I was just realizing that in just over a month I'll be crossing into my 4th year of HRT.  What did others find from months 36 to 48 in their development on HRT?

Recently I've been getting a lot of compliments from women about how I look.  I'm finding that I'm liking have some of my hair in a ponytail with a scrunchie (either an iridescent multi color one I have or a purple one—-the one scrunchie I don't wear a lot is a tie-die one, but I find it doesn't really stand out in my hair like the others—-I only have it because it was in a pack of 3) but then the rest cascading around my face/neck.

About a week ago I was discussing something with a man and he mentioned that there was something different with my face and I looked better than I had in a while.  Where we were I didn't have any sunscreen or makeup on because I wasn't in a place with fluorescent lights or other UV radiation sources, so he was just seeing my natural face.  I think that just naturally, while my intersex condition has always given me a youthful feminine look, just without makeup my features are taking on a more feminine appearance.  Also trying to loose weight helps.

I do not remember exactly when each occurred; however I had some small growth spurts in my breasts around that time, and even afterwards.  Sometimes, mostly growth in just one.  They eventually evened themselves out every time.  They are both roundish, firm, and they nicely help define my female appearance.  Some days I want a little more there but that is not that often.

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on April 20, 2025, 09:12:38 AMI was just realizing that in just over a month I'll be crossing into my 4th year of HRT.  What did others find from months 36 to 48 in their development on HRT?

Like you, the estrogen softened my skin and softened my facial features a bit. I have always received comments that I don't look my age, but now people seem to think I am much younger looking. Breast development was disappointing, but during my first four years, my hormone levels were consistently too low. My healthcare team and I struggled to figure out what was going on. Once I switched to weekly injections, things started improving.

Four years is a milestone, so celebrate! But the journey continues, and you will keep getting better and better. 
 

I like scrunchies but I do not have that much natural hair for them.
I can make a short ponytail or two short pigtails but they would not hang down much at all.

Where I use them is on the days I choose to wear a long hair wig.  Sometimes that is the look I want to have that day.  The bows, clamps, scrunchies, and barrettes do provide function of keeping hair where you want it, as well as they can add nice looks.

However, day in and day out, my own hair is what I go with.


Chrissy

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on April 20, 2025, 09:25:58 AMI like scrunchies but I do not have that much natural hair for them.
I can make a short ponytail or two short pigtails but they would not hang down much at all.

Where I use them is on the days I choose to wear a long hair wig.  Sometimes that is the look I want to have that day.  The bows, clamps, scrunchies, and barrettes do provide function of keeping hair where you want it, as well as they can add nice looks.

However, day in and day out, my own hair is what I go with.


Chrissy

My hair is fine, and even on HRT it has grown back in in a few places where my hair had thinned.  However I find that claws, barrettes and some bows don't stay in my hair that well, even when I sprayed them with dry shampoo. Scrunchies I find stay in my hair the best.

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on April 20, 2025, 12:05:41 PMMy hair is fine, and even on HRT it has grown back in in a few places where my hair had thinned.  However I find that claws, barrettes and some bows don't stay in my hair that well, even when I sprayed them with dry shampoo. Scrunchies I find stay in my hair the best.

Scrunchies are good!

Quote from: NancyDrew1930 on April 20, 2025, 09:12:38 AMWhat did others find from months 36 to 48 in their development on HRT

Hi Nancy, lovely to hear that you have reached year 4 and progressing wel. Looking back on one of my old computer cds where i tended to store events, measurements progress, i went thorough stops and starts or growth spurts.My hips hurt and i could feel fat more noticeable around my hip and backside, it might have been a combination of eating more or being more aware that something has changed. I too love to play around with my hair which is now just above my waist at the back, its taken years to get to where it is I tend to get lots of knots and tangles, scrunchies are ok but getting them out can be a pain. I love experimenting with colour, and go for wash in less harmful colours

Quote from: kat2 on April 20, 2025, 04:55:57 PMHi Nancy, lovely to hear that you have reached year 4 and progressing wel. Looking back on one of my old computer cds where i tended to store events, measurements progress, i went thorough stops and starts or growth spurts.My hips hurt and i could feel fat more noticeable around my hip and backside, it might have been a combination of eating more or being more aware that something has changed. I too love to play around with my hair which is now just above my waist at the back, its taken years to get to where it is I tend to get lots of knots and tangles, scrunchies are ok but getting them out can be a pain. I love experimenting with colour, and go for wash in less harmful colours

Are you sure that you are not thinking of hair ties?  Because, except for one scrunchie that is like fleece (think of like the underside of a fleece top with the cotton knots or whatever they are called) I find hair ties are the worst to get out (and for me they just put too much pressure on my roots, so I have some, but I don't use them), whereas most of my scrunchies are satin or like a viscose and they tend to slide out, but hold for a day.

Also, my next appointment with my endo at the end of June, I'll be asking to be switched from my current cypro/estradial regiment of pills to an injectable mono estrogen regimen (with progesterone), since from what I've read, while I have had breast growth and that on the pills, however, injectable estrogen can maybe make them grow some more.  Plus, even last year, my endo reduced my cypro level because, from my blood test, my testosterone wasn't even registering.   

Quote from: Lori Dee on April 20, 2025, 09:24:31 AMLike you, the estrogen softened my skin and softened my facial features a bit. I have always received comments that I don't look my age, but now people seem to think I am much younger looking. Breast development was disappointing, but during my first four years, my hormone levels were consistently too low. My healthcare team and I struggled to figure out what was going on. Once I switched to weekly injections, things started improving.

Four years is a milestone, so celebrate! But the journey continues, and you will keep getting better and better. 
 

One thing I like about looking younger, is that I am just over the "over the hill" age, so it's nice when they think that I'm no more than 25, but really I'm in my very early 40's.  And I don't even consider myself close to being "over the hill"!