NationStates' Transgender Thread II

[Philjia]

I mean at the very least until I can get my face zapped I'm very obvious unless I get very lucky with the razor, which almost never happens.

Try an electric shaver instead.

[Vassenor]

I mean at the very least until I can get my face zapped I'm very obvious unless I get very lucky with the razor, which almost never happens.

Try an electric shaver instead.

I did. I found that manual seems to work better.

[Nature-Spirits]

I mean at the very least until I can get my face zapped I'm very obvious unless I get very lucky with the razor, which almost never happens.

This is part of why foundation is a wonderful thing.

[Vassenor]

I think the problem is mainly because I'm doing it right after I get out of the shower, while the mirror is still fogged to hell and I don't have my glasses on.

But even on the bits I hit there is always still visible shadowing.

[Nature-Spirits]

I think the problem is mainly because I'm doing it right after I get out of the shower, while the mirror is still fogged to hell and I don't have my glasses on.

But even on the bits I hit there is always still visible shadowing.

I just shave in the shower.

Which is most of why my showers take longer than they should, but meh. Water's included in rent.

[The balkens]

I think the problem is mainly because I'm doing it right after I get out of the shower, while the mirror is still fogged to hell and I don't have my glasses on.

But even on the bits I hit there is always still visible shadowing.

Have you tried asking your doctor about it?

[Val Halla]

I still have a lot of hair problems.

[Linux and the X]

I think the problem is mainly because I'm doing it right after I get out of the shower, while the mirror is still fogged to hell and I don't have my glasses on.

But even on the bits I hit there is always still visible shadowing.

Personally, I prefer an in-shower shave, so that lets me rinse the mirror with the showerhead to clear the fogging. Still, that's just for the initial run; finishing by feel is far more effective than appearance.

[Aphryss]

On the other hand ... my immediate reaction to your offer was "OMG yes please", and I think in this case it's probably better to listen to my emotions than my reason. So yes, please call me Emily, and use female pronouns. I'd really like that.

Alright, Emily!

^_^

I think the problem is mainly because I'm doing it right after I get out of the shower, while the mirror is still fogged to hell and I don't have my glasses on.

But even on the bits I hit there is always still visible shadowing.

I agree, shaving is a PITA. The guides I've read say to do it immediately after showering, though, since the heat and moisture soften the hair and make it easier to cut. Also, make sure your razor blade is sharp, replace it every 7-10 uses or so (yes, this is a pain, razor blades are stupid expensive). Use a decent shaving cream - cheap ones foam up a lot and lather well but most of it is wasted, since only the stuff right next to your skin does anything.

But, yeah, I have to admit that even immediately after shaving I've got shadow, which is a pain. Apparently makeup can help, but I don't have any tips for that.

[Vassenor]

Huh. I thought blades were meant to last ~5 weeks.

[Philjia]

Huh. I thought blades were meant to last ~5 weeks.

Depends how fast your hair grows and how much you care about a 5 o'clock shadow.

[The Alexanderians]

Huh. I thought blades were meant to last ~5 weeks.

Depends how fast your hair grows and how much you care about a 5 o'clock shadow.

And the blades' quality/material/etc and how often you use it.
I have an electric shaver that I use to get most of the hair then use a proper razor, it saves blades like you wouldn't believe.
I used to use a straight edge but my college won't let me keep it since "it was designed to be a weapon".

[Linux and the X]

(yes, this is a pain, razor blades are stupid expensive)

The blades are cheap; it's the cartridges that are expensive. Safety razors just use bare blades and cost about 20¢ for a super-fancy blade.

[Aphryss]

(yes, this is a pain, razor blades are stupid expensive)

The blades are cheap; it's the cartridges that are expensive. Safety razors just use bare blades and cost about 20¢ for a super-fancy blade.

... good point, I hadn't considered safety razors. A possibility for the economical, then. Except I just bought an eight-pack of new blades for my Gillette yesterday. >.<

Depends how fast your hair grows and how much you care about a 5 o'clock shadow.

And the blades' quality/material/etc and how often you use it.
I have an electric shaver that I use to get most of the hair then use a proper razor, it saves blades like you wouldn't believe.
I used to use a straight edge but my college won't let me keep it since "it was designed to be a weapon".

Huh, that's a good idea. I had an electric razor back in the day but honestly I found it not that great, because the little rotary blades got dull, the shave quality wasn't that great, and eventually the motor died. I get a better shave with a regular razor.

[Linux and the X]

Except I just bought an eight-pack of new blades for my Gillette yesterday. >.<

Well, once those are used up, then. Just don't fall into the trap of thinking the low recurring cost means a 700 dollar shaving kit is a good idea!

Even if it is really pretty.

[Aphryss]

Except I just bought an eight-pack of new blades for my Gillette yesterday. >.<

Well, once those are used up, then. Just don't fall into the trap of thinking the low recurring cost means a 700 dollar shaving kit is a good idea!

Even if it is really pretty.

Yeah, those are nice, but I've never been one to pay much for looks over utility. Or at least not that much!

Except I may have a shoe problem in the future. Right now I have one pair of running shoes, one pair of sandals, two pairs of dress shoes and a pair of boots. But women's footwear has so many more options! I get to care about fashion!

[Linux and the X]

Except I may have a shoe problem in the future. Right now I have one pair of running shoes, one pair of sandals, two pairs of dress shoes and a pair of boots. But women's footwear has so many more options! I get to care about fashion!

Fortunately there's only one option I like: combat boots with the tallest chunky heels I can find. (Currently that's three inches.)

[The Serbian Empire]

It's not your fault trans girls are cuter.

I beg to differ.

Give me all the girls!

[The Serbian Empire]

Well, once those are used up, then. Just don't fall into the trap of thinking the low recurring cost means a 700 dollar shaving kit is a good idea!

Even if it is really pretty.

Yeah, those are nice, but I've never been one to pay much for looks over utility. Or at least not that much!

Except I may have a shoe problem in the future. Right now I have one pair of running shoes, one pair of sandals, two pairs of dress shoes and a pair of boots. But women's footwear has so many more options! I get to care about fashion!

The options are more numerous with smaller feet. Mine limit me quite a bit to the point that men's footwear has as many if not more options when the feet are US women's size 13 wides.

[The Grey Wolf]

This was a pretty spot on segment by John Oliver about transgender rights.

Try an electric shaver instead.

I did. I found that manual seems to work better.

I usually use manual first and then electric. It seems without both, there's usually a noticeable gray area.

[Ashlak]

Shaving is the worst. It feels like my facial hair just refuses to leave my face.

[Aphryss]

Shaving is the worst. It feels like my facial hair just refuses to leave my face.

I feel your pain. I've considered using some kind of depilatory cream in the past, but really, I don't know anything about them. Does anyone have experience with them? is it worth it?

This was a pretty spot on segment by John Oliver about transgender rights.

I did. I found that manual seems to work better.

I usually use manual first and then electric. It seems without both, there's usually a noticeable gray area.

Huh. When I was using electric, I found I didn't get all that close a shave - not as close as I can get with a manual razor. It's entirely possible that my electric razor just sucked though.

Also, "smooth like a boiled carrot", oh god. I have to admit, circumcision creeps me the hell out on multiple levels.

[Nature-Spirits]

This was a pretty spot on segment by John Oliver about transgender rights.

Yeah, I've seen that. I'd say it's a pretty good thing to show cis people when trying to educate them sufficiently without overloading them.

Shaving is the worst. It feels like my facial hair just refuses to leave my face.

I feel your pain. I've considered using some kind of depilatory cream in the past, but really, I don't know anything about them. Does anyone have experience with them? is it worth it?

I tried Nair for facial hair once. Unfortunately, it didn't work; as it turns out, products designed to remove cis women's finer facial hair don't necessarily work on the tougher facial hair brought about by testosterone. So until I can afford laser hair removal, I'm just having to scrape the hair off with little metal blades day... after day... after day....

This was a pretty spot on segment by John Oliver about transgender rights.


I usually use manual first and then electric. It seems without both, there's usually a noticeable gray area.

Huh. When I was using electric, I found I didn't get all that close a shave - not as close as I can get with a manual razor. It's entirely possible that my electric razor just sucked though.

Also, "smooth like a boiled carrot", oh god. I have to admit, circumcision creeps me the hell out on multiple levels.

I've never actually tried an electric razor. I've recently graduated from 3 blades to 5, however; it's a lot more expensive (although I just use disposable razors), but it gives a pretty good shave with half the razor burn, so that's a win. I still use 3 blades for my body hair, though.

And yeah, circumcision is creepy and, in my mind, nothing short of infant genital mutilation. If a consenting adult decides to get circumcised, that's fine, but infants should not be subjected to medically unnecessary procedures. I'm glad my mom didn't have me snipped.

But we probably shouldn't spend too much time discussing that. The mod overlords don't like it when we stray too far from the intended topic.

[Grenartia]

My mother came over, I came out, everything went swimmingly. She said "I'd accept you whatever shape you are, you're still you." Turns out I needn't have worried about the whole radfem transphobia thing at all. Which I thought probably wasn't an issue, but still. I think it's normal to be anxious about coming out to your parents. She also mentioned a couple of colleagues and friends of friends who're trans, and gave me the name of a professional colleague, a psychologist who does a lot of work with transgender people. So yeah, I think that went really well. Current mood: vomiting rainbows.

Yay!

[Grenartia]

It's not your fault trans girls are cuter.

I beg to differ.

Wait, so its your fault transgirls are cuter? Thanks!