable. Next, I would really want to work on the sideburns, and then cheeks , jawline, and neck. If you have light skin + dark hair, I would do laser first and then electrolysis. i have read about girls doing about 6 sessions of laser, and then doing electro. The reason for this is that the facial hair becomes less dense after each session of laser, so it will be less effective. another reason for combining laser and electro is that even dark haired people have some light colored hairs that only electro can get.

[RachaelAnne]

Hi Joanna,

I agree with the rest of the girls,  begin with your face.   Of all the areas it is the one place hrt will not have any considerable effect.
Most of my facial hair was dark when I started hair removal in April 2014, so it was recommend to start with laser to thin out the beard.   I've had 9 full have/neck sessions and 8 additional sessions of just my upper lip and chin.

In February this year I switched to electrolysis, also started hrt.   The hardest for me is the neck.   My lip is easy.   YMMV.

As for the other areas, last year i did expand the laser to include full chest, arm pits and since i go to a very trans friendly place a full Brazilian (never liked the hair there anyway).  I'm hoping hrt will eventually take care of the hair on my legs and arms (which I currently shave every few days).

[KimSails]

Hi Joanna,

You've gotten some good advice here!  A few additional comments:  Pick someone that is very experienced.  As I understand it, an inexperienced person can leave little scars all over your face if the settings are too strong, and the follicle won't be killed if they are too weak.  Also, although an experienced person may charge more her hour, they may also be more efficient at killing the hair.

Ask about methods to reduce the pain.  I went to my doctor to get a prescription for EMLA cream. It helps some. In addition, a good pain pill can help.

In my case, I have/had a mix of dark/blond/gray facial hair.  I intermix laser sessions every eight weeks on the dark hair with weekly electrolysis appointments on the light hair.

Kim  🙂

[Rachel]

I did 3 sessions of laser then I switched to electrolysis I have 30 hours of electrolysis and have 90 to 100 to go on my face. My torso is bare and legs sparse (2 years HRT). 

I would do face and genitals if GCS is in the future. The genitals need 3 sweeps over a year.

Ears, then upper lip then center of the chin are the worst. I have yet to start the genitals.

I use two technicians and both work on trans and are very supportive.

[Jacqueline]

Thanks to all,

Super helpful replies and suggestions. This is something I am both looking forward to and with a little fear. I have so many issues. However, getting rid of so much hair seems like such an improvement.

Now if only I could get some of it to grow back on top of my head.

With gratitude and a hug,

Joanna

[Tiffanie]

I'm on my phone and didn't read all the replies so sorry if I repeat what's been said.

I started with the facial hair.  Almost all my hair is dark so I did laser to rid the shadow quickly.  I am following up with electrolysis for the grey hairs and the very few returning dark hairs.  I dod one laser treatment on my chest about 6 months into HRT because shaving was becoming difficult ... near the nipples hurt!!  Most all my body hair is gone.  What little is left is very fine and getting thinner by the day.

Good luck.  Hair removal is so worth the effort and pain