Quote from: ToriJo on October 06, 2017, 07:34:48 PM
And I have a small trans flag in my cube.  I wanted something sort-of subtle but so that allies and other trans people would have a sign.

Will people figure it out? Maybe.  But the path I'm on is not one I'll be able to hide forever anyhow.

Ooh, now there is an interesting idea to push the envelope.  I'll start investigating.

Which ear buds did you get?  I got the b&o h5.

Bari Jo

Quote from: Roll on October 06, 2017, 04:18:18 PM
I was actually just reading about that, and Amazon even has a really nicely discounted jar(right now all of my purchases are online for logistics), but I don't know if I want to invest in the necessary accessories like the wax heater, so for now I just have a set of the ready to use strips in cart ("kit" was a misnomer on my part).

I admit though I am really considering tapping into money I really, really shouldn't and grabbing a remington ilight quartz for like 30% off on Groupon, but that seems like such a potential backfire and I've resisted thus far. The opinions on the home IPL devices are so divisive, but if it did work even a little bit I would love to get started on more semi-permanent removal of places like arm, which would require the shaving regardless. This is getting a wee bit off topic though, so I'll leave it at that.

Home IPL is too advanced for me to comment on. I never used one, although someone on this forum said she used one with a good success.

If I decide to go girly again (I am in detransition state now) - I would try hard strip-less brazilian wax for the first removal of longer hair and maybe go with electric epilator (tried one before - I can tolerate it ok, but it's not too good on longer hairs) for touch ups now and then.

But as usual - hike your own hike, and your mileage may vary.

    Just a couple quick thoughts, (no jokes this time, i promise. )

   Regarding epilators and electric tweezers: for most of the face and beard area, the pain isn't really that bad after the first couple times you use it. The nerves desensitize to the point the discomfort is about the same as tweezing an individual hair. The only beard area that breaks this rule is the upper lip. There are just so many nerve endings that while I'm getting used to it, it still hurts after dozens of uses.

   As far as waxing goes, I'm not 100% sure on this one, but I've heard a lot of stories that Sugaring has longer lasting results than waxing. Supposedly the discomfort and technique is almost exactly the same. It's only the medium used that changes. Wouldn't hurt to look into it.

HUGS!

Quote from: JennyBear on October 07, 2017, 03:34:58 AM
  Regarding epilators and electric tweezers: for most of the face and beard area, the pain isn't really that bad

I've got a lot of experience tweeting and epilating my face.  Tweeting is a single hair at a time usually.  Epilating works quickly, and if you are clearing a dense area it can be quite painful.  Once the beard is clear, you'll need to exfoliate every day and we'll, otherwise, ingrown hairs, I got those no matter what I did.  Also you'll need to epilate hair at first growth is seen or felt.  It's that new hair that comes out easy and is less painful.  If you let them be, they will get rooted like they were before the first clearing and be painful again.

As an aside too, I gave up on epilating and am doing it the old fashioned way of electrolysis.  8 hours so far this week;)

Bari Jo

Quote from: JennyBear on October 07, 2017, 03:34:58 AM
    Just a couple quick thoughts, (no jokes this time, i promise. )

   Regarding epilators and electric tweezers: for most of the face and beard area, the pain isn't really that bad after the first couple times you use it. The nerves desensitize to the point the discomfort is about the same as tweezing an individual hair. The only beard area that breaks this rule is the upper lip. There are just so many nerve endings that while I'm getting used to it, it still hurts after dozens of uses.

   As far as waxing goes, I'm not 100% sure on this one, but I've heard a lot of stories that Sugaring has longer lasting results than waxing. Supposedly the discomfort and technique is almost exactly the same. It's only the medium used that changes. Wouldn't hurt to look into it.

HUGS!

I wouldn't recommend sugaring for the face. Sugar and honey wax isn't strong enough for male pattern facial hair. If you want to wax your face use Brazilian hard wax. It doesn't use strips. The wax itself hardens and you rip it off. Hard wax will remove the thickest hair and it picks up hairs that aren't long enough for sugar wax to grab.

However, I have heard a few people say that waxing can make future permanent hair removal difficult.

Quote from: Julia1996 on October 07, 2017, 07:13:05 AM

However, I have heard a few people say that waxing can make future permanent hair removal difficult.

That's one of my big fears right now, I don't want to do anything to damage long term hair removal since I am a prime candidate for having it bea fairly straightforward process with 90% laser. (At least for face and chest/back. I don't mind the idea of normal maintenance of normal feminine hair places, so like if I did the IPL at home it would be only on areas such as arms probably.)

My electrolysist also said to me that waxing/tweezing can make their job harder,  and therefore slower (more expensive) and more painful.

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Quote from: meganjames2 on October 07, 2017, 08:57:02 AM
My electrolysist also said to me that waxing/tweezing can make their job harder,  and therefore slower (more expensive) and more painful.

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Mine told me she could tell I had been epilating, then gave me the same talk.

Did they say anything about the home IPL?

Quote from: Roll on October 07, 2017, 02:13:44 PM
Did they say anything about the home IPL?

That 'should' be fine,  I don't believe IPL or laser damage the follicle root in the way that plucking can.
I'd had 8 laser sessions before starting electro,  and my electro person had no issue with it. Others here are doing or have done both at the same time (alternating).
As always,  check with a trained specialist! [emoji5]

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Quote from: meganjames2 on October 07, 2017, 02:25:03 PM
I'd had 8 laser sessions before starting electro,  and my electro person had no issue with it. Others here are doing or have done both at the same time (alternating).

The clinic I go to does both. We're starting with laser to get all the dark hairs (and according to the operator, even though a lot of my whiskers look gray, they have dark roots), then when we've gotten all that the laser will do, will switch to electrolysis.

Steph

Back to the thread, showed work mate a photo of my new shoes, his reply was bloody hell. Wait till I rock up in a wig and breast forms then.

Quote from: davina61 on October 07, 2017, 03:54:31 PM
Back to the thread, showed work mate a photo of my new shoes, his reply was bloody hell. Wait till I rock up in a wig and breast forms then.

I love it.  Showing off the new thing is part of the fun.  I just got my pink ear buds today and can't wait to use them at work!

When I was getting hot flushes at work,  I'd be fanning myself,  my boss would just walk pass and sigh hehe [emoji4]

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Quote from: Bari Jo on October 06, 2017, 08:30:49 AM
RavenMoon, we are following similar paths.  I'm an artist at my work, fine art.  We have lgbt clubs and gay days though so no worries.  I'm sure people have an idea that I'm transitioning already, but I haven't come public yet.  Once I get the hair thing under control I will.  Hopefully by then I'll be gendered correctly.  I havent had that in forever!

I've pretty much looked like I do now several times in my life. Then I'll cut my hair and look more "normal" and all. Then I'm back to this. Lol

I'm a graphic artist by trade. Work in the printing industry. That industry is dying though. This is the main reason I haven't started HRT or anything.

I used to make good money. Got one of those Social Security letters where the show your income over the years. 15 years ago I was making $64,000 a year.  Now I'm barely able to pay my rent. When I got divorced in 2010 I was unemployed. Then I was self employed, which went ok until I became homeless two years ago.

So this all put a big wrinkle in my plans. I didn't want to start something I couldn't finish, so I've been languishing in androgyny land. Lol.

My singer/song writing partner says she'll help me by loaning me the money for FFS and stuff, but just today she's trying to convince me I should stay as I am now.

I say to her "I'll be 60 next month. I'd like to be cute before I'm too old. She said "you're cute now!"

I have a few close friends who seem bothered that I want to change my face a bit. [emoji53]

Does this ever get easy?




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Quote from: elkie-t on October 05, 2017, 11:30:36 AM
Shaving arms and legs ain't a big deal (done that several times - no reaction from any one, no reaction afterwards either). But sooner or later - your 'push' will stop being a push and will be recognized as a transition

Ditto from me on shaving.  I am in the Southern US and have had shaved legs all summer with no reaction while wearing shorts most of the time.  I have had past the shoulder length hair for years.  No reaction.  Dress androgynous. No problem.  Even when dressing in women's if androgynous clothes.  No problem.  Even blue and pink trim sneakers.  No problem.
Now getting my ears pierced.  That is a bridge too far, for right now. 
Push it baby.

Quote from: RavenMoon on October 07, 2017, 11:08:59 PM
Does this ever get easy?

I sure hope so, but I doubt it;(

Quote from: Bari Jo on October 08, 2017, 02:26:42 AM
I sure hope so, but I doubt it;(

Yes. Or MUCH easier if not completely easy.

》¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤《 That is how much we are dealing with in the beginning.
》¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤《 This is what it is like at 1 1/2 Years.
》¤¤《 This is at nearly 3 years.

Of course it all depends on how much we put into it.
So in the beginning, for most of us is everything. We have to tell everyone and deal with that. Hair is nowhere close. Voice could scrape barnacles of the bottom of ships. Therapy, HRT, clothes, walk and ' Oh my LORD I have more hair than a Yeti! ' It goes on and on and seems like it is going to be too much. But we want this more than we want air so, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Therapy, whew! One bite down! HRT! Oh my, how did I ever live without this?!? My voice only sounds like Hellboy got kicked in the nards SOME of the time.... bite.... bite....

By a year and a half I was seriously tired of elephant but miracle of miracles, I was starting to pass. So many things done, male clothes gone, court date to get my name change finally set. Huh. Maybe I will make it after all.

Now? Elephant is not on the menu so much anymore, Rhino takes up more of my time. Surgery date is set and just have to get as healthy as I can before that. After? Who knows, maybe be a vegan who has to eat elephant so rarely that the few crumbs that are left are only a nostalgic reminder of how far I have come.

Again, it all depends on how much effort goes into it but every little bit gets us one step closer. So many people feel like time is our enemy but it is not, it's the best friend we can possibly have. Sadly it can be hard to see that when dysphoria is a red hot pitchfork repeatedly stabbing our soul.

Quote from: FinallyMichelle on October 08, 2017, 03:47:18 AM
Yes. Or MUCH easier if not completely easy.

Thank you Michelle.  I keep looking at all the things I'm doing just to present the first time.  You are right it'll pay off in the future.

Bari Jo

Quote from: FinallyMichelle on October 08, 2017, 03:47:18 AM
But we want this more than we want air so, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Elephant Paella:
Place 5,000 lbs Elephant steak in world's largest slow cooker, due to the nature of elephant meat it takes this prep. Cut up 450 Spanish onions and place in slow cooker, along with 2 pounds of Saffron threads (a little goes a long way), and broth of choice to cover (for a traditional elephant paella, a seafood stock works best). Cook on slow until tender, roughly 5 weeks. In a gigantic pan, brown 5,000 lbs Rhino chorizo (Rhinizo!). Place slow cooker mixture in gigantic pan, along with 10,000 cups of Arborio rice, 5,000 cups of sweet peas (frozen works well here), mix very well, and then top with sliced sweet red peppers (about 250 should do it). Cook on an open flame until rice is tender and begins to caramelize on the bottom, but don't burn it!

... Why did I type this?