Feminizing hormone therapy may lead to some reduction in hair growth, but many people are unsatisfied with the degree of hair reduction. Masculinizing hormone therapy leads to increased body and facial hair, which you may or may not wish to remove.
The presence or absence of hair can be an important part of your gender expression. This page provides an overview of various hair removal methods, as well as their pros and cons.
When choosing a method of hair removal, consider:
Your hair and skin type
How often you want to remove your hair
Whether the method is safe based on your health history and medications
What you can afford
- Whether the method is convenient for you
Shaving is is the most popular method of hair removal for the face and legs. There are generally two methods: dry shaving with a foil or rotary head electric razor and wet shaving with a razor blade.
Plucking is a method that uses tweezers to remove the entire hair shaft, one at a time. It is most practical for small areas like the eyebrows.
Threading (aka khite and fatlah)
Threading (aka khite and fatlah) is a hair removal technique that has been used for centuries in the Middle East. It involves using a long, twisted cotton thread to pluck several hairs at once.
Waxing is the second most popular method of body hair removal, next to shaving. It involves applying a layer of hot or cold wax to the skin, and then quickly pulling it off.
Sugaring involves the use of a syrup made from sugar, water and lemon juice to grab many hairs at once and remove them at the bulb. In this way, it is similar to waxing.
Chemical depilatories are pastes, creams or lotions that are left on the skin for 3 to 15 minutes, depending on the brand.
Electrolysis involves the insertion of a probe into each hair follicle to deliver electric currents that destroy the hair root. It is the only permanent method of hair removal.
Laser hair removal
Laser hair removal offers long-term hair reduction, as opposed to the permanent hair removal offered by electrolysis.