Random question... But I see a lot of people talking about significant body hair reduction. Just wondering how do you notice this ? Are you epilating or shaving ? Is there any hair reduction if you don't shave nor epilate ? (I suppose there is none but still asking)

I have quite a lot of body hair. I'm beginning HRT soon. Just wondering how it will turn out. If I don't shave or epilate at all during the two or three first monthes of HRT, will it be a problem ?

I depilate my hands and chest/belly and shave legs and armpits on all areas i noticed significant hair reduction but not in the same time, first was hands, now i can depilate them like once per 2 months, then was armpits and after 14 months i got hair reduction on rest.

Shaving and it's significantly less in many areas except my back. For whatever reason that is as strong as it always was It took a couple of months to start to notice a difference though.
Mariah

Once your testosterone levels are low it will have an impact on your body hair, the follicles will be increasingly less stimulated to grow. Initially this will just mean the hair isn't growing as fast or as long - with each growth cycle a follicle will grow hair that is probably shorter and finer but keep in mind that a cycle for a follicle is many, many months (not sure exactly the length) so it may take a few years before you notice any significant reduction in body hair thickness and coarseness and distribution if you are not using other intervention methods (laser, waxing, epilation). And again it will depend on how thick and coarse and dark and widespread your body hair is to begin with. So yeah, quite a few factors, but if you don't use some form of hair removal that involves ripping it or zapping it from its root you probably won't see a change for some time.

Okay ! Now I get it !

So if I start HRT, and after 1 or 2 monthes I make a global epilation, I should notice a good body hair reduction right away, isn't it ?

Or should I begin epilation now, just before HRT ?

(I don't shave nor do I epilate right now ; never did. I have little reason to shave or epilate for the time being...)

If you want to be rid of body hair the sooner you start epilating, waxing, lasering the better. I think I started waxing a good few months before starting hrt.

Me too...

Hi Ange,
I've been epilating for longer than I can remember....
Used to be all over, now I only have to worry about Legs and Arms, although the latter is mostly fair/downy hair, but I do get the odd darker and thicker ones, so just once a week for a quick epilation on both. HRT took care of Bum, Back and Frontal hair.

L Katy 

I've had a marked body hair reduction. I tried epilating for a while, but it made my skin break out. I'm considering getting a home laser, but for now I shave once a week and it keeps me deliciously hair-free.

Almost 8 weeks on HRT, and ive noticed some hair growth has slowed on my legs and arms. Chest hair hasnt reduced at all yet. I shave my arms and legs once a week, and was getting chest waxed but will start electrolysis this week. Starting hair removal right away is a great idea, starting waxing will get you used to the pain and shaving will help you get faster at it. I have very dark, coarse hair so any reduction is very noticeable.

Chest hair, what a pain! Even the invisible stubble makes me dysphoric. Good to hear about the butt and back. I can't shave them well. I have noticed my butt is less hairy.

I was shaving, and I noticed primarily that certain spots didn't grow back after a while (or rather, grew the same dusting of tiny, fine hair that cis women get) - like I'd shave off my handful of chest hairs and then 1 or 2 would never reappear, each time. After a few months, I could go without shaving anywhere but legs and armpits and face forever and see no regrowth.

These days, I can also shave my legs once a week or less, whereas I used to be doing it every 2 days. I hear from various cis female acquaintances that this is about typical for the great leg hair battle...

At 5 months HRT, I haven't noticed a change in body hair. Granted my face is the worst. My legs were never overly hairy. My chest would probably take 30 minutes of electrolosis. Seriously it has like 10-20 hairs on it.