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.
I’ve had laser hair removal on my face. It started with five sessions on my cheeks and jaw line spread out over about 18 months. About halfway between the full face sessions, I got a touch up on my chin and upper lip. I went from having a full 5-o’clock shadow to no shadow. For a while, I got treatments twice a year. Now, it’s down to a touchup on my jaw line, chin and lip every 12-18 months. I still shave these areas 3 times a week with an electric razor (it’s better on my skin than blade).
I shave my legs, arms, and armpits every 4 days (I like Venus blades). I initially used Nair to remove the hair. I’ve been shaving for years. Whenever I let it grow back, it grows back finer and thinner if it grows back at all.
I’ve just completed 6 sessions of laser, and I agree the results are about 75-85% complete for dark hair. Unfortunately, I am 47 years old and should have done this 10 years ago or more. The number of white hairs that remain are frustrating, but my beard shadow is non existent, especially under make up.
At between $225 and $350 per session, it’s not cheap but I did grab a 2 for 1 deal that saved me some cash.
Enjoy the exquisite pain and the lovely results ladies…
I mostly have fair hairs and I’m currently having eletrolysis removal sessions and was told before starting at the clinic, that I should expect at least 80 – 100 hours of eletrolysis treatments to get a satisfying result with clearing both both my lower face and neck – but that it off course varies from person to person because i.e. difference in hormonal influences. Until now I’ve had 20 x 75 minute treatments with 2 week intervals – so my hair removal journey is far from over – But what keeps me going on is thinking about the good results thst I’ll end up with:-) Before starting with eletrolysis I had 19 laser treatments to reduce the “few” in between scattered dark hairs in my lower face and neck.
I have had it done in patches, but it’s very expensive here, both Lazer and Electrolis. So mostly for my full body , I either get waxed or Sugar. But it’s getting more difficult as my hairs are getting lighter in color .
Hi ladies
I had electrolysis done on my face over a three to four year period and found it very successful . However when it came to the mouth area I found it very painful . There was a dentist in the same building so I would get a couple of injections before a treatment which was very handy . At that stage she was treating the white hairs around that area as I have a mixture of black and white hairs there . When it came close to finishing I balked at getting it completed because I thought the whole look would look “weird” when I wasn’t dressed . Just being paranoid I guess , so I would just shave that area no problem . But it recently became a problem as I have noticed I seem to be getting more feminine as I get older , does anyone else notice that ? or is it just my imagination ? Anyway I decided it was time to get rid of it and I have been getting laser therapy done on that area now as I hate how it looks and since there is only black hair left there it is working fine .
Yes, Jodi, I definitely find myself getting more feminine as I get older. Partly this is kind of like a sculpting process as I learn to mold my body, face, hair, gestures into more feminine ways. I also like to think it is partly feminine mind over the masculine matter of my body. These days I often get “misgendered” (or perhaps correctly gendered, depending on one’s point of view) when I am not trying to present as female. I love it when that happens.
I have been using tumeric and toothpaste with peroxide for over a year now on my face. I do it on average about once a week. (Some weeks more often, others not at all.) There is a significant reduction in hair and it doesn’t grow as fast. Shaving afterwards, usually the next day, is much closer, lasts longer, and overall better. I’m sure if I did it more often and consistently, I would see better results. I probably wouldn’t recommend doing it after you shave either. Never tried it though.
The only problem with this method is an orange face for a day or two. (And other things turning orange, like fingers, clothes, sink, etc.) To correct that, a make up removal wipe works on my face and/or concealer. (Other things may get stained permanently!) Orange coloring is also recommended to get rid of a beard shadow under your make-up. So it’s great to do before you go out all dressed up. ☺️
Typically what I do is about an hour before bed, I mix tumeric and toothpaste on my finger, and liberally apply it to my face. Then I take a shower at least a half-hour afterwards, allowing the mixture to to it’s thing. There’s a stinging sensation for a while, nothing serious. In the shower, I first dampen my fingers and rub my face, reactivating the mixture. At the end of my shower, I finally wash my face off using just water. I don’t do anything else to my face except put on some moisturizer.
Personally, I like to do things naturally and cheaply. After much research, it usually came down to this. I also take several natural supplements for my feminization, that I also researched. It’s slower than estrogen, but I’m seeing good results there too. Another topic to talk about later.
I hope this helps some of you girls with a cheap effective way to transition more naturally. Love you all.
Curious why epilators don’t seem to mentioned or discussed as an alternative. Could you shed some light on why or your personal experiences with them. Thanks
I used laser for my legs, back and chest many times. They can’t remove 100% of hairs but they do reduce them. I shave with electric shaver everyday and I looks look. See the pic.