Nothing will make you feel more feminine than smooth, hair-free skin!
The good news is that there are lots of hair removal options for crossdressers and transgender women, including shaving, waxing, depilatories, etc.
However, the holy grail is permanent hair removal. This is especially true for those planning a full MTF transition.
So, which method is the best option? Should you consider electrolysis, laser hair removal, professional treatments, or DIY devices?
In this blog post, I’ll share what actually works for permanent hair removal – and the pros and cons of each approach.
Electrolysis
First and foremost, electrolysis is considered the only TRULY permanent method of hair removal.
It involves inserting a tiny probe into each hair follicle and using electricity to damage the follicle, preventing hair regrowth.
Because each hair must be treated individually, electrolysis is very time consuming.
It also requires more than one treatment per follicle, so you could be looking at years of weekly or bi-weekly appointments.
PROS:
- It’s the only method approved by the FDA for permanent hair removal.
- It’s effective for all skin and hair colors.
CONS:
- It takes many sessions. For example, transgender facial electrolysis averages 70-90 hours all the way up to 300 hours.
- It can be quite painful, especially in areas like the upper lip.
- There’s a risk of skin discoloration or scarring if not performed properly.
COST:
Licensed electrologists charge from $75-$100+ per hour, so the full treatment can add up to thousands of dollars. However, once the hair is gone, it’s gone forever.
Laser Hair Removal – Professional
Laser hair removal is the most popular “permanent” hair removal method, but it’s important to know that it’s only FDA approved for hair REDUCTION.
Laser hair removal uses lasers to damage hair follicles, reducing growth. It can thin the beard by 70%-85%.
Laser hair removal can inhibit hair growth for several years, but some or all of the hair can grow back – especially in people with fair hair.
This means that you may need to have repeat maintenance sessions every 6-12 month.
PROS:
- It can treat large areas at once.
- It’s much faster than electrolysis.
- Most people see a significant reduction in hair growth after 3-8 sessions.
- The hair grows back lighter and finer.
- It’s less painful than electrolysis (though not totally pain-free).
CONS:
- It’s only effective for hair reduction, not 100% hair removal.
- It’s most effective on people with light skin and dark hair. If you have darker skin or fair hair, it will not be as effective.
- There’s a risk of skin discoloration or scarring if not performed properly.
COST:
Laser hair removal costs $50-$400 per area per appointment depending on size. This can also add up to thousands of dollars over the course of the treatment.
You can also check Groupon for deals, but be sure to research the facility carefully. Bargains aren’t always the best idea when it comes to your face and body.
Laser Hair Removal – At Home
With the high cost of laser hair removal, there are now some decent options for doing it yourself. DIY devices can indeed work, but they aren’t without drawbacks.
Here are the pros and cons of at-home laser hair removal:
PROS:
- It offers considerable cost savings over professional treatments.
- It’s more convenient since you don’t have to schedule appointments.
CONS:
- It’s time consuming since at-home devices are smaller than pro devices.
- It’s less effective since at-home devices aren’t as strong.
- It’s hard to treat certain areas (like the back) when you’re treating yourself.
- There’s more risk of side effects since you aren’t a trained pro.
- The devices can be painful to use.
RECOMMENDED DEVICES:
Many of the products marketed as laser hair removal devices are actually IPL devices (described below).
However, the TRIA Beauty Laser Hair Removal Device 4X ($499) uses the same diode laser technology used in-office by dermatologists.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)
IPL is similar to laser hair removal, but it uses a different kind of light. Instead of a concentrated laser beam, IPL uses a broader spectrum of light that isn’t as focused.
Because of this, IPL can cover a larger treatment area, but it takes more sessions since the light is less powerful.
Pros:
- Faster than laser hair removal since it covers a larger area.
- Good availability of at-home devices.
- Usually less painful than laser hair removal.
Cons:
- Requires more sessions compared to laser hair removal.
- More risk of irritation due to the broader light spectrum used.
- Can only be used on lighter skin tones / darker hair tones.
RECOMMENDED DEVICES:
Here are some popular and highly rated at-home IPL hair removal devices:
- Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 IPL Hair Removal System – $303
- Remington iLight Pro Plus Quartz Hair Removal System – $267
- JOVS Venus Pro II Hair Remover – $459
- Silk’n Infinity 400,000 – $399
Let’s talk hair removal
Now that I’ve covered the options for permanent hair removal and reduction, I’d love to hear what YOU think.
Have you tried any of the procedures or products above? If so, what were your results?
Please take my poll and share in the comments below!
Love,
Lucille
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P.S. If you liked this article, you will love my FREE Male to Female Transformation Mini Course.
Forgot to say In my other comment. Emla cream and other numbing agents and preparations containing lignocaine and / or lidocaine are very helpful for electrolysis. Especially for whimps like me with low pain threshold. Emla is 5% of both.
Depuis plusieurs années, je pratique l’épilation intégrale du corps à la cire. Ca me permet d’aller régulièrement en institut de beauté.
There is such a place I’ve heard about I believe near Houston, Texas.
I had the laser treatment, they did a test shot on my neck, it did turn a little red but nothing real noticeable. I went back and had my who face and neck done. The tech spent a good deal of time round my chin. The next day I noticed that it felt burnt. Then it started to look infected. They had actually burnt me, badly. I went back and said that they had used a too strong of laser and gave me a prescription for some burn ointment. Then asked when I wanted to schedule my next appointment. They had just burned my face, acted like it was no big deal and wanted to know when I was coming back. Nope. Now the skin on both sides of my chin below the corners of my lips is scared. As I have gotten older it has become worse when I shave so I have had to give up dressing as it is just too noticeable.
Charley, I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m appalled that this clinic treated you that way and caused permanent damage. 🙁
Charley, don’t let this stop you from getting dressed and going out. I’m sure most people don’t notice the scars. Have you looked into treatments such as microneedling? Microneedling looks quite promising: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2840919/
Yes I use to go out a lot, some people use to say that I looked a lot like Jamie Lee Curtis when she was younger. They often said I should have been born a girl. That is what makes it the hardest. Oh well.
Are home electrolysis systems any good? Is there a Brand/Model worth tying?
Thanks
I’ve tried electrolysis, laser and epilady.
Electrolysis was great and works but expensive and a pain for appointments and time. The little I had did thin my facial hair a bit.
I had some laser and believe it thinned my facial hair. I’d do more but have aged and think my hair is too light, white or gray to work now.
I use an epilady on my arms and legs now. It does hurt but lasts longer than shaving or nair. I also can’t reach all the areas I want with epilady.
Hi Lucille. Just a note to you and your readers on my experience with laser hair removal . I had a very good/positive result from laser removal on my legs and face . Time was an issue for me and this was very quick as I was able to accomplish both areas in a six week period . This was done about two years ago and I have very little regrowth .
That is fantastic to hear!
In my experience, with my facial hair type, laser was pretty much as good as permanent. Especially together with HRT. But it only works for dark hair; I transition to an age much of my facial hair is white. Laser is altogether ineffective for this hair, so I really really wish I’d done this much earlier.
With regards to electrolysis, there is a clinic 2pass in Antwerp that does eight hour sessions with the help of oxycodone. Opioids make my tummy really, really sick, so, although the Spain the session was remarkably pain free, it was a bit of a marathon because I felt continuously that I was going to throw up. Not many people have a reaction to oxycodone as bad as mine. But the very WORST thing for me about electrolysis is that I must let my hair grow for 3 days. I feel horrible. So the wonderful thing about the eight hour session is that it gets so much done, and you only have to grow your hair every three months or so. Maybe there are similar clinics in the US.
Hi Selene, that’s great that you’ve had such good results with laser hair removal. You bring up a very good point about doing treatments sooner rather than later since laser does not work on white/gray hair.
I believe there are also clinics in the US that do intensive electrolysis sessions.