There’s nothing like silky smooth skin to make a girl feel extra feminine!
For crossdressers and transgender women, hair removal plays a big role in creating a feminine appearance. But when you’re dealing with lots of face or body hair, things can easily go wrong.
The secret to a smooth, hair-free chest, soft feminine face, and silky smooth legs lies in avoiding some common mistakes.
Here are 5 MTF hair removal mistakes to avoid – and what to do instead!
Mistake #1: Not Exfoliating
All methods of hair removal can cause ingrown hairs, particularly in the beard, chest, and bikini area. You can reduce ingrown hairs by exfoliating your skin 2-3 times per week. This helps get rid of dead skin cells that can trap the hair.
To exfoliate, gently massage your skin with a washcloth, loofah, or exfoliating scrub. My favorite tool is The Body Shop’s exfoliating Body Polisher washcloth. You can find similar exfoliating clothes on Amazon.
It’s important to note that exfoliating immediately after hair removal can irritate the skin. Instead, it’s best to exfoliate either right before or a few days after the hair removal process.
Mistake #2: Forgetting to Moisturize
Dry skin is another cause of ingrown hairs, so it’s important to keep your skin hydrated. (Besides, you want the added benefit of soft, smooth skin, right?)
Pure aloe vera gel is a great moisturizer to use immediately after hair removal. Aloe vera is a natural moisturizer and skin soother.
Another option is to use an unscented lotion or body oil. Perfumed lotions can irritate freshly shaved, waxed, or lasered skin, so avoid them for the first 24 hours after hair removal.
Mistake #3: Not Treating Ingrown Hairs
Exfoliating and moisturizing your skin can help prevent future ingrown hairs. But what should you do about existing ingrown hair bumps?
First, let’s talk about what NOT to do. Resist the temptation of shaving over the ingrown hairs or attempting to extract them with a needle. These actions can lead to infections and scarring.
Instead, try using a specialized ingrown hair treatment like Tend Skin or PFB Vanish. These products are designed reduce razor bumps and ingrown hairs.
Mistake #4: DIY Hair Removal Gone Wrong
Professional waxing, electrolysis, and laser hair removal treatments are expensive, so it can be tempting to try to do them on your own.
However, be careful as some DIY hair removal techniques can lead to painful side effects if your technique isn’t perfect. Here are some pitfalls to watch out for:
Waxing – Mistakes to avoid
Newbie waxing mistakes – like waxing over the same area twice, pulling the hairs in different directions, or pulling too hard – can lead to rashes, bruises, and torn skin. Ouch!
If you still want to do it yourself, I recommend investing in a professional waxing treatment first, so you can observe and learn the proper techniques.
Laser hair removal – Mistakes to avoid
Home laser hair removal systems can save you a lot of money compared to professional treatments. However, it’s important to understand the risks (including burns, scars, and hyperpigmentation) if the devices are not used correctly.
Proceed with caution, take your time, and carefully follow the provided instructions.
Electrolysis – Mistakes to avoid
While there are some home electrolysis machines available, I do not recommend venturing down this path.
Performing electrolysis hair removal is a complex process, which is why professional electrologists are required to obtain licenses.
Not only are most home electrolysis machines unreliable, but there’s also a considerable risk of burning or scarring yourself. It’s best to consult a professional electrologist for this particular procedure.
Mistake #5: Going for the Biggest Bargain
I’m all for beauty bargains, but don’t let price be your sole criteria when choosing a provider for hair removal treatments.
Opting for an ultra-cheap price tag may result in a waxing service that leaves behind stray hairs or a laser treatment that yields patchy results. In the worst-case scenario, you could even end up with burns or scars.
Check the qualifications of the person treating you and read the reviews on any place you are considering. Yelp is your friend!
Also, keep in mind that upscale places tend to put more emphasis on comfortable treatments. If you’re a waxing or laser wimp like me, it’s worth spending a bit more for a less painful experience.
In conclusion
To achieve silky, soft, feminine skin, it’s crucial to avoid these common MTF hair removal mistakes. This is a major DO for any crossdresser or transgender woman.
Now that you’re aware of the don’ts to steer clear of, here are some articles that delve deeper into the topic of hair removal:
- Transgender Body Hair Removal – Which Method is Best for You?
- MTF Facial Hair Removal: Top 8 Ways To Remove Or Reduce Beard Hair
- Permanent Hair Removal: What Really Works? (Male to Female Transformation Tips)
- Bikini Hair Removal Tips for Your Male to Female Transformation
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What are your preferred hair removal methods, and do you have any additional tips to share?
Take my hair removal poll below and share your comments below!
Love,
Lucille
Loading ...
P.S. If you liked this article, you will love my FREE Male to Female Transformation Mini Course.
I have been using tumeric and toothpaste on my face for almost 2 years. Yes, it does work, but slowly. I only use it on average 3-6 times a month, less in winter, since it dries out my skin. I usually do it before I go to bed and don’t shave. I keep it on for about 15-30 minutes before taking a shower and washing it off with plain water. Aloe based skin moisturizer is necessary afterwards. It does leave your skin orange, which is ok if you do it before putting on makeup, thereby hiding any beard shadow. Or I use alcohol on a makeup pad to remove the orange residue if I’m not wearing makeup. Also be careful, since it can stain nearly everything orange too. The next day when I shave, everything is nice and smooth. It seems like the hairs fall out too, but I can’t confirm that. I’m hoping in another year or less I’m hair free.
Hi Marcie!
I’ve never heard of that before. How did you come to try this and what does it do to the hair?
I did lots of research online for all options for hair removal, and tumeric kept coming up. I looked into other methods, but they were too expensive, too painful, or had other pitfalls. I figured that I would give it a try, since it doesn’t cost much. And tumeric has other health benefits, if it didn’t work on my face.
I’m not exactly sure what it does to the hair. From my understanding, it kills the follicles eventually. Facial (beard) hair is resilient unfortunately for us. All I know is that my facial hair is way less than it was 2 years ago.
(Photo today, don’t have a good before pic since I hated having facial hair.)
Hi Lucille, When it comes to my legs I use nair, but when it comes to facial hair I use a beard trimmer and then I use my Norelco cordless razor.
I ADORE my epilator. After about two years of regular use, I’m pretty reliably hairless over most of my body (arms, legs, belly, tush). I do weekly touch ups which are nigh painless.
There are some areas I can’t see or easily reach that may still be fuzzy, wish I had a shave buddy to help with that :-/
Started working on face finally about a year ago, it’s getting to where I have only sparse, fine growth left; but there’s still enough that I have to keep up with it pretty much daily.
I am transitioning from shaving to laser hair removal. I’ve had 10 full leg, laser hair removal treatments. Cost $1,500 + tip. Leg hair mostly gone, now just go for quarterly touch-ups.
Will do back next, because hard to reach, then keep going.
Luv the silky, smooth feel.
I did electrolysis on my face. Though i had to stop, a lot is gone and ones that do appear, I pluck. As for body hair, HRT made most of that hair fall out and what’s left is so fine I can hardly see them.
If you’re serious about feminizing, electrolysis is definitely a worthwhile investment.
One method not mentioned here is plucking. I have been using a mixture of plucking and electrolysis for my facial hair for about 3 months now and it is FABULOUS. So much gentler on the skin than shaving. Through longterm electrolysis, and a little boost from HRT, I’ve reached a stage where the work required is equal to or less than the daily shave. The joy of feeling my own skin again on my face, without prickles, for the first time after 40 years of facial hair is such an indescribable relief. Such a little thing makes me feel so good. When i first got facial hair, it crushed me. A masculinizing puberty was the worst thing i have ever been through. I feel like i’m beginning to claim something back that was taken from me when i get to feel my own skin without prickles.
I pluck for about 4 and let things grow for 2, then have an electrolysis session. This has the advantage that everything that the therapist removes is in its anagen phase, which means close to 100% permanent removal rate for electrolysis. I’m now leaving off electrolysis for 6 months or so. I have a couple of facial surgery procedures coming up so need to let everything heal.
But i finally feel like i’ve vanquished my facial hair!
Your skin looks lovely. I’ve been wondering about electrolysis. Thank you.
Hi Carie,
Thanks so kindly. If you’re wanting to transition permanently, electrolysis is definitely the way to go. Laser is worthwhile as a first cut if you have dark hairs and fairish skin: it will kill off all the dark hairs quickly so you get through that horrible stage where you have shaving shadow. It’s not quite permanent, but getting rid of shadow is a huge psychological boost if you’re feeling gender dysphoria, and it’s certainly permanent enough that you won’t be bothered again by shadow whilst you follow up on white hairs with electrolysis.
I have found it difficult to find a good electrolysis therapist. It’s pretty daunting. I have tried several therapists in Berlin: not too much joy. Then i tried a few sessions with a gender dysphoria clinic in Antwerp in Belgium where they fill you full of opiates so that they can work on you all day (8 hours). It certainly takes a huge chunk out of your facial hair. But all the therapists i have had until now seem to be a little aggressive, with the 8 hour sessions even looking like they might leave scarring for a couple of months. Luckily after a few months everything settled down though. I’m wary now of doing too much in one hit, though.
Now i have a therapist whilst i was temporarily in Melbourne, Australia. She’s fantastic, and we’ve worked out this one in six weeks routine, where i pluck for 4 weeks, then let things grow for 2 weeks. The first time i did this i shaved a week before the electrolysis because the hair just became too unbearable, but now i don’t feel the need. Because everything that sprouts in that two weeks in in the anagen phase, i’ve found the sessions i’ve done with this routine super effective. This is how i’m going to clear everything up from now on. Plucking is so much gentler on my skin that anything -shaving, hair removal cream, epilator. And it means i am pretty much permanently hairless – i feel great! I do just an hour at a time with Tara (my electrolysis therapist): i think that is enough: the insult to the tissue is too much otherwise and risks scarring.
So when i go back to Berlin and my facial surgery has healed properly, i’ll be looking to do this six week cycle again long term.
xxx Selena
Hi All,
I have used “SoftSheen-Carson Magic Fragrant Shaving Powder”
its a little bit of extra work but I like it. It’s like Nair but it’s no as harsh. Look on youtube for how to’s
there are other brand names of shaving powder. This is what I use
I shave my body , in your opinion how does it look like ?