MTF hair growth from HRT.

[roxie rudi]

Hi everyone! Hope you're all feeling good about your beautiful selves!
I know facial hair for MTFs needs electrolysis/shaving or whatever because I can't understand trans women/girls wanting to actually play the part of the circus' "bearded lady". Unless the wages are really good or the beards really impressive when eating soup. Isn't the Victorian aged mentality of circus exploitation trans friendly? Or am I thinking of something else? Oh well, back on point I shall go.
I know that body hair is taken care of by HRT (increased growth of vellus hairs and all that) unless a transgender sister really wants a hairy, sweaty bottom which I also cannot understand. Unless hairy bums become all the rage in New York/London/Paris/Tokyo or wherever the beautiful posh girls congregate in famous cities.
My question is this: Will the hair on my head be growing markedly quicker than my current hair which has its follicles poisoned by testosterone? I know HRT changes other physical characteristics of obviously greater import but I'm just trying to cover my bases and get overall info on the changes that will be soon happening for me. I know my yuckypoo receding hairline will be gloriously fixed and I can't wait to start learning how to fix my hair and choose some gorgeous colours and hairdos for this currently horrible scattering of masculine toilet brush...oops...I mean hair. BUT will a change in hair growth be markedly noticeable? Will it grow faster? More luxuriantly? Softer? Thicker? Lighter?

Please note that I am merely attempting humour above and I sincerely apologise if I have given any offense for any reason. I am a somewhat irreverent woman but I do have a big heart.

Ciao,
xoxo,
Roxanne.

[Ms Grace]

Beard - suggest laser and/or electrolysis. If you have dark hair on light skin laser might do the trick, otherwise look into electro, it takes 150+ hours and is fairly painful, not just to your face but also your purse, but al least it's permanent.

Body - would suggest getting a full body wax or three. Yes, HRT can reduce body hair but it will take less time if you give it a hand with a wax. Pre transition you can use Face of Man near Wynyard. They are exclusively for men but take a lot of trans clients.

Head - it won't grow any faster. The difference is that estrogen/anti-androgens will allow the hair to grow for a longer period of time before it cycles out. The thing is that this will probably only happen to new hairs once you start HRT. Oiliness might reduce but you won't see an immediate thickening or head hair, especially if you have any significant thinning it will take quite some time, if ever, to thicken.

[Cindy]

Hi beautiful!

In general, and general is such a term in this community that straight HRT E & blockers has little effect on head hair.

Finistrade etc can and does have an effect in some women and I believe good effects in many.

What did I do?

I had short, crew cut grey hair that went into white curls as soon as it grew. I plucked up 10 years of courage and went to the most expensive hair salon I couldn't afford and said. Hi, I'm a transgender woman just starting her journey can you help me with my hair? I was in male clothing.

The owner was kind enough to sit with me and say, basically come back in 6 weeks. I did.

He saw me come in the door and said, I did not expect you to come back. Nathan is my best stylist, Rebeca is my best colour tech, when do you want to start?

Now my hair is auburn with streaks, down to my shoulders. They styled it and continue to do so to hide MPB, yes I have had significant growth filling in a bald spot, they take care of me and love me and advise me on styling. I get a hair style, blow dry and style etc at a phone call if I'm going to an event and I think I look good. I have confidence.

Cheap? No. Worth it? Yes.

Do I know what colour I will be when I leave the salon? No.

Do I care? No.

Do I trust them? Absolutely.

[roxie rudi]

Grace and Cindy all I can say is thank you very much. I don't have any MPB, just a slightly receding hairline. Neither my dad or my two grandpas were bald either. So I might hope to grow long and lovely hair. At least I'll try.
I will be on a low dose HRT until August because I need to make certain that I will have saved enough money ASAP for certain necessities and this is how long it will take to save for these. And then I plan to go for it! I only made this decision to be more patient re my finances while at work today but a little bit more homework and preparation won't go astray, even though the thought of slowing my journey down is hurting me immensely.
I am only doing it this way because I am certain that I will either lose my job or have to walk away from it once I start to really transition so to keep my current job and not have my income disrupted I will have to be a little bit secretive over several months. But at least I have appointments with Drs Toohey and Hayes in Jan and Feb respectively, I contacted the office of Dr Michael Scott today regarding a consultation with him soon too (purely so that I can weigh up some important options) and am awaiting Dr Suporn to return from "vacation" to reply to an enquiry that I have made regarding FFS. Tomorrow I am to also make an appointment with a cardiologist to hopefully arrange a written medical clearance for future FFS too.
You have both thoroughly answered my questions while also giving me some great info, I am incredibly happy to learn about the Face of Man I am thrilled to read that "significant" hair growth filled a bald spot and I can't wait for my male hair's oiliness to lessen.
To be honest girls, I can't wait to discover the joys that my hair will give me along my journey.

Ciao bella,
xoxo,
Roxanne.

[Claire_Sydney]

Do I know what colour I will be when I leave the salon? No.

What a way to live for the moment!

[KayXo]

It's best to give full dose HRT 2 years at least before resorting to FFS as you may not need it ultimately. You might be surprised to see what hormones can do. FFS is costly, carries risks, can leave you with loss of sensation, etc. Patience is your friend.

[big kim]

Beard not much difference without electrolysis
Body hair went after 3 or 4 waxes & HRT went from bear to bare
Head hair went from thin with small  bald patch at crown & minor receding at front to midpoint between shoulders & breast.Bald patch filled in , slight regrowth of front receding area which isn't noticeable with fringe

[ChasingAlice]

I don't know about others,  but the day after I got my letter I went to Milan and started laser treatments for my face and neck. Genetics only allowed me to grow goatee and a mustache which was not thick and my third appointment is next Friday. I already have bald patches,  big bald patches and half of my shadow is gone. I got a great deal for lifetime treatments 1,800usd.

The laser appointments before I even see my Endo with good results. Noone can pass with a beard shadow and if you think you can your being silly and asking for trouble.

[roxie rudi]

Thanks for all the info that newcomers can hope to thrive on girls but while I hadn't mentioned removing my beard it doesn't mean that I haven't planned for it's removal. I was only really asking about hair growth on this thread and I had also thought of getting electrolysis immediately I started to obviously transition. 
What I meant "by going for it" included transitioning level HRT and I am contacting Dr Suporn now about FFS to only lay some tracks that I can travel along during my future. Besides there is a waiting list for this that I must sit in. I'm just trying to achieve some understanding and work out things beforehand, nothing more really.
I'm not going to undergo FFS without giving HRT 10 months AT THE VERY LEAST. I am under the impression that this will give me enough time to at least show the main directions that HRT will take my facial features and that the rest of HRT's changes will occur at a slower and less profound rate after this. But I will certainly defer to you girls who are much better experienced in this matter than I if I'm wrong.  But thanks for all the advice anyway!   

Bye,
xoxo,
Roxie.

[KayXo]

started laser treatments for my face and neck

Laser is sometimes not permanent. Hair can grow back years after last treatment. It's a gamble that can end up being costly.

I'm not going to undergo FFS without giving HRT 10 months AT THE VERY LEAST.

2 years at least. Patience is your friend. Think of long-term...

[Paige]

Hi Roxie,

I'm not on estrogen, but I've been on dutasteride for 1 year and spironolactone for almost 3 months.   I started this thin up top, probably Norwood 4.   So far the hair that's there has definitely become thicker, there seems to be new vellus hair showing up too.  Like others have said this seems to take a while.  I would still consider myself Norwood 4 but it's much better.   Hopefully it will continue to improve.

On the other hand my face is getting softer and it seems the hair is getting softer.  Shaving seems to do a much better job then before.

Take care,
Paige

[KayXo]

Hopefully, you will have estrogen be added to the Spiro as Spiro alone will deprive you of sex hormones and can be detrimental to your health and outlook long-term.

[roxie rudi]

Thanks very much for the thoughtful advice about being patient, I will take that on board because I will transition right. And thanks for the info about the effects you have experienced too girls! I might be super keen to get things underway but I won't be a fool by ignoring all your thoughtful advice my sisters!

Ciao bella,
xoxo,
Roxanne.

[Mariah]

Mine has been filling in nicely and getting thicker since starting HRT. Results do very and how long you have had the hair loss as to how much hair returns. Hugs
Mariah

[Paige]

Hopefully, you will have estrogen be added to the Spiro as Spiro alone will deprive you of sex hormones and can be detrimental to your health and outlook long-term.

Hi KayXo,

At this point I can't look past the next month.  It just to ease the dysphoria at this point while I figure out where to go from here.  My marital issue really make it difficult to do anything else right now.   I've talked to my doctor about osteoporosis and  I'm having a bone density scan as a baseline just in case I take it long term.

I know my muscle mass will decrease.  It already has a bit.  My skin is softer, the beard is slowing.  No erectile dysfunction yet.  What other concerns are there?

I was talking to another transgender women recently and she was on spiro for a year before estrogen and she said it worked quite well for her.

Thanks for the concern,
Paige

[KayXo]

Being without any sex hormones can

- accelerate ageing, earlier onset of wrinkles, skin less elastic, etc.
- make you feel tired, lethargic, unmotivated, depressed/anxious
- cause cognitive deficits (memory problems), brain fog, poor concentration and eventually lead to an earlier onset of Alzheimer's
- osteoporosis which cannot be as effectively addressed with just medications, calcium and vitamin D
- increase risk of diabetes over time and make you gain too much weight
- cause insomnia, sleeping problems
- cause hot flashes, night sweats

Just not healthy.

[Paige]

Being without any sex hormones can

- accelerate ageing, earlier onset of wrinkles, skin less elastic, etc.
- make you feel tired, lethargic, unmotivated, depressed/anxious
- cause cognitive deficits (memory problems), brain fog, poor concentration and eventually lead to an earlier onset of Alzheimer's
- osteoporosis which cannot be as effectively addressed with just medications, calcium and vitamin D
- increase risk of diabetes over time and make you gain too much weight
- cause insomnia, sleeping problems
- cause hot flashes, night sweats

Just not healthy.

Hi KayXo,

That certainly doesn't sound good.  I definitely need to figure this out sooner rather than later.  So maybe low dose E would be a better alternative to Spiro to manage my dysphoria?

Always love your comments.
Take care,
Paige

[KayXo]

Low dose E (taken alone) might probably not reduce/inhibit T as much as Spiro but adding some E to the Spiro may be wise. Ask your doctor and see what they say.

[roxie rudi]

That sounds great Mariah! I haven't any bald spots and my hair is only slightly receding and I will be starting low dose HRT in what will hopefully be a matter of weeks because I wish to hold my job for just a while longer. I have a little bit more organisation to undertake alongside saving a bit more money for my transition. You do look great too Mariah!

I shall also take note of your post too Kay. Low dose HRT won't mean just one of anything for me.
For me low dose HRT is like igniting a priming fuse that will lead to me finding a celestial vehicle that is needed to leap out and fly with. And then I'll let HRT shoot me outside and away from this masculine mistake that I'm horribly stuck inside! Woooooo! I'll be becoming free with HRT.
Can't help my silly attempts at being silly. Sorry girls.

Ciao,
xo,
Roxanne.

[Steph34]

I have read all kinds of hair growth success stories here, but I am not one of them. Transitioning in my 20s with most of my hair loss being very recent, I was optimistic for regrowth. I have been profoundly disappointed. I started with significant hair loss, some balding on top and thinning everywhere. Then I started Estradiol, Dutasteride, Lupron, and Biotin. Transitioning has made my remaining strands thicker and more colorful, but they keep falling out and I have far less hair now than when I started my transition. I can't use spironolactone because it makes my scalp flake up and causes morbid shedding. Even the estradiol makes my hair fall out by increasing the growth of scalp fungus, against which no treatment has been effective. I take it anyway because I can't live without it. How ironic that a female hormone would make my hair fall out.

Spiro does not completely deprive one of sex hormones anyway, so I do not think that concern is particularly relevant to you; that would be more of an issue with gnrh agonists. Still, E is a great feminizing agent and it does make strands thicker. I think you would benefit from it.