#electrolysis

Shout out to Tsambika, the world’s best electrolysis technician.

I'm Still Alex - Webtoon | Tapas | Linktree | Patreon 

There were a bunch of places I called trying to find an electrolysist that was willing to take a trans client prepping for bottom surgery, and I was kind of stunned to learn tons of places weren’t down with that, even salons that listed themselves as LGBTQIA+ friendly.

There’s something to be said here about the trans experience, but I’d rather focus on something positive. 

I don’t know exactly what makes one technician better than another, but I have to assume that one of the most vital elements is client comfort.  At no point in time has Tsambika ever made me feel awkward, ashamed, or anything even remotely less than positive during our sessions.

Each appointment is basically me hanging out and chatting with a friend.  That friend just happens to be repeatedly stabbing and electrocuting my genitals. 

…ok so I just made electrolysis sound like it’s a nightmare, but with good prep it really hasn’t been too rough for me.  Some lidocaine and acetaminophen an hour beforehand seems to do the trick, though your mileage may vary!

Whatever prep it is you do, the most important prep of all is finding the right electrolysist.  Tsambika is absolutely the right electrolysist for me.

Just a reminder for all you trans femmes out there: you have mad brain worms about your facial hair.

Even though I have spent so much time and money on laser and electrolysis, I still feel like I you can see my mustache from space. I forget how much progress I have made and I feel compelled to put on way too much makeup. It doesn't help that I get freckles on my chin and upper lip, lol.

But like, look at this picture. I hastily shaved this morning and didn't put on any foundation or concealer. This picture was taken closer than anyone would be standing and you can't really see anything. Sure, you can zoom in and see some hairs, but oh well.

A Cornell University-led collaboration has hit the trifecta of sustainability technology: The group has developed a low-cost method to produce carbon-free "green" hydrogen via solar-powered electrolysis of seawater. A happy byproduct of the process? Potable water. The team's hybrid solar distillation-water electrolysis (HSD-WE) device, reported April 9 in Energy and Environmental Science, currently produces 200 milliliters of hydrogen per hour with 12.6% energy efficiency directly from seawater under natural sunlight. The researchers estimate that within 15 years, the technology could reduce the cost of green hydrogen production to $1 per kilogram -- a key step in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

it's a little nerve wracking, honestly. i'm very excited, but there's a finality in it that puts me a bit on edge. there will be a period of months or years where there's a hairless patch of skin on my otherwise hairy leg that will one day be my penis.

i've never been the kind of person to like transitionary periods. i have too much anxiety that i don't look perfect during in-betweens (don't get me started on haircuts), but i know that this is just the start of my long journey.

my arms are ineligible for phallo, which is more than fine with me, but that means i'll have another surgery on top of the 3 with rff. hell, it might be 5 in total, if you consider the delayed flap and debulking stage.

i feel my anxiety is founded, however. it's not because i'm afraid i'm going to regret it (which i think everyone getting lower surgery fears to some extent), but rather because this process is going to take four years in total, from tomorrow's first appointment until my penis is has a pump and head and all thr fun stuff.

that's a long time. a very long time. all of this while working, allocating funds, potentially going to law school, etc. lots of shit.