I've just started transitioning which is awesome, but I've got so much anxiety about so much. I'm trying not to get overwhelmed and to focus on the most important stuff first.

Right now it's the facial hair.  I'm going to permanently get rid of it, but I have to somehow live with myself in the meantime.

I'm middle-aged, pre-HRT, have a fairly rough face, and basically have shaved most of my life.  I'm using a three blade razor, but have tried 5 blade ones, all sorts of brands of electric ones, etc.  I've tried a bunch of different kinds of creams and gels, wet shaving, and all sorts of stuff.  I'd probably set my face on fire if I thought it would help (it won't, so don't worry).

My problem is that I always still end up with stubble - not just shadow, but rough stubble.  Short of hair removal (which I'm working to get done, and is going to be a happy day indeed when it's gone), what can I do?  I'm looking to be somewhat feminine looking without obvious stubble.  It's pretty hard to cover stubble with makeup - but if I could get a smooth shave, I'm comfortable with covering the shadow.

What I do is apply shaving cream and use a wet norelco electric razor for the first pass, then I reapply shaving cream and finish it off with an atra two blade pivoting razor.

I'm with you there, and I'm going to give you terrible advice.  The only way I've found for a smooth face is to actually remove the hair.  My GD got so bad one weekend I tweezed my entire beard, and I mean entire.  It hurt, and is NOT recommended by your electrologist.  However, I was then smooth.  When it starts growing back, I use an epilator every morning.  This has reduced my GD, but I still am going to get it permanently removed by an electrologist.  In my experience if you have a course beard no amount of close shaving will get rid of that sandpaper feel.  It's gotta be removed!

Quote from: Janes Groove on August 28, 2017, 11:54:19 PM
What I do is apply shaving cream and use a wet norelco electric razor for the first pass, then I reapply shaving cream and finish it off with an atra two blade pivoting razor.

That's basically what I've been doing, though I've been using a Schick Hydro after the wet electric. Yay for Norelco wet electrics.

Just started electrolysis today!!! I'm so excited that I'm at the beginning of the end of shaving, and the start of a truly smooth face.

This is one of my fears, sad to know there isn't an easier answer for the interim for those of us the razors just aren't enough. I've spent way too much money the past few weeks on shaving equipment trying to find something that removes my beard visibility entirely, but just hasn't been happening. It always reminds me of an episode of the Simpsons that shows Homer shave to a perfectly smooth (yellow in his case) face, only to have his usual beard shadow fade back in before he's done turning around. I'm not even transitioning (yet), I just want to get a picture to play with that doesn't involve extraneous bad photo shopping.

This is exactly what I went through until I bit the electrolysis bullet.  I'll admit I agonized over that decision... the cost, the pain, the time.  For how many years?  And then I realized if I had started two years earlier I'd be almost done.  So I started. 

If you have the right combination of hair and skin color you may want to start out with medical quality laser (never IPL).  I found laser worked great on my body but not at all for facial hair, where others have had some success with laser and finish the job with electrolysis.  I got rid of my full thick beard the hard way - one follicle at a time. 

A year into electrolysis my face woke me up one night.  I didn't realize I had an odd habit - if my chest or arms itched I would scratch it in my sleep using my own facial stubble.  My face became so smooth I freaked myself out and woke up. 

I suffer from a very dense fast growing beard and the blueish after shadow too.

I use shaving oil to first soften the hair, then I use Bluebeards Revenge shaving cream which with regular use reduces the shadow. I use a good quality triple bladed razor.

I get good results using this method. xx

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Does Bluebeard's work better than Aveeno?

I use shaving oil. Its cheaper and way more effective plus I don't get cuts and bumps. It's called shave secret and you only need a drop for each area that you shave.

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I'll look into the shaving oil - I've never tried that.

I'm absolutely getting the hair permanently removed via electrolysis.  I just wish the process didn't take so long.  I've cried a lot of tears looking at myself in the mirror.

Unless you change out your razor consistently, it will leave stubble. The only way to really get a smooth face from shaving once it's thick is to take it back to the old school method. Either straight razor, or dual edge safety razors. Badger brush with shave soap, and hot towels...  otherwise you'll find stubble. Unless you're mistaking KP for stubble. Then that's another issue all together.

Quote from: Kendra on August 29, 2017, 01:05:44 AM
If you have the right combination of hair and skin color you may want to start out with medical quality laser (never IPL).  I found laser worked great on my body but not at all for facial hair, where others have had some success with laser and finish the job with electrolysis.  I got rid of my full thick beard the hard way - one follicle at a time. 

So what exactly is the best combination of hair and skin color for laser? I've read a few conflicting things, but its supposed to be dark hair and fair/pale skin right?

Dark hair and pale complection is best for laser. Although, some dark hair has translucent roots that don't work well with a few lasers. So I have found...

Quote from: Lucy Ross on August 29, 2017, 07:25:46 AM
Does Bluebeard's work better than Aveeno?

I've never tried Aveeno but I've been pretty impressed by Bluebeard. xx

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Bluebeard's a UK product, I notice.  Aveeno products are everywhere in the US, the shaving gel is supposed to retard growth.  It's formulated for women...I think...might be a male version.

Don't forget colour contrasting under your foundation...an apricot lipstick will do the trick I bought a cheap colour correcting palette before I started my beard removal...the apricot colour and foundation significantly hide the blue shadow

It says on the box the apricot colour evens out skin tone and counteracts discolouration, dark spots and great for covering age spots, it also has a mint green colour for blemishes blotches and rosacea, Lavender for brightening dull skin , great for covering bruises and dark under eye circles

Exfoliating after your shave will also make your skin feel smoother

Use a new razor every time

Quote from: MyMichele on August 30, 2017, 11:33:37 AM
Use a new razor every time

Not me! Every time I change my razor blade I nick my face for a week.

:

April 22, 2015, the day of my first face to face pass in gender neutral clothes and no makeup. It may be months to the next one, but I'm good with that!

Being transgender is just a phase. It hardly ever starts before conception and always ends promptly at death.

They say the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train. I say, climb aboard!

Think outside the voice box!

I soak my face in water for about  15 minutes(usually during my shower) then I shampoo and condition the follicle to soften them up and lastly I shave with a 5 bladed razor 3 times first with the grain second against the grain and third to get any wild patches then apply an aftershave  cream something with aloe to sooth your skin. Not sure if it'll come out the same for everyone and its tedious but my face comes out softer than my girlfriends.

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Still trying to find that elusive way of shaving where I don't end up with my stubble showing through pretty much immediately, but while I try to find that holy grail, I made my first electrolysis appointment.  Just trying to focus on the prize - I will be so happy losing this facial hair, even if the path is so much longer than I wish it was!