Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I had a couple questions...

1.  Should I bother with laser or electrolysis on other parts of my body besides my face?  I have kind of gotten the impression that hair on the body aside from the pubic area and armpits kind of thins out and becomes the fine hairs like women get.  Is this true?

2.  Should I bother growing the hair on my head out before HRT or wait until i begin HRT, shave it and start from scratch?  I heard that the new hair is thicker and nicer.  Is that true?

3. Any other hair advice regarding hormones would be appreciated

Thanks!

just my 2 cents

Laser hair reduction now or later is a personal choice as it's going to be hard either way to kill all the follicles. Body hair tends to in my experience tend not to change in density as much as thickness so if it's undesired on the body, laser reduction there will likely benefit more than laser reduction on the face. A good electro tech will likely benefit more when they have just the face to deal with. And likewise you need a good laser tech otherwise laser hair reduction might do more harm than good.

As far as hair on the top of the head, that's mostly a personal choice also. I don't know of it being thicker than it might already be given a good diet and allowing it to grow longer so that conditioning products can be applied to it or the scalp.

Quote from: Kylie on July 16, 2014, 11:26:32 PM
I had a couple questions...

1.  Should I bother with laser or electrolysis on other parts of my body besides my face?  I have kind of gotten the impression that hair on the body aside from the pubic area and armpits kind of thins out and becomes the fine hairs like women get.  Is this true?

2.  Should I bother growing the hair on my head out before HRT or wait until i begin HRT, shave it and start from scratch?  I heard that the new hair is thicker and nicer.  Is that true?

3. Any other hair advice regarding hormones would be appreciated

Thanks!

Kylie

ymmv but for me -

1. yes the hair on my body (except face and under arm) became finer and less obvious.  Laser worked well here with a little clean up via galvanic on extra long light vellus hair and remaining darker hair (back, ears and chest)

2. Just keep growing your hair on your head - length is important and the lustre, thickness and scalp coverage/density definitely improved

3. Start removal of facial hair as early as you can.  Pound it with laser until you go as far as you can then move to galvanic electrolysis (expensive, time consuming, permanent and a little more 'uncomfortable' than laser

Safe travels

Aisla

Quote from: Kylie on July 16, 2014, 11:26:32 PM
I had a couple questions...

1.  Should I bother with laser or electrolysis on other parts of my body besides my face?  I have kind of gotten the impression that hair on the body aside from the pubic area and armpits kind of thins out and becomes the fine hairs like women get.  Is this true?

2.  Should I bother growing the hair on my head out before HRT or wait until i begin HRT, shave it and start from scratch?  I heard that the new hair is thicker and nicer.  Is that true?

3. Any other hair advice regarding hormones would be appreciated

Thanks!

Here is my POV:
1. I would. HRT had massive reduction in hair, this is true, the hairs on my chest area are basically nonexistant now, same with the hairs on my tummy (with the exception that the "happy trail" still grows dark enough to be seen. The growth of leg hair slowed a bit, but I still have to shave it, so why not get laser there, same with my thighs and arms.... I would rather just not have any body hairs, even soft light ones that I would have had if I had been born properly; so take my advice for what you will.

2. I remember somewhere on http://www.hairfacts.com/ it was said that shaving doesn't make things grow better, so I wouldn't bother that place is usually pretty good (and ran by famed transwoman Andrea James).

3. Drink enough water! Even if you aren't on water depleting Spiro, I just always look and feel better when I drink enough water. It seems to have more of an effect on appearance and feeling than prior to HRT.

Hon, can you check the hair facts link, says no server found for me..

Edit: Interesting.. Three times said no server found.. working now.. fourth click is the charm. ;)

My head hair did not get thicker on HRT, actually got thinner BUT grew faster. Down to my butt now. :) Progesterone seems to have helped hair become softer and shinier. My hair was already quite long before HRT, I didn't cut it. I see no reason to do that.

As for body hair, I did electrolysis (thermolysis) in the the chest and abdominal area, getting rid of that 'trail' for good. Very happy. It didn't take that long. Treatment there started 2 yrs after starting HRT when I realized that Androcur + estrogen alone did not make any significant difference.

Face, I started with laser before starting HRT. Then, after 6 sessions, I switched to electrolysis. Took about 3-4 yrs. Gone for good since. If you treat an area with laser only, there is always a chance hair will grow back, sometimes just as thick. Almost 6-7 yrs after my electrolysis treatment, no regrowth. Skin is smooth, no scars whatsoever and hair-free! :)

That's my story. ;)

Thanks for the input!  I have had two laser sessions on my face, and could not be happier with the results. I didn't know whether to go ahead with the body or if hrt would take care of that.  It sounds like i should start on the body when I am done with the face.

The hair on my head is getting to the difficult stage where it is hard to have a professional style while still presenting as male.  I was thinking if it was going to grow in healthier/more feminine after hrt, maybe I would just go back to short hair until i start hormones.  From the feedback, I am getting that it will not make a ton of difference and I should just keep it as long as possible.

Thanks!

1: I would personally wait with that. Plenty of ciswomen who shave during summer and keep their hair during winter, which is way more comfy if its chilly outside. What other priorities do you have? You can only spend so much money :)

2: I had thinning hair on top of my head due to alopecia androgenetic before I started HRT. I am already seeing a massive change in the regrowth and thickening of my hair. But you might not even have that problem so bless you ^^