Crossdressers-Haven.com

This past week marked the first anniversary of my shaving off my goatee and mustache after having them for 25 years.

I decided that they should go several months after I resumed cross dressing at age 51. I felt that it was holding me back.

I generally use a Norelco Advantage cordless razor daily in the morning. It's wet/dry and can dispense either lotion or gel. I'm now cheaping out and using generic shaving gel from a can when I'm home, and it gives a good shave without irritation. I follow up with a moisturiser.

Which of us forum members have decided to keep their facial hair, and who has removed it?

Views from SOs are welcome.

Jadeanne

I have only grown a beard/moustache for brief periods in my life. I have dark facial hair which grows fairly quickly so I usually shave my face every day. But if I know I am going to be dressing up en femme, sometimes I will skip a day and let it grow out some more so it is easier to shave.

Sharon Rose

How do I deal with facial hair. Well where I do not want it I shave it off about once a week or so with a Mach three razor. Yes I said once a week I am blessed with slow growing facial hair. I knew Cherokee blood was good for something. I love my goatee and I have friends who would kill me if I shaved it off.

I have fast-growing facial hair and very tender skin. Fortunately, my facial hair has grayed to a very warm llight gray, that camouflages pretty well with my skin.

I use a cordless Braun electric shaver. This is one of those top-of-the-line models that even has its own cleaning/charging station! That's right, after shaving, I plug my shaver into the station and it automatically cleans and charges it. Colored lights on it and everything. Wowwwwwwwww!

It's smooth and close enough to shave every day, because I go out into the world en femme every day--it's my normal presentation.

I had a neatly trimmed full beard and mustache for years. "The beard of denial" as several crossdressers call it. The 'stache was there for 29 years straight. When I shaved them off, my wife cried! That was hard for both of us. It was a great surprise for me, because under all that fur, my face had aged quite a bit. A stranger stared at me in the mirror.

But it was time for the fur to go. What had started out as a handsome, virile brown beard, had grown to a mottled salt-and-pepper beard that had a couple of bald patches. It was no longer attractive. The maturity it gave a young man was no longer needed either. Not hardly!

I use Mastick to cover up my facial hair. It's used by ladies who perform on stage. It's a heavy foundation and is very good.

Thanks for all the replies.

Like Rikki, my goatee and mustache started going salt & pepper and the goatee area developed a couple of bald areas (I guess they migrated from the top of my head Rikki, you are luckier having a full head of hair, as I read on your website a long time ago).

So far I've only worn makeup for more than a few hours only a couple of times and each time, after about 12 hours, I felt itching on my chin - it was probably the whiskers pushing the powder & foundation out of my pores.

I'm using Cover Girl clean makeup liquid foundation and powder. A Walmart had it on special. It turns out theyare really too dark, but I'm not going to discard them. I can certainly tell when I apply the foundation unevenly, so it makes for good practice. I tell myself it's a learning experience. I will need something with more beard shadow coverage (Mastick, Dermablend, or something else like that, maybe), anyway I don't plan on going out of my house.

Thanks again for the replies

Jadeanne

Here is an update of sort on my facial hair. I was out shopping with my mom (helped reach items that were on the top shelves she is only 4' 10") or so. Anyway while I was with her she asked what I wanted for Hanukkah. I told her that a new electric razor would be nice and I showed her that braun set has self cleaning unit and all pretty pricey. And you know what she did. If you guessed she bought your right. If you did not then I am sorry play again so other time. Thing is I told her what 4 times that she did not need to but it for me. HOWEVER she bought it any way now I have to wait for Hanukkah to get it.

Jessie

Jessie,

Now we all know you're REALLY counting down to Hanukkah! According to this Methodist checking her wall calendar it starts on Saturday, the 20th. Is that the day you do gift exchange?

After you get it and start using it, please post your experiences.

Inquiring minds would like to know

Jadeanne

Hi all,

For starters, I have to say that I'd much prefer not having to deal with my facial hair at all. One way or the other. I'm lazy that way.

This is what I do: I usally wear a (very short) beard and mustache; however, when the mood strikes me (and/or the opportunity of going out en femme comes along), I shave it all off--it keeps my acquaintances on their toes as they never really know when the hair will go. So mine is not so much a "beard of denial" as it is a "beard of sloth" (although I do keep it neatly trimmed, not unkempt).

The practice my colleagues have a little more trouble with is my shaving my entire body two or three times a year (although I usually always keep at least my legs shaved).

An amusing anecdote: I was housebound for quite a while last month during a recovery from surgery. One day, one of my colleagues unexpectedly called on me to see if I needed anything. I almost panicked for a few seconds, trying to figure out if all my femme stuff was squared away. I thought it was so I invited him in, of course. Before he left a half hour later, he asked me if he could use the washroom. "Sure," I said, "no problem, go right ahead." Well, about an hour after his departure, I went to the can myself and, there, laid out in their full glory atop the toilet tank, were all my cosmetics! The dear, he never said a word! And he still hasn't. I don't know if that's good or bad.

Love,
CJ

ACTUALLY

If any one is wondering Hanukkah starts at sundown on friday Dec 19th at sundown and last for 8 days. Usually, or at least when I was young, we exchanged gifts for those 8 days. Now we do it for one day and exchange larger gifts those we light the candles at our homes for each night. I can get into more but some it all up all Jewish holidays start at sundown as first off the Jewish Calander, and trust me it is confusing, is a lunar calander going back to the Old Testament and Genisis. "Let there be light" however for there to be light, darkness was there first so we start everthing at sundown. Night proceed days. Confusing isn't.

Jessie

Jessie--

I think you're going to LOVE your new Braun shaver! I love mine! The shave is very close and comfortable, and the self-cleaning thing keeps the shaving head well lubricated so it moves effortlessly. Voila, a clean, close shave every time!

Do read the instruction book, especially about that first cleaning. I think the first cleaning kinda programs the cleaning unit to your preferences, bacause it's very important to follow the directions carefully that time.

The only downside is the noise. To clean the shaver, it submerges the head in cleaning fluid, then turns the shaver motor on. This makes a lot of grinding noise! That can be a bit disconcerting if you're carefully putting on your makeup, having to listen to what sounds like your expensive new shaver grinding itself up! But you'll get used to it.

And you'll need to replace the cleaning fluid sooner than you expect. Crossdressers get used to a much closer shave than most men. We're a good test for shavers!

Hi Jadeanne,

Yes I do still have a full head of hair. At age 53, no less!

My life's greatest accomplishment? Hardly. Besides, I really didn't have anything to do with it.

Maybe it's payback for gynecomastia since early puberty, plus diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol later in life? Oh, and flat feet--can't forget those!

I do chuckle about it. I have a good friend my age. who is a post-op TS. She has to wear wigs--I don't. Yeah, she gets jealous.

However my head may be full, it's not carefree hair, by a long shot. It needs to be colored and carefully cut every 4 weeks. Otherwise, it would grow out into a very uneven, bushy gray mess! My hair is fine, curly, and thick. It resists most grooming products too. Bad hair days are the rule, not the exception.

But I've made peace with it. My hairdresser, Grace, does a great job with it!

thanks for mentioning it. You made my day, actually!

Well I do not have it yet. HERE is the really down side I will have to keep it in the bedroom as I only have one outlet in the bathroom and I use the hair dryer. Who know what I shall do. My mom suggested I add an extension cord, except the outlet is part of the light fixure over the sink and when the light is turned off there is no power to that outlet. Still my bedroom is just around the corner and I have a lot of outlets there.

Jessie

It's great to see activity on this thread!

CJ,

I hope you had a quick, complete recovery from your surgery. Since I live with my real gem of a supportive wife, any visitors don't question any femme things they may see (the wigs & breast forms I store out of plain sight). I don't shave anywhere other than my face. I don't have a really hairy body.

Rikki,

For me, wigs are fine, because I don't leave home unless I'm in male mode. My wife is very low maintenance appearance wise, (hair in a bun or pony tail, no makeup/nail polish). She has diabetes which she keeps under control with diet and oral meds. I have rheumatoid arthritis, marginal high cholesterol and blood pressure.

Jessie,

Thanks for the quick summary of Jewish holiday tradition - it gives us non-members of your faith a bit of insight on your faith.

My bathroom has very limited outlets, so when it's recharging time for the Norelco shaver or Sonicare toothbrush, I charge them in the bedroom.

I replied to your petticoat thread questions.


let's all keep each other informed on shaving and related matters.

Jadeanne

Hi,

I totally agree with Jadeanne! This is a fantastic thread.

Well, to be honest I haven't shaved in like a whole week.

Did I get you or do you know?

I've had 5 laser treatments now and for the first time since I've started in July, there is really no hair growth after a week of not shaving. I thought the 4th one was productive (as in permanent hair removal), but usually by this time I'd start to see patches of hair (very sparce) OR if I went against the grain I could feel some new growth. The new growth was really soft, so my laserologist and others who've had laser told me those could be hairs you plucked months ago or it could be that hair hadn't started growing yet. I learned facial hair grows in cycles.

I didn't ever want to shave again, especially because of in-grown hairs. They said it would be seven treatments and I believe her now. Hopefully my seventh treatment will most likely be a non-event. I expect the 6th visit will get the remaining hair. Maybe in a week another set of dormant hair will start to grow.

If anyone was a boy and tried dad's electric razor, that's what it feels like against the skin now if I shave.

I'm also happy because I didn't like shaving before putting on makeup. It took away from the femme experience. I also didn't like it if I fell asleep dressed and woke up with makeup still on and I could seeing hair growing.

Ok, that's it. Can anyone tell yet that I'm REALLY PROMOTING Laser Hair Removal for those who also want to stop shaving? No one at work has noticed anything. They just think I am always clean shaven.

If you all like I can start a separate thread about Laser Hair removal and leave this one for shaving?

Beauty