Dysphoria - I hate my beard

[ToriJo]

I use a combination of electric (high end Panasonic) and triple blade razor (Gillette Mach 3).  The electric works really good on my chin and much of my face, the blade on my neck.  I have tried pretty much every brand of razor (blade and not), but not DE or straight edges because I cut my face bad enough with the triple blade razor.  I think everyone is different - i know several transwomen that look beautiful and passable after simply shaving. I'm just not one of them.

[Bari Jo]

I use a combination of electric (high end Panasonic) and triple blade razor (Gillette Mach 3).  The electric works really good on my chin and much of my face, the blade on my neck.  I have tried pretty much every brand of razor (blade and not), but not DE or straight edges because I cut my face bad enough with the triple blade razor.  I think everyone is different - i knowd several transwomen that look beautiful and passable after simply shaving. I'm just not one of them.

Ive tried everything as well.  Whenever I get a semi close shave, I get ingrown hairs too.  So far the only thing that has worked for my is epilating.  Of course that gives me ingrown hairs too.  Enter electrolysis.  I'm banking my money there, sending my electroligists kid to college probably.

What is DE?  I couldn't find info on that.

[Roll]

Double edge razor. I'm not really sure what makes them special, but people seem to like them.

[Lucy Ross]

DE = the old fashioned Double Edge safety razor. I used to use one years ago, being a fan of the archaic. Had the badger brush, mixing bowl, 5 different soaps, etc. Mostly I just cut myself though. They're tricky to use, cartridge razors do most of the work for you.

DE are all the rage with the posters on shaving forums, though.  Yes, there are such things.  One has 4 grades of closeness, D3 is best, any cartridge is worst.

[Bari Jo]

Hah, seems obvious now.  When I did searches for de and beard I got tutorials on how to debeard a clam.  Then I though, is that what she means me to do to my face?

In any case, I tried my dads razor, he basically gave it to me saying he was just going to use disposables from then on.  Yes it hot close, about as close as a straight razor.  I still got ingrown hairs and could feel the sandpaper feel when rubbed no against the grain though.  I will tell you this though. DE was fun for a while till I got a few long cuts accidentally.  Then I put it down forever.

[RavenMoon]

Oh this is my biggest cause of angst! I'm half Italian. I was never very hairy until I got older. I now have a fairly heavy beard. Lots of black hair. So even after shaving, and I also do the against the grain thing, I still have a shadow.

I've been using Harry's blades, and the new batch I just got are super. I shave in the shower. My shave was so close that it looked like I had makeup on! But soon the shadow is back. [emoji53]

I'll be starting laser soon. Unfortunately lots of my beard is white now. But if I can at least kill the shadow soon, I'll deal with the rest as I go along.

I'm still living as a very androgynous guy. But I *HATE* my facial hair.

I don't get "dressed up" in public much at all at this point. Mostly for this reason. I must try Dermablend soon.

All my dysphoria is centered on my face. The beard is #1, followed by my nose. Lo.


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[SarahMarie1987]

I am pre-HRT right now, so shaving my face is pretty much like the appearance for my assigned gender.

My big issue is the amount of shaving I need to just to have a semi-smooth face. For example, I shaved Friday morning, but by mid-afternoon, it looks as if I haven't shaved at all. Stubble is just frustrating to deal with.

I use a combo of a Remington electric shaver and a 3 blade Gillette razor to shave my face. Doeddsn't always keep me smooth, but it does get rid of the facial hair 85% of the time.

Oddly, outside of my leg hair, I don't have that much body hair. Nor is it thick. Shaving my legs is a bit tedious, but that hair isn't thick. So if I feel bad about my face, shaving my body is usually a helpful way to combat dysphoria.

P.S.- It seems that the facial fungus I picked up a few months ago is gone. Woo hoo!!

[Bari Jo]

P.S.- It seems that the facial fungus I picked up a few months ago is gone. Woo hoo!!

Eee, you need to patent and market that pronto!

[Lady Lisandra]

I used to shave with a straight razor. I takes some technique, and definetely takes more time than other shaving methods, unless you don't mind slitting your throat every once in a while.

If you can't find any natural looking make up, try an unnatural one. I use a creamy foundation which covers almost anything. You can also try pancake, it makes your face look like porcelain. The one I use is noticeably lighter than my face, my father sais I look like a vampire with it, but I never got any bad comments about it.

[Josilyn]

One thing that might help the cost of laser and electrolysis is to seek out a nearby beauty school.  Sometimes they have an in house spa and they do those services for much less than going to an actual spa.  I went to the local beauty school here and I paid $18 per hour for electrolysis and $99 per session for Laser.  Granted you have a student doing the work, but with both laser and electrolysis I have had good results.  Sadly I had to stop due to my own financial reasons, but I am hoping to get back there to finish the job.

[ToriJo]

I did my first treatment in Dallas - they got done with my face a day earlier than expected, so it was just two days (and the second felt really long!) in the chair.  Right now, I'm swollen and red, but also hairless on my face which, albeit temporary, is really a wonderful thing.  I'll be back in 6 weeks.

[Bari Jo]

I did my first treatment in Dallas - they got done with my face a day earlier than expected, so it was just two days (and the second felt really long!) in the chair.  Right now, I'm swollen and red, but also hairless on my face which, albeit temporary, is really a wonderful thing.  I'll be back in 6 weeks.

Hi ToriJo, love that you are doing this and sharing your experience.  I'm very close to doing it myself too!

[RachClayburn]

This is all great information! Every day I come here and learn things I always have wanted to know, but was afraid to ask! I skipped shaving on Tuesday, was just too tired, and some time around the end of my workday, I saw myself with full shadow in a mirror, and had a minor panic attack. I shaved the second I got home! 

Just curious if anyone has tried an epilator on facial hair? 

[Bari Jo]

Just curious if anyone has tried an epilator on facial hair?

Yes, I have a long history of this.  I don't recommend it but I'll give tips since I know how bad dysphoria can be, at least for me with the beard.

Do not do your first clearing with an Epilator.  The machine works fast and pulls out too many hairs at once.  It is very painful to do that first clearing this way.  Instead get a magnifying mirror and tweezers and go to town.  I was able to clear my entire beard in a weekend and mine is thick.  Afterwards hair grows at different rates and they are new hairs, using the Epilator on that is fairly pain free, relatively.

After about a year of doing this I decided to just do electrolysis.  I was hoping that by epilating the hair would give up the ghost, but that never happened.  Electrolysis is working though, just slowly.

Bari Jo

[RachClayburn]

Yes, I have a long history of this.  I don't recommend it but I'll give tips since I know how bad dysphoria can be, at least for me with the beard.

Do not do your first clearing with an Epilator.  The machine works fast and pulls out too many hairs at once.  It is very painful to do that first clearing this way.  Instead get a magnifying mirror and tweezers and go to town.  I was able to clear my entire beard in a weekend and mine is thick.  Afterwards hair grows at different rates and they are new hairs, using the Epilator on that is fairly pain free, relatively.

After about a year of doing this I decided to just do electrolysis.  I was hoping that by epilating the hair would give up the ghost, but that never happened.  Electrolysis is working though, just slowly.

Bari Jo

Very good to know! Thank you!