So even though I didn't think it would start bothering me this much, I really can't stand any stubble anymore these days and therefore shave my face very often.
The problem being that my skin has become ridiculously sensitive since starting hormones, so that means that if I don't have stubble, I have shaving bruises in the shape of facial hair, which isn't all that great either. Any suggestions on how to go easier on the skin. I use a manual blade instead of an electric shaver since it gets more of the hair off, but I wonder if I should go back to the machine since it seemed to go easier on my skin.
My first face laser session is on the 20th, so eventually it should get better, but it'll still be awhile.
Not that I have any experience on hormones (yet), but my skin is naturally sensitive, and I can't just shave without damaging my skin either. I usually take a shower first, and then apply moisturizer to soften everything up first, and then shaving is a lot less hard on my skin.
Oh not you too. Since my skin has softened up on HRT I have to be extra extra careful, and it's really hard on me because I can't really get a good, close shave and I have this nasty shadow to deal with. Ugh.
I have the same issue and it's become even more pronounced the past two times I've shaved. Even a new razor is painful.
Moisturiser in the evening before bed and then after shaving. Make sure the skin is well hydrated before starting. And a sharp blade, don't use a dull one.
Quote from: Ms Grace on December 29, 2014, 01:38:58 PM
Moisturiser in the evening before bed and then after shaving. Make sure the skin is well hydrated before starting. And a sharp blade, don't use a dull one.
I shave in the shower with a moisturising gel and use an AM and PM moisturiser but it still feels painful. Last night was a brand new razor. :(
Sadly, the only thing I've found that really worked was to be less aggressive in the way I shave. Slow, gentle strokes and just letting the ones that get away get away. Otherwise, the same prep advice everyone else has given you. If I get my skin smooth enough to feel feminine it still shows shadow and I cut myself several times. I've mostly taken to shaving only every other day. Not even going to try to go out en femme until I can, at least get laser.
Quote from: Ms Grace on December 29, 2014, 01:38:58 PM
Moisturiser in the evening before bed and then after shaving. Make sure the skin is well hydrated before starting. And a sharp blade, don't use a dull one.
I shave after a shower and I use disposables. Doesn't seem to help much...
I'm only able to shave once a week generally. depending on the area being worked on by my electro tech. Tomorrow is upper lip **cringe** so I was able to shave the rest yesterday and it was painful.
setup a small mirror in the shower and shave in steaming hot water with a hydrating shaving cream. After you're done, exfoliate the area gently and presto clean shaven skin! I have very sensitive dry skin so this is what I do to minimize those nasty bumps/break outs. Exfoliating is crucial and so is using a fresh razor. Those cheap disposables aren't going to do the job.
I barely shave now thanks to laser but I still do the same routine regardless
Quote from: Lady_Oracle on December 29, 2014, 03:14:37 PM
setup a small mirror in the shower and shave in steaming hot water with a hydrating shaving cream. After you're done, exfoliate the area gently and presto clean shaven skin! I have very sensitive dry skin so this is what I do to minimize those nasty bumps/break outs. Exfoliating is crucial and so is using a fresh razor. Those cheap disposables aren't going to do the job.
I barely shave now thanks to laser but I still do the same routine regardless
This is essentially what I am doing. However, I kept trying different razors until I found one that worked well. I ended up with a BIC 4-blade disposable. About the same price as my Mach 4 but it doesn't hurt as much.
I haven't noticed any additional pain since starting HRT, because shaving has always been uncomfortable for me. I have a really thick beard, and I have always hated shaving. But I'm really motivated to do a good job now.
I was using the more expensive Mach 4 razors, and I actually just went back to a 2 blade Gilette disposable and have been getting much closer shaves. But I do have to be pretty careful. And I'm using an Aveeno shave gel, which seems to work better than anything I've used before.
I always start with a hot shower. Then I shave with the grain before going against it. I use coconut oil after shaving to sooth the skin and hydrate. And I wait 30 minutes or so before putting makeup on.
I can't wait to get done with laser and be done with this.
Two things come to mind. Nair makes a facial hair removal cream. It works...kind of... On my wife it works great, me... Not so much.
Or option b. Get lazer treatments. I know it's expensive, but...say you spend $20.00 on shaving supplies a month, more if you use removal creams. After the initial expense.. no more facial hair and no more buying razors, creams, aftershave...
Just a thought.
Quote from: natash on December 29, 2014, 04:11:06 PM
Two things come to mind. Nair makes a facial hair removal cream.
I tried that stuff back in the summer of 06. It broke my face out really bad. I never used it after that.
Quote from: natash on December 29, 2014, 04:11:06 PM
Two things come to mind. Nair makes a facial hair removal cream. It works...kind of... On my wife it works great, me... Not so much.
Or option b. Get lazer treatments. I know it's expensive, but...say you spend $20.00 on shaving supplies a month, more if you use removal creams. After the initial expense.. no more facial hair and no more buying razors, creams, aftershave...
Just a thought.
I do not recommend any kind of delapitory cream on your face as it can burn the hell out of skin. Not everyone is a candidate for laser as it depends on the colour of your hair. Mine is far too light for the laser to work so I have to get old fashioned electrolysis done every week.
I use a vibrating razor in the shower and shampoo on my face. I just apply the shampoo and do not later.
Quote from: Ms Grace on December 29, 2014, 01:38:58 PM
Moisturiser in the evening before bed and then after shaving. Make sure the skin is well hydrated before starting. And a sharp blade, don't use a dull one.
Not only your skin needs hydrating, You Also! My skin is a lot more friable when I am dehydrated. Overall this former camel needs lots of water compared to pre HRT
Quote from: zog on December 29, 2014, 10:01:57 AM
So even though I didn't think it would start bothering me this much, I really can't stand any stubble anymore these days and therefore shave my face very often.
The problem being that my skin has become ridiculously sensitive since starting hormones, so that means that if I don't have stubble, I have shaving bruises in the shape of facial hair, which isn't all that great either. Any suggestions on how to go easier on the skin. I use a manual blade instead of an electric shaver since it gets more of the hair off, but I wonder if I should go back to the machine since it seemed to go easier on my skin.
My first face laser session is on the 20th, so eventually it should get better, but it'll still be awhile.
As for me, I stay away from disposable razors, as they dull way too quickly for me, and then start causing marks/cuts on my face. I use like a triple blade or something, and it works pretty great.
Moreover, I refrain from using shaving gel or cream, and instead use conditioner, or even soap. This way, I've even removed the shadow above my upper lip that shaving cream can't seem to remove -- and even better, the shadow doesn't return for almost two days. In all, each shave takes about half an hour, and people have guessed my age as low as 16 lately, whenever I'm 21, so I think it works pretty well.
I can't shave everyday, or the razor burn gets to bad, I shave every other day now (although I used to just electric razor it like once a week, up until a couple of weeks ago, when I decided to take steps to transition), and I have shadow like three hours later! Lol.
I need superman to laser my face.
I shave under a hot shower too, moisturize soon after and before bed ( or after later shower and shave too if needed). Been on HRT for a very long time and "generally" no problems.
L Katy
I don't know why I'm bothering with this, every time I pass on this advice, I get told I'm full of crap..
I had a similar issue, so I went and talked to someone who knows shaving - a good, old-school barber. Apart from the advice about good prep, which has mostly been given, he also had this to say.. Steer clear of multi-blade razors.. More blades equals more friction and more irritation. I went back to an old school single blade safety razor and the problem disappeared.. I've found I can also use a twin blade disposable..
Quote from: kelly_aus on December 29, 2014, 05:43:25 PM
I don't know why I'm bothering with this, every time I pass on this advice, I get told I'm full of crap..
I had a similar issue, so I went and talked to someone who knows shaving - a good, old-school barber. Apart from the advice about good prep, which has mostly been given, he also had this to say.. Steer clear of multi-blade razors.. More blades equals more friction and more irritation. I went back to an old school single blade safety razor and the problem disappeared.. I've found I can also use a twin blade disposable..
I tried the single blade stuff years ago and they were hell to use. I've used multi blade ones ever since then and I've had no issues. I make sure to scrub down my face with hot water before I begin shaving.
What works for some may not work for others.
YMMV and all that.
Quote from: kelly_aus on December 29, 2014, 05:43:25 PM
I don't know why I'm bothering with this, every time I pass on this advice, I get told I'm full of crap..
I had a similar issue, so I went and talked to someone who knows shaving - a good, old-school barber. Apart from the advice about good prep, which has mostly been given, he also had this to say.. Steer clear of multi-blade razors.. More blades equals more friction and more irritation. I went back to an old school single blade safety razor and the problem disappeared.. I've found I can also use a twin blade disposable..
^^ this x100. The five blade, vibrating, moisturising stuff is utter crap. You pay stupid amounts of money for a few cartridges when you can buy 24 single use blades for a few quid. Save your money and spend it on a good hydrating shaving gel.
Quote from: Laura Squirrel on December 29, 2014, 06:06:04 PM
I tried the single blade stuff years ago and they were hell to use. I've used multi blade ones ever since then and I've had no issues. I make sure to scrub down my face with hot water before I begin shaving.
What works for some may not work for others.
YMMV and all that.
There's a variance in quality between the blades, Laura. You can still save a lot getting a decent quality single or double blade.
Quote from: Wynternight on December 29, 2014, 06:08:45 PM
There's a variance in quality between the blades, Laura. You can still save a lot getting a decent quality single or double blade.
It also requires good technique - something the multi-blade razors don't teach you..
Quote from: Wynternight on December 29, 2014, 06:08:45 PM
There's a variance in quality between the blades, Laura. You can still save a lot getting a decent quality single or double blade.
Nah, I'm good. The blades tend to last quite a while since I had the orchi years ago. The electro that I had helped as well. (But I still need to have to more completed.)
Quote from: kelly_aus on December 29, 2014, 06:11:30 PM
It also requires good technique - something the multi-blade razors don't teach you..
Oh, but you can learn if you use them long enough. I've been using them since 1998.
Hey, I'll stick with my >$1 a week shaving costs.. Was less when I used a straight edge and stone/strop combo..
But I'll bet I can remove as much hair in a single stroke with my single blade than I can with a multi-blade.. Just with way less friction and irritation.
Kelly is absolutely right!
Shaving with the old school razor (wet shaving) will help reduce shadow too cause you get an even closer shave vs standard razors.
I shave maybe once or twice a week with a cheap razor but only if I'm in a hurry to go somewhere, otherwise I pluck
Started plucking with the tweezers from my Swiss Army knife quite a few years ago
No stubble and what little regrowth is slow and has mostly reverted back to peach fuzz
Yes, it is rather painful but somehow seems to help ease my angst
Quote from: V M on December 29, 2014, 07:19:10 PM
I shave maybe once or twice a week with a cheap razor but only if I'm in a hurry to go somewhere, otherwise I pluck
Started plucking with the tweezers from my Swiss Army knife quite a few years ago
No stubble and what little regrowth is slow and has mostly reverted back to peach fuzz
Yes, it is rather painful but somehow seems to help ease my angst
Do you get electro, V M? Plucking is bad if you do.
That explains why I've been doing better with the cheap 2 blade Gillette razors instead of the razor with 4 or 5 blades. So +1 for what Kelly said.
The ever-increasing number of blades is definitely a marketing scheme. The CEO of Schick once said talking about the competition, "I don't care if we have to make a razor with 12 blades and 3 damn aloe strips...we are going to beat them!"
Quote from: Wynternight on December 29, 2014, 07:57:06 PM
Do you get electro, V M? Plucking is bad if you do.
Can't afford electro and don't like shaving, I fear that I will probably always be a plucker
*There's a rather odd subliminal joke not in there somewhere* >:-) HeeHee
Quote from: V M on December 29, 2014, 08:25:02 PM
Can't afford electro and don't like shaving, I fear that I will probably always be a plucker
*There's a rather odd subliminal joke not in there somewhere* >:-) HeeHee
;D
Plucking carry on!
Wish I knew ... hypnosis?
Quote from: Wynternight on December 29, 2014, 08:41:33 PM
;D
Plucking carry on!
Other than the pain, the only downfall of plucking is once in awhile I'll get a really gnarly ingrown hair
Had one coil up 2" long on my chin one time and that was miserable
Was really glad when it popped and I could pluck that plucker out :P
Quote from: V M on December 29, 2014, 09:01:11 PM
Other than the pain, the only downfall of plucking is once in awhile I'll get a really gnarly ingrown hair
Had one coil up 2" long on my chin one time and that was miserable
Was really glad when it popped and I could pluck that plucker out :P
That sounds really plucking painful.
ah shaving : (
i too have a very hard time
its that pesky blue tone on my upper lip that really annoys me i tried everything orange lipstick salmon lipstick even pink if i use that it makes my face look like the color of the lipstick and i just look weird....
so one day i took it upon myself to not do the lipstick trick and just shave normally and apply makeup
i went out and asked my brother in the car if he saw ANY facial hair at all and he said no.....
so maybe we are just extremely hard on ourselves?
Interesting info coming through... personally I use a 4 blade "g" and get a real close shave... but only lasts a day at the most... Interested in the Plucking, I tried and it pluck*** hurt.... brought tears to my eyes, enough to fill a bucket... and they grow back, but after about a week ;). It was just the agony, and a magnifying mirror... but I guess the discomfort is similar to electro anyways? But cheaper and time consuming...
Luckily my "shadow" is more silvery, which will be a b****r for Laser, but will do it, at least it will get ride of the dark ones, so don't want to keep shaving!!!!!
Ooh reason I shave in the shower (from earlier), apart from smoother, I also do not have to stand watching me shave... hate that too!
L Katy :-*
Quote from: Alysinspace on December 29, 2014, 11:21:35 PM
ah shaving : (
i too have a very hard time
its that pesky blue tone on my upper lip that really annoys me i tried everything orange lipstick salmon lipstick even pink if i use that it makes my face look like the color of the lipstick and i just look weird....
so one day i took it upon myself to not do the lipstick trick and just shave normally and apply makeup
i went out and asked my brother in the car if he saw ANY facial hair at all and he said no.....
so maybe we are just extremely hard on ourselves?
No some of us do have a really bad beard shadow. For me it didn't matter how closely I shaved I would still have that odd blue shadow left. Thanks to laser my beard shadow is mostly gone. Before laser even with hrt my beard shadow was pretty heavy and it took tons of makeup just to cover it up. I do not miss those days.
Some great posts here, I plan on trying a few of these things. ANYTHING to try and minimise the dreaded blue shadow that I just can't shake. I know that laser will ultimately be my saviour here, because I don't believe any degree of shaving will give me the clear face that I long for, but I'm willing to try other solutions to stop myself from going batty in the meantime.
Thank you all! *hug*
Any shaving is just terrible, no matter the means. I have not shaved in 3 months & hope to never ever shave my face again ever. Try to find a beauty shop that uses the NuFree hair removal system & have all of your facial hairs removed. It removes the root & everything, each time after treatment the hairs grow back thinner & thinner. You will love the feeling afterwards, so smooth.
I just have to underline what you said. However, I do get that some of us have more facial hair than others. I'm similar with Alysinspace where I am blessed to have less or no facial hair at all. I can sometimes see a hint of blue but I can cover it with some color corrector concealer.
I am scheduled to have laser this January. Love you ladies :)
Quote from: Alysinspace on December 29, 2014, 11:21:35 PM
ah shaving : (
i too have a very hard time
its that pesky blue tone on my upper lip that really annoys me i tried everything orange lipstick salmon lipstick even pink if i use that it makes my face look like the color of the lipstick and i just look weird....
so one day i took it upon myself to not do the lipstick trick and just shave normally and apply makeup
i went out and asked my brother in the car if he saw ANY facial hair at all and he said no.....
so maybe we are just extremely hard on ourselves?