HRT of course left my facial hair like peach fuzz, but it's still noticeable. I went through 6 basic laser sessions in the past. It reduced my facial hair for a while but it came back. I had 10 electrolysis sessions, didn't notice anything, had to leave for SRS, didn't restart electrolysis when I got back.

Shaving does the trick, but I can still notice a slight 5 oclock shadow color, and I have to shave every morning to be totally smooth. And shaving is basically like exfoliating every day which throws the rest of my skin routine off. I've tried waxing, which is also pretty harsh, and you also have to wait for there to be some length for the wax to grab hold of. Plucking hairs one by one is incredibly time consuming, and if not done properly has led to acne.

I interface closely with people at work 3/4 days/week, so I can't get away with having stubble - but I'm at the point in my transition where the only thing holding me back is facial hair, so it needs to go away - permanently.

What should I do? Are there any permanent methods that I could still appear normal through? Or should I suffer the temporary awkwardness for long term gain?

Electro and laser are the only permanent methods depending on your skin and hair type. Sorry it is just a long haul!

Multi probe galvanic electrolysis - providing it is done by someone with plenty of experience with beard hair removal you should get good and permanent results. But it takes time - I've now had 103 hours of electro and am now down to my last ten or so hours. That took me two years. But it has been permanent.

Sorry I should have included, I'm fair skin - dark hair so laser took me through, but it was 18 months and an experienced POCS specialist clinic so the staff really knew what they were doing. I'm now developing some peachy fuzz so I may be heading off to the needle of pain myself

 103 hours oh my goodness... I don't have a problem with pain really I don't have a problem with pain, but my biggest concern would be having to grow hair out before electrolysis appointments...  Might there be any types of electrolysis where you don't actually have to grow the hair out?

Not as far as I'm aware - the hair needs to be at least a few millimetres long so the electrologist can see it and know where to insert the probe, then remove the hair with tweezers afterwards. As my electro explained to me, because the skin swells from the procedure it makes it even harder to remove the hair if it is too short. The other drawback is that you really shouldn't shave for a few days after treatment so as to allow time for the skin to heal and avoid knocking off the micro scabs/cause scarring. It's a real hassle if you are already full time and needing to do electro.

Laser 10 years ago got rid on a lot of the hair on my face. I then brought a electro machine and did the rest over the course of a couple years.

I did 3 laser sessions but I have a lot of gray hair. I am 35 hours in on electrolysis (combined galvanic and thermolysis) and have 90 to 100 to go. I see a difference but it will be late next year before it is done. One tech can remove hair with 1 day growth and the other with 2 days growth. You can let a 2 inch square grow and not your whole face for a 1.5 hour session.