So Lasers?

[Guest Orva26]

Okay so shaving is annoying. Part of the reason why I had a beard mode was because of laziness and because I just plain don't really like shaving. Well the other part was that I was busy being a MANLY MAN! Actually had the thought, "If I am a guy why am I so bad at shaving my face?" a few weeks ago, it was kind of funny made me giggle a bit. Well kind of nervous giggling but you get the idea.

Shaving is also a catch 22, we shave because we don't want facial hair, we stimulate the follicles, it grows back thicker, we shave because we don't want facial hair, and so it loops.

Now I know there are two main ways to remove hair, laser and electrolysis. I get the drift that electrolysis is kind of the gold standard that if done right all hair will be gone forever! But I also get the drift that it hurts like hell and takes a while. Whereas laser seems to either work really well for some people or not really do anything at all for others. To my knowledge two people in the support group I go to have had laser as their chief hair removal and it worked out for them. I know that it has something to do with hair color and that lighter hair really isn't good but where is the cut off? Like if I grow out a beard it will be reddish, will that work? Also how much stubble should one have when going to get laser? And um... typical pricing.

And even this I'm on the fence about. When I had a beard I thought it was great... but now, well that should be obvious, I mean I'm on a transgender board!

Blarg,

Orva

[Guest Lacey Lynne]

Hey, Girl:

Tomorrow afternoon, no kidding, I visit this place for the second time endeavoring to begin laser hair removal of my beard:

http://www.drdarm.com/

My saleswoman there is a fiftysomething genetic woman who is a slam-bam KNOCK OUT who is smart, sexy, sassy ... [Fill in the blank with the superlative of your choice!]!

In my first visit with her 2 weeks ago, I fully disclosed that I'm a transsexual in transition to both her and to the technician (a biogal) who would actually do my laser treatments. They were way cool with it. Money is convincing, ain't it? Anyway, ...

Though it will take some convicing to have them engage me as a client, I'll keep you posted. I am loathe to do electrolysis.

Orva? Girl, it's been years and years since I studied lasers and masers. Refresh my memory. Laser stands for:

Light Amplfication by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation ...

or something like that, right? Remember, it's been years ... heck decades ... since I studies this stuff. Anyway, it's ye auld coherent light source. Far out. Caltech physicist, the late, great Richard P. Feynman did the most ground-breaking work on this. Heck, I almost went to Caltech ... aeons ago.

Anyway, I agree with you that laser is the way to go. Finally, you should see this place, hon. Class act all the way. Expensivo? Yezzim! Ole Lacey Girl wore her tightest and most colorful androgyne outfit to that first appointment. Am I too old to dress that way? Yep! Do I have the build to dress that way? Yep! Will I dress that way? Yep!

Sheeeuuttt, hon! So, does our Orva Girl find herself preciptiously perched on the slippery slope of beginning HRT? Hee hee hee. Bet you are?

Pandora's Box, Baby: That's HRT. Come on, hon! Open it!

See ya at that upscale laser boutique, mama!

Lacey Lynne

[Guest]

Hi Orva,

I'd think that laser is the best to start. It seemed more expensive than electro, but possibly not - my math may have been flawed since I underestimated the number of visits I'd need for electro. The thing that stopped me from laser is that the doctor told me not to get a suntan since the laser would bleach the skin if it was tanned. Even living in the clouds of Mordor, I tan too easily - so went with electrolysis instead. And I've spent quite a few hours for minimal results.

Not sure if the reddish beard is dark enough - your laser tech should know that answer. My recollection is that you go in relatively clean-shaven for laser, but hopefully someone here will have more direct experience with that.

It is nice now - I haven't shaved since the first of the year, but still go back every few weeks to get the fuzzy stuff that pops out. Nothing like feeling a smooth face!

Best of luck to you!

Love, Kat

[Guest Orva26]

Sheeeuuttt, hon! So, does our Orva Girl find herself preciptiously perched on the slippery slope of beginning HRT? Hee hee hee. Bet you are?

Pandora's Box, Baby: That's HRT. Come on, hon! Open it!

Hahaha, I think enough is known about me for it to be obvious that I am nearly always perched on that slipper slope and have been for a while. Heck the immediate reason I lost beard mode to begin with was so I could see my facial bone structure and gauge some kind of potential for HrT.

I actually had an interesting thought last night. I took a grandeous super long shower, came out with awesome bouncy hair from conditioner, put on the most obvious female clothing I will wear outside the house, which really rest at androgynous. I'm still amazed that people have not picked up or said anything based on which side the buttons are on the polos I wear. Anyway the point is that I was pretty connected to my femininity and I also had the realization that no-one would see that unless I did something. It was not earth shattering or devastating, rather it sort of put the ball in my field.

How could I do that? Well I could act obnoxiously flamboyant but that is what it would be, an act, I'm not an overly feminine person, nor do I want to be seen as a flamboyant male because even if that the assumption would be that I am some over the top obnoxious gay MALE. Changing my dress to be more feminine? Well then I'd be seen as a guy in a dress, and I don't even particularly like dresses! I'd rather not people think me as a 'drag' in any way.

That really leaves me with the option of hormones. But it isn't something I can do lightly, I have no illusion of them as "magic girl pills." They are a lifelong medical regime. One that might make me a medical black box to doctors when they realize, female hormones, 'male' body, aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh Its also something the long term implications are not known for. Yet it is something my mind is flirting with. I'm actually stepping up how frequently I see my therapist because my stress is increasing. I think soon I will have an answer a path. But it is key and of utmost importance that the box I open be not Pandora's, but Orva's.

I'm probably going to hold off on hair removal until after I've at least tried me some hormones. That way if they turn out to not be for me then well I could still beard it up if I wish. But at the moment I am seeing that as very unlikely. I'll probably research some laser places around here though.

Also axillary hair removal. Facial hair is one thing but so is back hair. Of equal or more importance for me to get rid of. Ladies have smooth hairless backs and well, um... yeah. I know HrT is supposed to thin body hair but would it be reasonable to expect it to do so to the extent that back hair wouldn't really be an issue if I shave off the stuff that came in before it?

Also, you're spot on with the science. Though I know less about lasers themselves and more about the fun I can have by shooting them at things. Spectroscopy is the art/science of irradiating matter and extracting information about it based on how it scatters, absorbs, reflects, or refracts laser light radiation. You can use it to track protein, protein interactions, protein folding, to identify materials, to monitor processes, to find tiny traces of poison stuff. And those are just common applications! Its a pretty powerful tool. And my real scientific passion.

Even living in the clouds of Mordor, I tan too easily - so went with electrolysis instead. And I've spent quite a few hours for minimal results.

Hehehe Mordor. I'm kind of a big nerd for Lord of the Rings and Tolkien lore. Simirillian is an awesome book. Anyways I don't tan, I just skip that phase completely, even if I was catching some mean rays 50 feet from Gorgorgoth I'd lobsterify. I'd have to ask a tech about sun burning, not tanning. Kind of curious by what you mean you've spent a lot of hours for minimal results? You saying it took a whole lot of time? You seem happy with the result though.