Full body hair ​?​

[Vanessa Michelle]

Hey y'all. I am a middle-aged MtF who has not so much as started transition yet, but one thing that scares me is I am basically Chewbacca (not a Star Wars fan? Substitute Bigfoot) and so have full body, dark hair which has always been one of my worst causes of dysphoria. As for for my head, which is getting very bald I assume I will have to wear a wig? So, whenever I do start my transition, what do I do about that insane amount of body hair? I mean, electrolysis or laser may have met their match here Lol 

[Jackie C.]

Well, for body hair your choices are "Shave my, everything," laser or electrolysis. If your hair is dark enough, you can laser at home. Electrolysis is the most permanent solution, but also the most time consuming.

 

Or you could be like me, get alopecia universalis at 39 and not have to worry about it. I don't recommend seeking out an autoimmune disease though. They're not great. ?

 

On the plus side, wig shopping is lots of fun, or at least it will be once we can try things on again. It's still fun, just not AS fun, y'know?

 

Hugs!

[TommieAnne]

I used to be a remarkably furry person. After 10 months of laser hair removal, with a sprinkling of electrolysis thrown in, I am slowly getting there. Unfortunately the pandemic put everything on hold for some months, so I'm behind schedule.

But all in all, I'm very pleased with my on going results. And I understand the dysphoria caused by feeling like a furry animal. Laser hair removal is pretty effective over time, electrolysis highly effective. I am now at a point where we seem to have gotten all the armpit hair gone, chest hair almost gone, and just patchy spots left everywhere else, leaving a small triangle patch in my bikini area.

It takes time, patience and willingness to endure some ouchey stuff. But it's doable.

Hugs,

TA

[KayC]

Hi @vanessa45!  nice to meet you and Welcome!

My journey started innocently enough about 5 years ago when I decided I could no longer stand having chest/stomach hair.  So, I started laser hair removal.  It was very effective.  I still have some gray hairs left that will need electrolysis someday, so if you're going to do laser start early.
Next big step for me was shaving my legs.  THAT was literally transformational for me.  The moat feminine thing I had ever felt before.
I continue to work on my legs and bought a home IPL (laser) which has also been effective in getting rid of about 80% of my hair so far.  Arms next.

So, there are options.  I was not super hairy, but I don't think the amount matters.  It might just take a bit longer.  You might start with shaving because if you are going to do laser you will have to be shaved anyway.

Welcome again, and good luck❣️

Deep breaths ... one step at a time

[Niamh]

I posted this a couple of weeks ago:

 

 

If you have a high tolerance for pain, epilation is quite a good way to go from a cost point of view and means you have to spend less time shaving. Apart from my face and genitals I've used it on all other body parts and my posting link above outlines where it has worked best for me. 

[Vanessa Michelle]

Thanks everyone! I guess I have some options here. They're about what I imagined, but hearing from you all helps a bunch and just knowing that so many others have gone through a similar thing and come out successful is very encouraging. ?

[TommieAnne]

12 hours ago, Vanessa Michelle said:

Thanks everyone! I guess I have some options here. They're about what I imagined, but hearing from you all helps a bunch and just knowing that so many others have gone through a similar thing and come out successful is very encouraging. ?

Yesterday I had another near-full body laser hair removal session. Over time I've learned to take a benadryl the morning of, another just before and another just after. It tamps down the tendency for my skin to become covered in red blotchy patches.

TA

[Vanessa Michelle]

@TommieAnne Oh! That's good to know! Thank you!

[Vanessa Michelle]

Oh, so sorry you have to battle this as well @gina-nicole-t ?. How do/did you shave areas like your back and whatnot? Sorry, I'm still super new to it all and trying to figure this stuff out. Insurance is something I've been quite curious about. I will start a new Topic to ask that one.

[Vanessa Michelle]

Thanks! @gina-nicole-t

[TommieAnne]

10 hours ago, gina-nicole-t said:

@Vanessa Michelle I can't reach my back even with my long arms. Those back-blades that Amazon sells are completely worthless (I tried). I have Regence PPO for insurance and they have a great transgender part to their insurance. They are paying for my breast augmentation and FFS in January 2021 unless my governor puts the breaks on elective surgery again. So far he hasn't. Attached to this is the gender dysphoria codes from my insurance in case you would like to have a look. 

 

Best wishes on your journey, 

Gina

Gender Dysphoria Codes for Regence.pdf 201.07 kB · 2 downloads

I have had moderate success in mowing down the fur with electric clippers. It's not optimal, and delivers a "I shaved yesterday" look, but it's better than long hair flapping in the breeze. It looks fine from a distance but obviously is stubble to the touch.

The biggest advantage is being able to guide it along while slightly contorted. The disadvantage is the possibility of getting nicked.

If you are going in for laser hair removal, the clippers work fine.

I feel your pain. Hugs,

TA

[Mia Marie]

I was watching one of the latest video from Jackie Rabbit and she says to stay away from laser removal if you are looking for permanent hair removal. She says with laser hair can come back. I have back hair myself and am thinking about electrolysis  but am thinking, for now, just doing waxing which can last for longer than shaving and give me time to consider when I will start electrolysis on that area. The area I do plan to start on would be face and crotch since those places are considered more drastic in my opinion. 

[Petra Jane]

I use a product called a ManGroomer which I got from Amazon and swivels in the middle, and the lower half is the handle that extends so it reaches further. It can be used either over your shoulders or from the base of the spine upwards. If like me, you are on  your own, you need to go by feel and the noise of the cutters which do change depending on if you are cutting hair or not.

[Bri2020]

Believe it or not, you are lucky to have dark hair.  Laser works best on darker hair, especially if you don't also have very dark skin.  While not permanent, it can last quite some time and reduce overall amounts.  Us older redheads who could easily be an extra on a vikings show on the other hand.....  Laser doesn't work at all.  I'm doing electrolysis on my beard and twice a month basically lathering my whole body with a Nair type product.  Since most of my body hair is now blondish /grey it takes a while for it to be noticeable to the casual eye.  I have to shave my chest more frequently though since I do present FT and most tops expose some décolleté area.   Eventually I am going to have the chest electrocuted since I can shave one day and it's rough stubble the next  . Even though my insurance covers some electrolysis it still adds up in costs. I'm told that after some time on HRT, body hair tends to thin in some people. I'm hopeful of that happening. I've only been on HRT for 3 months.  good luck

[Niamh]

1 hour ago, Bri2020 said:

I have to shave my chest more frequently though since I do present FT and most tops expose some décolleté area.   Eventually I am going to have the chest electrocuted since I can shave one day and it's rough stubble the next

About 10 years before I came out to my wife, I started shaving my chest as it used to get very sweaty and itchy when I was hot, and this irritation drastically reduced when it was shaved ( the result was genuine although the reason I claimed for shaving it was not  ). Anyway it was a pain shaving it every day, so I asked my wife if I could borrow her epilator to address that area and while I acknowledge there was some pain, it is one of the less painful areas I use it for. At the end of a couple of months I noticed that the only areas where my hair was noticeably growing was around my nipples and that has remained the case ever since. I've been epilating my legs since I came out and the below the knee areas are going the same way, I can probably manage a week or more before having any noticeable growth in that area. Might be worth a go if you have a reasonable pain tolerance and you can get basic epilators for quite a low price (about £20 in UK)

[Bri2020]

1 hour ago, Niamh said:

. Might be worth a go if you have a reasonable pain tolerance and you can get basic epilators for quite a low price (about £20 in UK)

I've been subjecting myself to so much pain right now I don't think I can add any more. going for 90 minutes of facial electrolysis twice a week plus working on laser removal of a few decent sized tattoos every other month.  

I'm pushing hard on the facial hair because I think we're going to get those kinds of service businesses shut down here by new years and then I won't have any sessions for a couple months in all likelihood. I want to make as much progress as I can while I can.