What little things did you change at the beginning?

[Denise]

As I've posted before I'm just starting out on this wonderful journey.  I go from elated to calm to terrified in the blink of an eye.  I have done anything physical/medical except shave arms/pits/legs.  My question is what other small steps did you take in the beginning.  I'm sensitive to my immediate family's comfort level.  I've had 40 years to process this while my wife has had 3 weeks.  Slow and steady is going to get me there.

What little steps did you take to ease your transition for yourself and your family?

[Orchid]

... SKINCARE EXCLAMATION POINT EXCLAMATI- !!

I... I really wanted to find a feasible way to take care of my skin by going through a ton of products that otherwise didn't have much effect on me other than the total cost of my endeavor.

I ended up finding jojoba oil and I will not be apart from this godsend elixir

I also grew out my hair, and worked on my eyebrows with a semi-deft hand. It took many tries before I realized I need a professional.

[Mariah]

Earrings, eyebrows, skin care, hair growing out, and shaving all bod hair away, clear polish, and clothing that was on the andro side of the female spectrum of clothing. Those were the little things I changed in the beginning.

[Karen5519]

Earrings, letting my hair grow out and from time to time getting it trimmed in a feminine manner at a beauty salon so I could work towards the style I wanted, using skin care products to soften my skin and overall looks and of course the old standy......wearing panties.

[Kellam]

I started wearing more bright colors.

[FreyasRedemption]

I started, even before coming out, by growing my hair longer. Then, I went for body hair shaving (so far, I'm not yet completely done with the lower legs, and I get razor rash really easily, but a smooth skin is just worth it), and wearing gender-neutral clothes.

[kittenpower]

I started electrolysis early on, and I also started to grow my hair out (I started HRT 3 months later, so all of my new hair was female hair).

[Barb99]

I'm only 6 months into HRT so still kind of at the beginning.
I would have to say: letting my hair grow out, changing my diet and eating habits which led to losing the big belly.
Taking care of my skin, electrolysis, laser...
It's amazing how these little things start adding up. I'm actually starting to like who I see in the mirror now.

[Emjay]

Definitely if you're planning facial hair removal start earlier rather than later.  I'm something like 94 hours into electrolysis and still have at *least* that long still to go, probably longer to be completely honest.

If you can do laser it's generally faster but is only guaranteed to permanently reduce rather than remove facial hair.  Of course everyone's experiences with that will vary, just what I've been told on that part.

[.Christy]

did my eyebrows, grew out hair and slowly eased into a new wardrobe.

[Harley Quinn]

Moisturizer and skin care. That was my first step... working that bit into my daily routine was the biggest challenge. Lol!

[April_TO]

I've always been big on skin care prior to transition, so focus on skin and losing a bit of weight since estrogen will make you crave more things you shouldn't be eating. I also started wearing more andro looking clothes and I pierced my ears after a month on HRT.

Basic Skin Tip: Exfoliate, Moisturize and Sunscreen would be your routine. This will soften and feminize your skin.

[cindianna_jones]

Electrolysis. I had my face "cleared" three times before I went full time.

[Juliett]

I wore pink socks with sandals....
I'm not proud of it.

[Tommi]

I've been wearing panties and shaving my legs and pits and at times my chest and arms for near 20 years.  I haven't yet begun a transition though...