Howdy, sorry for the stupid, and probably easily-resolvable question, but, after starting the procedures for my transition, I have been feeling somewhat alive again, and kinda want to fix, and mantain my body in a decent state. Do you all have some tips you can share regarding self care before hrt that could help, I’m basically, quite, ignorant on this stuff, and I’m pretty sure even the way I shave is horribly wrong, aha.
Hi. Pre-HRT, 26 year old transfem here! This is exactly what this community is for, you’re welcome to ask.
I think I’ve got an okay grip on shaving. Trimming: I have a hair trimmer, like for your head, that I use to weedwhack. I use it because its strong like a tool and I can drop it without worries. Not safe in the genital area. Safe everywhere else.
Shaving face and body; I shave with a double sided beveled edge safety razor. The blades are so cheap and so sharp, I couldn’t recommend it more.
On my face I prep with a shower or a hot damp towel. Clean your face with soap, even exfoliate gently. Then let the hot water soak in. I prep with a pre-shave oil, I have strong whiskers. More hot water. I apply a shaving cream, it’s there to hold the hot water in so I keep adding hot water as muxh as I can. I lather that cream, pushing it into my face until its almost invisible, I add more, with water. My razor is resting in a bowl of hot water, too. Short strokes, light or no pressure. Barely there. Sometimes I hold skin taut. I rinse with a room temp water, while its a little damp I apply post-shave lotion. Its got some calming component in it to ease the skin. Then I lotion the rest of my face with a facial lotion, since I washed the rest of my face earlier, too.
I usually use Barbasol for sensitive skin on my face, its just what I grew up on. Sometimes I do the whole brush lathered shaving soap thing but its a luxury to me.
Shaving body I used to get horrid red bumps. So now I make sure the skin is SUPER CLEAN. Exfoliated. Totally soaped and scrubbed every inch. Shaving day is exfoliation day. Exfoliate first, shave, sometimes I even exfoliate after, gently. It keeps the ingrown hairs out. Basically hot water, I lather with eos brand or barbasol, and I sit in the steamy shower, water turned off, and I shave my legs while sitting down. With the grain, then against the grain if you desire it. Always with the grain first. Then I rinse off. I usually use my nornal lotion on the shaved areas, but if I knicked myself I have coochy brand post-shave spray. I hate it, and it costs too much. But it does work.