YourCisBestie

"What is the easiest way to remove body hair (and facial hair) with the best results?"

Firstly, I can't tell you what should give you gender euphoria or not, and I understand how much fitting stereotypes helps with gender euphoria, but I want to start off by saying that body hair is natural on cis women. I could write a whole rant about how women having to be smoother than a new born is razor company bullshit but I'll stick to the question.

The different types of hair removal

Razor. The basic, simple, you don't need anything fancy, if you prep your skin well enough you can buy the cheaper ones that are not pink and therefore not subject to the "pink tax". The more blades the better

Epilator. A small electric machine usually with a vibrating blade. Most epilators have two attachments or parts to the head, one that cuts hair, and one that trims very short hairs.

Waxing. There are two main methods of waxing: hard and soft wax. Hard wax (my preference) is thicker and dries by itself, you don't need wax strips for it, you can just pull off the wax. Soft wax is the one that requires strips to pull it off.

Threading. A piece of twisted cotton is used to pull individual hairs, similar to plucking, it's unlikely you'll be able to do this yourself.

Plucking. Using tweezers to pull out individual hairs.

Laser. Hair removal done by a professional using a concentrated light beam that essentially burns the hair follicle. Usually more permanent.

When and how to use

Pain and cost. Generally, you will experience varying levels of pain with laser, threading, waxing, and plucking. Laser can be very costly and require multiple sessions with a professional, but if you're willing to pay the price and put up with the pain, it can be a more permanent solution.

Tweezers are the cheapest option but can only be used for individual hairs, so I'd only recommend use for maintenance in between hair removal on small areas (such as eyebrows).

Razors are probably the most common hair removal product, they can be expensive or cheap. I would recommend one with as many blades as possible, you'll want to use shaving foam and moisturise your skin first. This will help avoid any razor bumps and catching or irritation of the skin.

Epilators can be used without shaving foam and on dry skin, however I would always recommend moisturising before any form of epilator use, again to minimise skin catching and irritation. Epilators are great because they can be used all over your body and in sensitive areas like on your genitalia and face. You start out by using the larger blade and then follow up usually in circular motions with the mesh-looking part. These can be great for people who are too nervous to go to a professional for hair removal but struggle with getting the desired shave with a razor.

For waxing, I would recommend going to a professional, it's often not too expensive and they can do large and intimate areas that you may not have time to do or struggle to reach. I understand that this can be difficult especially if you're trans, but feel free to contact the beautician beforehand and ask them. Remember, cis men and cis women often go for waxing of their sensitive areas, not everyone will admit it, but as someone who worked with a beauty therapist for years, we frequently has cis men coming for spray tans and waxing. Your professional will have learned how to wax all bodies and genital areas, but you're always welcome to bring a friend, just let them know in advance that someone else will be with you. They will often tell you what to say or do if you need a break and are good at reading your responses.

At home waxing

I would not recommend the at home wax strips, but if you do decide to wax yourself, follow the instructions closely. You always want to lay the wax down in the direction of the hair growth, and then pull it off in one swift, firm motion the opposite way. So if you're waxing your lower legs, you would often spread the wax from top to bottom, then rip it off from bottom to top. This means that the hair takes more of the force of the ripping and gets pulled out. Doing it the other way is more likely to damage the skin.

Aftercare

Something I've experienced a lot is trans girlies not feeling comfortable seeing a professional fitter for bras, but all boobies deserve support!

Bras can be tricky, making sure your bra fits properly is extremely important for your muscles, bones, posture, and boobies!

Different Types

This is a non-exhaustive list of different bra types

Sports bras. These are designed usually without padding simply to comfortable hold you in place for physical activity, they will often make your chest look smaller/flatter than other bra types due to the lack of padding and wider coverage

Bralette. These are small bras, often aesthetically pleasing and designed for smaller or self-supported (eg implant) boobies. They're a good alternative if you have a smaller chest or have had top surgery and don't like the feeling of the wire (underwire) that holds regular bras rigid

Full coverage. This bra does what it says on the tin, it covers your boobies fully and often has light padding to maintain it's shape. These are often also sold as t-shirt bras. They will usually have underwire.

Push up bras. These have extra padding built in, often designed to give your chest lift and shape, they can make what you have naturally look bigger and will have underwire and padding.

Plunge. If you are blessed with a small rib cage or big boobies or want more cleavage, a plunge bra is often underwired and slightly padded but makes a deep V shape on your chest, allowing you to wear lower cut and V neck tops and dresses

Balcony. These bras are designed to sit across the lower half of your breasts. They often have a flatter top which ends just above the nipple. These are often padded and have underwire.

How to measure

To find your bra size, you need your "back" and "cup size". These can be worked out by standing up straight, and measuring around the widest part of your chest (usually across your back and across your nipples), and then measuring around your rib cage directly under your chest. The difference gives you your cup size, the rest is your back size. Each bra brand has slightly different sizing, so always check your measurements.

You know if you have the right size bra because your straps will sit flat but you'll be able to get two fingers underneath. The straps should sit comfortably on your shoulder without digging in. The middle part, usually a triangular shape that sits on your sternum between your boobs should sit flat against your body

Padding

Cis women pad too! Padding is a normal part of bra wearing, it can change the size and shape of your breasts and you can use this to your advantage depending on what clothes you're wearing. I suggest a breathable padding, like a "crumpet" style silicone with holes, however you can even use socks. Anything that you can roll up to look smooth can be used but certain materials will be more likely to cause sweat and sweat rash etc so be careful about how long and when you pad.

Padding under your bust will allow them to appear fuller, this is great if you have a smaller chest, just make sure that your padding is underneath your boobies and not sticking out the sides. I prefer to roll padding into a small sausage shape to put under my boobs when doing this method. Padding from the side will give you more cleavage, just make sure that it's not spilling over under your armpit and changing the way the bra sits, as this can be uncomfortable.

One of the most frequent questions I get is about makeup and skincare. It's a minefield, honestly, but here are some basic tips and steps:

Skin

Figure out your skin type. The main skin types are dry, oily, combination, sensitive, normal. Once you know which type you have (you may have to do some research first) you can buy things that are appropriate for your skin type to keep it looking fresh and healthy

Use face-specific products. The skin on your face is different to the skin on your body, it's thinner, delicate, and is often smoother, it also produces oil differently. When using skin products, ensure that they are specially made for the body part you're using them on! Once you find a nice product for your skin, it can often be used under makeup as a base

Hair

Figure out your hair type: your hair type is based on the texture of your hair (curl pattern), beyond that, it can be "trained". Once you know your hair type, look up specific instructions for caring for it. Read shampoo and conditioner bottles and make sure that it is suitable for your hair type

Training your hair: frequently clipping your hair back into a style (eg a side fringe/bangs) will make it eventually grow that way. You can also train your hair to not get greasy as quickly, washing it less frequently allows the natural oils to stay for longer which makes your hair healthier! It takes a looooong time, but try to slowly go longer between washes. Wear a shower cap if you're between washes and you can always wear a silk bonnet at night. I started washing my hair every other day, then after a couple of months, every 3 days and so on. Now, I only need to wash my hair roughly once every 5 or 6 days depending on the weather!

Use heat protector. If you're using hairdryers or straighteners, use a heat protector. They often come in an easy spray bottle and really do help your hair to not get damaged by the heat. If you're trying to grow your hair out, it's best to leave it alone as much as possible so avoid damage which can lead to it breaking