The Transgender Dictionary

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Hair Removal

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Introduction

Body hair removal is a thing that has been around for a long time and has been performed for various reasons. There are numerous methods that exist to remove hair from one's body, and various reasons why someone may choose to do it. Some people find it gender-affirming to not have any hair in a particular part of the body. Sometimes, hair removal is required prior to things like surgery or body motifications such as tattoos.

Despite what some companies selling products regarding the removal of body hair might tell you, it is not unsanitary to have body hair. It grows from the body. Body hair is only unsanitary if you are not washing your body on a regular basis. That being said, there are a variety of reasons why different people will decide to remove hair from their bodies. Do not allow others to dictate whether or not you shave, wax, etc. Its your body to alter. Only engage in hair removal practices because you personally want to and enjoy the feeling of it.

Of course, if you are getting surgery that involves a skin graft (or is otherwise utilizing/reshaping parts of your body where hair grows and putting it somewhere hair shouldn't be growing) then you must get a permenant form of hair removal for that section. In that case, trust your surgeon over a random person who made a website about a bunch of misellaneous topics.

If you come across words/terms/acronyms/phrases/etc throughout this page which are underlined, this means that clicking on them will lead you to other parts of The Transgender Dictionary that are relevant to whatever it is that you clicked on. Clicking on links underneath [External Resources] will lead you to other parts of the internet that are not affiliated with The Transgender Dictionary, but have various information that is related to the topic of hair removal. Its generally a good idea to seek out more than one source of information on a topic to gain further understanding of said topic, so feel free to check those out.

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General Information

Hair removal is, well, the removal of hair. There are various reasons and methods why someone would want to remove their hair and how. For some people, such as most transgender women, having body and facial hair causes gender dysphoria. For some people, such as some transgender men, being able to shave facial hair causes gender euphoria. Really, it all comes down to the invividual person and why they are trying to remove hair.

Permenant hair removal is typically required for people who pursue surgeries that involve skin grafts, such as vaginoplasty or phalloplasty.

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Electrolysis

A medically permenant method of hair removal using electricity.

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Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure where a concentrated beam of light (aka, a laser) is used to remove hair.

Click to jump to external resources regarding laser hair removal.

Shaving

Shaving is the cheapest and most accessible method of hair removal. It can be done in your own home (unlike other methods) and it can be painful if you do not follow proper protocal. Do not dry shave, or you can sustain minor injuries (nicks, cuts, irritation, burns, etc).

If you have acne, be careful when shaving. Shaving can irritate the skin, making acne worse (never try to shave the acne off). Try experimenting with electric or disposable blade razors to see which work best for you, and always shave lightly to avoid nicking the acne.

If you are going to shave an area that has long hair (such as the pubic area), it is generally speaking a good idea that you trim the hair down first with scissors so that it is easier to manage once you go in with a razor. If you posess testicles and intend to shave them, you are statistically more likely to injure yourself with electric clippers than you are with a 2-blade safety razor.

When shaving it is important that your skin, and the hair you intend to remove, is wet/warm/moist. This helps the razor glide smoothly and avoid bumps/burns/cuts. A good time to shave is (or after) after a bath (or a shower) so that there are no oils or dead skin in the way to clog up the razor blade. This is assuming that you are exfoliating the skin to remove any oils or dead skin.

Apply shaving cream, gel, or foam to the area you intend to shave prior to shaving it to avoid cuts or burns. The lubrication helps prevent you from pressing down too hard with the razor. Lather it up to help moisten the skin and hair. Seek out products meant for sensitive skin if you, well, have sensitive (or dry) skin. Applying moisturizer or aftershave after shaving helps keep your skin comfortable and soft (note, double check the ingredients of products labeled "aftershave" and avoid anything that contains alcohol, unless you enjoy the feeling of being slightly burned, but that is entierly up to your personal preference).

It is generally recommended that you shave "with the grain" (aka, shave your hair in the direction of which it grows), though in places like the face (where the hair grows in various different directions) it is better to simply shave in whatever direction is most comfortable for you personally. For other parts of the body (such as the legs) shave first with the grain, then against it on the second pass. Use light, gentle strokes. Let the razor do the work for you. Do not overshave the same spot, as this can cause irritation.

Rinse your razor blade with water after each swipe. Do not tap the razor against something (like the sink) as this can cause damage. If you are using a disposable razor blade, throw it away after every 5-7 shaves to minimize irritation. Always check your blade to make sure that it is nice and sharp. A dull blade is more likely to nick you. Some brands of razor will have other video indicators to help you tell that they are in need of replacement.

When you are done shaving, rinse off. Pat yourself dry instead of rubbing to avoid irritation.

Store your razor in a dry location to prevent bacteria growth. (Aka. Do not store it in the shower or on a wet sink.) If you are shaving the pubic area, keep a separate razor for the purpose. This helps keep it sharp.

Note that shaving cream should not be used when using an electric razor.

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Waxing

Able to be done either at home or by a professional, hair waxing is the process of removing hair from the root via covering the hair with a sticky substance, then ripping it out.

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Clicking on links below this point on the page will lead you to external websites that are not affiliated with The Transgender Dictionar (that is, until you scroll all the way down to the alphabet button menu... those buttons lead to other sections of The Transgender Dictionary). These external resources are provided primarily to encourage the reader to seek out other sources of information before attempting to do things that they have never done before. Do not rely on a single tutorial, especially if you are not confident in your ability to recreate what is being described or fully understand a concept based on one person's explanation.

None of these links are sponsored, nor endorsed. The views/opinions/etc expressed in the blogs/articles/etc below do not inherently represent those of The Transgender Dictionary.

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See also the pages for estrogen, agender, and nullification.

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