Transgender hair removal poses a unique set of problems that can be
overcome with a little research, a healthy dose of patience and a store
of budgeted finances. The payoff is an end result that will give you the
smooth, hairless face and body you've been dreaming of.
If you
are feeling a little overwhelmed, you are not alone, a good start is to
familiarize yourself with some of the most frequently asked questions.
How will I find a skilled
technician?
Referrals
from satisfied customers are usually your best bet. If you know of
someone who has had good results, ask them for a referral.
Online social community message boards are also a good source of local information, although when it comes to your body, seeing is believing.
What types of treatments are available?
There
are basically two types of treatments available, electrolysis and laser
hair removal. Electrolysis is still touted as the leading permanent
transgender hair removal method and is a slow, more painful process.
With electrolysis, a needle is inserted into the individual hair
follicle and a small electrical current is discharged. This electrical
current destroys the hair follicles one by one. Laser concentrates on a
larger area and sends intense laser energy into a group of hair
follicles. This laser heat loosens the hair and disables
hair growth
cells. Laser is faster and less painful and works well for general
areas and on lighter skin. Many technicians and clients choose a
combined approach of
laser and electrolysis for best results.
How long are treatments?
Are you ready for a long-term
commitment? A transgender woman can expect a total time commitment of
one to four years; the average is usually two years or 200 to 300
hours. Expect to start with one to two treatments a week, for the first
few months, with each treatment taking approximately 30 minutes. At
the end of your treatments, expect to come less frequently, once or
twice a month.
What helps/hinders hair removal?
Plucking and waxing make the hair removal process more difficult and should be avoided to reduce your treatment time and costs.
Why so many treatments?
There
are many factors that influence the amount of treatments you will need,
physiology is the largest factor. Hormone levels, pain threshold,
amount and thickness of hair as well as your skin's acceptance of
treatments and taking testosterone blockers to help retard hair growth are all factors.
What about pain?
Luckily,
there are methods that help with pain reduction, including hormone
treatment, topical anaesthesia, analgesics and sedatives. Some clients
have found gold-plated needles to be less painful than stainless steel.
What kind of costs should I expect?
Electrolysis and laser transgender hair removal, costs vary according to the technician, region and country. Generally, expect to pay anywhere from $25 - $150/hour.
If you've imagined a smooth-skinned new you, you can achieve it with the right combination of
transgender hair removal technicians and techniques tailored specifically to you.
