Armpit Hair

[Linde]

There are some cultures who find pit hair attractive - Okay, whatever floats your boat dear 

I am glad that I don't live in such a culture, i would be considered to be as unattractive as they come!

[BritneyX]

Thank you Danielle
This makes me to really want to wait a little longer, or just have the upper lip and hin area done, and call it good!
If I can get along with shaving less than once a week, I can live with it, and keep investing my money into the fine products of the Gillette company!

Save your money and go with Harry's Razors or the Dollar Shave Club.  Most of Gillette's products are made in "whomever's cheapest" foreign nation.  Of course, they don't pass that savings on to the consumer.  Their high end Fusion 5 (overkill) pricey razors were last known to be made in Boston.  I have heard nothing but great reviews on Harry's.  Their razors are made in Germany in their own factory.  German stainless steel and metal craftsmanship is considered the best in the world.   I will only buy my cooking knives from there. 

As for the Dollar Shave Club razors, the word on the street is that they are rebranded Dorco blades, which is a South Korean company.  They have a warehouse in the USA, but not sure if they have any production facilities here.  There reviews appear to be mostly positive.  I have not much direct experience, as a metal smith or consumer, with South Korean stainless steel.  I would much prefer Japanese stainless, instead.  They are number 2 in quality and craftsmanship, but that may have changed since the latest global depression. 

[Linde]

Save your money and go with Harry's Razors or the Dollar Shave Club.  Most of Gillette's products are made in "whomever's cheapest" foreign nation.  Of course, they don't pass that savings on to the consumer.  Their high end Fusion 5 (overkill) pricey razors were last known to be made in Boston.  I have heard nothing but great reviews on Harry's.  Their razors are made in Germany in their own factory.  German stainless steel and metal craftsmanship is considered the best in the world.   I will only buy my cooking knives from there. 

You mean the twins from Henkel?  I am a friend of one of the Henkel twins, we lived pretty close together.  But I have never hear of any person in the knife world named harry (that is not a German name anyway).  Most people in Germany buy Gillette !

As for the Dollar Shave Club razors, the word on the street is that they are rebranded Dorco blades, which is a South Korean company.  They have a warehouse in the USA, but not sure if they have any production facilities here.  There reviews appear to be mostly positive.  I have not much direct experience, as a metal smith or consumer, with South Korean stainless steel.  I would much prefer Japanese stainless, instead.  They are number 2 in quality and craftsmanship, but that may have changed since the latest global depression.

I buy my Gillette cartridges at Costco for a relatively reasonable price.  i can get up to 5 shavings out of one cartridge, that means it lasts me close to 2 months.

[Julia1996]

I noticed nair leaves little hairs I have to shave after anyway. That's a bit annoying

Sent from my VS501 using Tapatalk

I tried Nair once and it burned my skin. I didn't leave it on longer than the directions said either. Thankfully I only used it on my legs. It would have fried my underarms!  Ouch.

[V M]

I tried Nair once and it burned my skin. I didn't leave it on longer than the directions said either. Thankfully I only used it on my legs. It would have fried my underarms!  Ouch.

Same thing happened with me, I really just can't do chemi stuff

[BritneyX]

You mean the twins from Henkel?  I am a friend of one of the Henkel twins, we lived pretty close together.  But I have never hear of any person in the knife world named harry (that is not a German name anyway).  Most people in Germany buy Gillette !I buy my Gillette cartridges at Costco for a relatively reasonable price.  i can get up to 5 shavings out of one cartridge, that means it lasts me close to 2 months.

I always had trouble shaving once my facial hair kicked in during my early to mid-20s.  When Gillette's uber expensive Fusion 5 razors, I believed all their hype in the ads and bought in.  No matter how I used them (technique, skin prep, lubrication), they left my face feeling like road rash.  Often, my neck would be bleeding from the micro cuts.  They also sucked at shaving any hair over a 1/8 inch growth, as they would quickly clog up, necessitating using a safety pin to clean them out.  Attempts at regular length body/arm pit hair were met with very little amount shaved in a 2-3" patch.  Even though, I would thoroughly clean a (face only) blade cartridge with picking the blades clean, hot/soapy water, & alcohol, I would be rewarded with bad folliculitis if I dared to reuse that razor cartridge.   One use, throw away, was not acceptable.  Went thru electric shavers with either they would cause road rash/folliculitis or they just gave a crappy shave.  Even bought that expensive Braun self-cleaning electric razor.  No dice.  So I went to the Doc to see about getting a dermatologist consult.  He suggested that I try something before I go and spend money on the co-pay.  He instructed me to use ONLY a single blade razor like the inexpensive Bic razors.  He instructed me to dry shave, with a cleaned face after a warm/hot shower, using a single stroke with the direction of the hair growth. He further instructed to take my time and then follow up with just a good quality, regular, everyday, traditional aftershave.  He said that after about the 3rd shave, my skin will get used to it and that I would finally get a clean, close shave.   And I be darned, it work like a charm! Helped me get thru the Navy, so as long as, I shaved after morning PT, not before. 

This technique, however, was miserable on the armpits and body hair.  I would have to go with a 3 blade cartridge after a good mowing with my electric body hair trimmers.  Now, that I have been shaving so often, the electric trimmers are not needed.  The Nair has made shaving with a blade very optional.  Looking forward to getting that laser thingy that you eluded to that Barbie uses.  I don't want to do anything permanent till I see how HRT is going to change things on top.  If I have to get transplants, I want the Doc to have plenty of donor hair available.

Note: From what I know of Harry's is that they just purchased a factory there to bring down costs. However, I did come across a review by a men's site, along with he comments, that suggest that Harry's dropped down in quality with their new cartridge design.   If the comments are to be believed, they are no longer using quality German stainless steel or they are purchasing from another manufacturer.  In this modern age of globalism, you can't trust anybody, anymore.  Greed rules the day, not customer satisfaction and loyalty.   

PS:  Who are the Henkel twins? 

[Coffeedrew]

I shave regularly, but I like the feminine look of how it grows in. I have definitely noticed a change in the hair quality maybe not so much the pattern. I always thought it a bit strange growing up why cis woman I know do not like shaving. I am sure it could be many reason's why from personal hygiene to personal preference, but to me I naturally feel more feminine, and I think it shows a sign of maturity. However, I hate the places testosterone makes hair grow.

[Linde]

@BritneyX
Hi Britney,
The Henkel twins make the best know German cutlery!
My shaving needs are absolutely different from yours.  I have no body hair, or hair on arms, legs and under the arms.  even my pubic hair is well behaving and grows in some form of a bikini cut, I just have to clean the edges a little to wear a bathing suit.  The only hair that I need to deal with, is my facial hair.  When I shave it close (with the Gillette thing), it takes about two days until I get the sandpaper feeling rubbing over my skin, and after two further days a stubble of almost colorless hair can be sen if the light is right, and that is the point when I feel the need to shave again.  If I plan to bum around the home that day, I delay the shaving to the next day.  The only time that I have seen a hair on my face that was longer than 1/8", was the time that I tried to grow a beard to look more manly (that was nothing to write home about)
I hope you find the ideal hair removal device, while I just stay with the Gillette stuff, until I visit Germany again and see what they have to offer in their marketplace .

Have a good one!
Linde

[BritneyX]

@BritneyX
Hi Britney,
The Henkel twins make the best know German cutlery!
My shaving needs are absolutely different from yours.  I have no body hair, or hair on arms, legs and under the arms.  even my pubic hair is well behaving and grows in some form of a bikini cut, I just have to clean the edges a little to wear a bathing suit.  The only hair that I need to deal with, is my facial hair.  When I shave it close (with the Gillette thing), it takes about two days until I get the sandpaper feeling rubbing over my skin, and after two further days a stubble of almost colorless hair can be sen if the light is right, and that is the point when I feel the need to shave again.  If I plan to bum around the home that day, I delay the shaving to the next day.  The only time that I have seen a hair on my face that was longer than 1/8", was the time that I tried to grow a beard to look more manly (that was nothing to write home about)
I hope you find the ideal hair removal device, while I just stay with the Gillette stuff, until I visit Germany again and see what they have to offer in their marketplace .

Have a good one!
Linde

Yeah, my "manly" beard was was never all that manly.  I had what we call in Texas, "a scraggly beard".  When I got the boot from the Navy and languished for the VA to take 4 years to give me my Disability, I just stopped presenting as anything, including being alive (stupid meds).  I just let the beard, hair and body hair just do what it wanted.  Man or woman, it was grotesque, just like how I felt.   That has completely changed for me, so looking great is part of feeling great.  As always, we have to go with what works best for our individual bodies.

This question is for everyone.  Does anyone know if Transgender women are afflicted with the hirsutism  that Golden aged cis-women can be afflicted with, in its varying levels of occurrence?

[Linde]

This question is for everyone.  Does anyone know if Transgender women are afflicted with the hirsutism  that Golden aged cis-women can be afflicted with, in its varying levels of occurrence?

Read it up, and see for yourself!  In theory it is like trans women have it anyway, facial hair and body hair growth, not normally found on a female body!
I could probably be a candidate for it, because my body is to a pretty large extend female.  But I do't believe that I will get it, because neither my mother or my sister complained about it.  I might not have the genetic makeup for it.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirsutism/symptoms-causes/syc-20354935

[Chloe]

Does anyone know if Transgender women are afflicted with the hirsutism that Golden aged cis-women can be afflicted with

        Of course we are . . . since hirsutism in cis women is primarily caused by a hormonal imbalance, is induced by "excess male hormones called androgens, primarily testosterone". The good news is there is a "cure" that will stop growth of most all Vellus Hair but only some types of Terminal hairs . . . my guess is depending on how rooted in the dermis it is.

Terminal hair never retrogresses to vellus hair, except in male pattern baldness. Generally speaking, original terminal hair always remain terminal hair. It is this type of hair one attempts to remove in unwanted areas –hence Electrolysis the only permanent hair removal method

Aside from being an absolute T/DHT block am unsure how Casodex effects the growth phases of some types of hair but others types not.

[GingerVicki]

I used an electric trimmer today and my hair is basically gone. This is new for me. I've always had to shave with a razor.

[BritneyX]

Ok, I should have phrased that earlier question a bit more succinctly.  What I was trying to find will the positive changes due to HRT be mitigated later in life.  That is to say, if HRT, God Willing, reduces the thickness and amount of facial/body hair for me, is it a possibility when I get into my 80s/90s that that will all revert back, even if I am still on estrogen?  I have yet to hear back from the Doc on when my HRT will start or what regimen it will be.   I didn't want to overload her with two many questions.

[Chloe]

. . . is it a possibility when I get into my 80s/90s that that will all revert back, even if I am still on estrogen?

         lol Well if lucky to live so long teeth might fall out but hair? Maybe not . . . suppose genetics might 'ave something to do with it? My grandmother was 99 when she passed on and still had all her wits & 'parts' about her! I am about to be 63 and, having completely stopped taking any AA's about 4 years ago, no regrowth has occurred consider the bicalutamide therapy to be the only thing I've done so far that is "permanent".
        Also still have a full head of hair, nicer than most cis women, suppose a lot also depends on your first starting point? While having had no surgeries so far and on/off/on different "E's and AA's since mid-twenties my father, on the other hand, died from prostate cancer so who knows? Vowed it wasn't gonna happen to me suppose some things one has to just take on faith?
       The thing that baffles me most is chest/tummy/armpit hair is colored type terminal hair so WHY would it be affected but not the beard, head or pubic areas? Perhaps growth in those areas has slowed but know there's still a lot they don't know about what affects hair's different phases wish there was a topical solution other than very expensive Eflora Cream (Eflornithine which is not permanent btw) 

I've done some electrolysis on cheeks but it's frustrating I mean WHY do some heads go bald BUT NOT FACES?

[BritneyX]

From what I have read about endocrine system that regulates hormones, each hormone is paired with hormone receptors.  Furthermore, those same hormone receptors can work differently in other parts of the body.  This can be influences by the actions of other receptors.  This is really complex when it comes to a cis-woman's puberty, cycle, and  pregnancy.  I was following a case study done by a endocrinologist who put a Transwoman thru an intricate hormone pregnancy to correlate with her cis-woman partner's birth, so that she could breastfeed their child.  It was some pretty intense biology.

[Chloe]

a Transwoman thru an intricate hormone pregnancy . . .

  My daughter is breastfeeding and every time I hold 'little one' he eyes mine up but dare not despite wondering what that'd feel like! Also always wondered if sexual activity helps breasts grow?

        A lot of articles like this don't mention "bica' as a treatment for stopping unwanted hair growth but if you google 'hirsutism' and 'bicalutamide' that is slowly changing . . . and note the low dose needed I can verify it works for us transgirls too!
       If your right and some follicle areas are more sensitive to DHT than others there HAS to be a way to shut it down locally that simply hasn't been discovered yet! As trans issues and treatments become more widely known and addressed perhaps by the time you hit 90?

[Linde]

From what I have read about endocrine system that regulates hormones, each hormone is paired with hormone receptors.  Furthermore, those same hormone receptors can work differently in other parts of the body.  This can be influences by the actions of other receptors.  This is really complex when it comes to a cis-woman's puberty, cycle, and  pregnancy.  I was following a case study done by a endocrinologist who put a Transwoman thru an intricate hormone pregnancy to correlate with her cis-woman partner's birth, so that she could breastfeed their child.  It was some pretty intense biology.

Those hormones do really funny things.  Why do I have no body hair (no hair anywhere on my torso or limbs, except some pubic stuff, but this is not growing wild either), but I seem not to have lost any hair on my head at all, but yet some kind of facial hair growth (not dramatically fast growing, but it is there).
Hairwise, I seem to reflect my entire genetic makeup as an intersex person, partially male, partially female.  I would have preferred hairy legs over facial hair, but nobody asked me what I wanted to have, I just got it!
Not having body hair made me some way different from my peers when i tried to be a man, and facial hair makes me different from cis women now that i try to be a woman,  One can't win! 

[Linde]

: don't mention "bica' as a treatment for stopping unwanted hair growth but if you google 'hirsutism' and 'bicalutamide' that is slowly changing . . .

But if I read all the possible side effects, i wonder what is better, those or electrolysis?

Bicalutamide may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
hot flashes or flushing
bone, back, or pelvic pain
muscle weakness
muscle or joint pain
headache
shortness of breath
increased blood pressure
swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
cough
constipation
nausea
vomiting
abdominal pain
diarrhea
gas
change in weight (loss or gain)
loss of appetite
dizziness
pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
difficulty sleeping
feeling of uneasiness or dread
rash
sweating
inability to get or keep an erection
need to urinate frequently during the night
bloody urine
painful or difficult urination
frequent and urgent need to urinate
difficulty emptying bladder
painful or swollen breasts
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
yellowing of the skin or eyes
pain in the upper right part of the stomach
extreme tiredness
unusual bleeding or bruising
lack of energy
upset stomach
loss of appetite
flu-like symptoms
dull or sharp side pain
chest pain

[Chloe]

But if I read all the possible side effects, i wonder what is better, those or electrolysis?

        No no no Dietlind if ya gonna listen to chem companies, whose sole ambition is avoiding liability, then live your life in *fear* and don't cross a busy street, drive a car, join the military and definitely don't transition in the 1st place! I have experienced none of the above. Bica is one of few drugs we're using according to it's intended purpose and keep in mind the dosing for cancer patients, for which these "warnings" are directed, is 8X (times) what I have found we need to be effective.

       Since 1st joining Susan's I've seen more being prescribed with trans docs slowly catching up isn't Spiro's T suppression also an unintended "side effect"? On my old job I watched someone DROP from potassium deficiency we thought he was DEAD took the ambulance forever to show up!

I will say no more on the subject of "Casodex". I do not PROFIT from it's sale or use and can only lead a horse (mare?) to water . . . If ya can afford electrolysis goforit otherwise, if a masochist, DIY like I indeed watched a member here do! Being InterSex yourself sounds like you and I don't need it but surely others here could benefit from it!

[Linde]

         Being InterSex yourself sounds like you and I don't need it but surely others here could benefit from it!

Would it work for facial hair?  That is the only undesired hair my body decided to grow.  Not much or very rapidly, but still growing.  I have to shave 1- 2 times per week, if I would find a way to reduce the need for shaving to ever 2 weeks, I would forget about electrolysis and just continue trying to slit my throat every two weeks!