#hair loss

[soulren]

Go spend some time on male pattern baldness or male(AMAB) balding forums/subreddits and such. I did after realizing it is happening to me and the ammount of people who truly don't realize how BRUTALLY it tanks people's confidence and mental health is insane.

There's no cure to baldness by the way, and it can start at any time and there's no way to predict how fast or slow it will go. The only real working option is a daily pill that usually just halts it, but it can stop working or just slow it down or cause major side effects. To regrow you have to use a daily topical solution, or use a roller to wound your scalp. None of these are surefire by the way, and if you stop them you'll just lose your hair and whatever you regained. It's a daily involved thing that might not work and often at best just retains. The best drug, the one that occasionaly gives regrowth, also causes shedding at the start, and can have side effects from growing breasts to brain fog to EDsyfunction(sorry, censoring cause tumblr). Now, those are INCREDIBLY rare and almost never happen but it weighs heavily on the mind of those already spiraling.

But that's just background. What I'm here to talk about is the pure woe you'll see on those forums. People speak as though their lives are over, as though they've lost every chance of finding a woman(predominantly, there's a running idea in such places that women don't like bald men or like them less) or doing anything. You can read countless stories of people who describe that they no longer go outside, are now filled with anxiety and self-hate, have gone from extroverted to never showing their face. And some of these people are kids who lost their hair in high school or even before, or are holding as best they can to a very receded hairline and feel like there is nothing they can do.

And then there's something touched upon far less in those communities, but is important to bring up here; baldness and masculinity. There's the horror of knowing so much of society sees a bald guy as a very masculine guy, at seeing that the best advice for being hot and bald is "grow and beard and big muscles bro". Imagine now you're AMAB balding and nonbinary, or a trans woman who doesn't want to be on hormones.

Just genuinely take the time to look at those forums no matter who you are. Understand what these people go through, what I am currently going through. It is soul-crushing, spiraling, brutal. I have the dream of one day being like Brennan Lee Mulligan or Matt Mercer and starting to lose my hair made me feel like I could never. I felt like and still feel like I would have to be masculine, have to be a bro-y dude, have to look older than I was(I'm fuckin 22). It was the feeling that I could never dress feminine again, never present as a woman when I wanted to again, that I'd always be viewed as a bald guy before anything else.

This is an incredibly vulnerable post for me, and I hope it reaches you all as well in a kind and understanding mood. There's a tendency online for people to joke about baldness, to make fun of it, to treat it as a playfull silly thing but it fucking ruins lives, and it shouldn't. It happens to half the population's sort of bodies and very often. It should just be a neutral thing. You don't need long hair to be feminine, you don't need hair to be feminine. You don't need hair for anything. I guess I'm just saying in general that everyone should be kinder about balding, more understanding, and view it with as much import as they'd view the pixels between this sentence and the next. None at all, I mean.

And for those like me, very feminine guys who wanna keep that and don't want a beard and are terrified of balding, here's some names and I do hope others that see this will add more; Mr. Bruce (also in The Correspondents(band) Alex Ward in LA By Night Jason Carl in LA By Night Cecil Baldwin of Welcome To Night Vale Bob The Drag Queen RuPaul(in looks alone, I know about the whole fracking stuff but this post is about looks) tananasho on instagram Also your mannerisms and style of dress will convey femininity far more than your hair. Yea sure a front-on neutral shot of you may not and maybe you need makeup and stuff, and hell maybe a lot of people might reject you more but it'll just filter down to the people for you.

And to all you artists and writers and creatives; make more bald characters. Try it out. Feminine ones, masculine ones, all sorts. None of the copout nonhuman sort, just dudes and girls and mates and individuals who are all sorts of things and also bald. It might make a few of the people going through the various vortexes of pain that balding causes feel a bit better.

And to those noticing I did not adress female hair loss much here, that was intentional. I am AMAB and currently a nonbinary guy who goes by any pronouns but often likes to present as fem. I learned I was possibly losing my hair and lost two months of my life, no work or going or anything, to male hair loss forums and research and spiraling. Checking my hair twenty times a day, unable to sleep, unable to eat, unable to think. And my situation was NOT unique, but it also did not give me any experience or understanding of female hair loss and what AFAB people may go through with that, so I don't feel knowledgeable enough to speak on it. Also living with baldness WILL get easier and you will find something that works for it, by virtue of simply living with it. Things get easier with time.

#bald #balding #hair loss #hair #hair care #minoxidil #dermaroller #baldness #bald and feminine #bald fem #using a lot of tags due to this being triggering for many and cause I want it to be seen #and because I want those who went through what I did to be able to find it #mpb #androgen alopecia #also I know this post is long but I'm not sorry cause it's important. If even one person has a bit less stress then that's good. #feminine bald man

[skullamity]

PSA for trans men and trans mascs on T who are afraid of/concerned about or experiencing male pattern baldness: Talk to your endocrinologist who monitors your T about hair loss before you talk to anyone else, you have options!

When the hair in the top of my head started to thin, I talked to my regular GP. She told me it should be fine to use Rogaine topically. There were no other options, either because she was somehow not aware OR was under the impression that alternatives might interfere with HRT. If this was the case, she did not relay this info to me, and if she had, I would have made an early appointment with my endocrinologist, who specialises in HRT for trans people specifically, and asked her about my options.

But, since I only have appointments once a year with my endo now because my levels are generally super consistent, I decided to try Rogaine. I lasted about a month, because it basically meant I had to wear a lined hat at all times to make sure I wasn't getting any on my pillow/cats/child. You need to apply it two to three times a day and leave it on your scalp for a couple of hours for the best results, every day, forever, and if you stop using it, your hair goes back to whatever it was up to before that made you concerned in the first place. I quit after a month and resigned myself to eventually going bald.

I finally had a phone appointment with my endo last week (was supposed to be in person but she had an emergency and was working remotely for the day), and when I brought this up and that I had tried Rogaine but couldn't deal with all of the above + my scalp was not reacting well to the alcohol in the foam so I quit, she was like ????? what? why didn't your GP just prescribe you finasteride???

I am now on finasteride! It is a dirt cheap, tiny ass pill. I only need to take a quarter of a pill once a day (my endo also helpfully explained to me that pill cutters exist and are also dirt cheap, so perfectly cutting a pill into quarters takes about 5 seconds and I got it for a whopping $8). Just like Rogaine, I WILL need to take it every day, forever, but it's not going to get all over my pillow and make my cats sick or cause my kid to grow a beard or whatever. It isn't going to dry my scalp out, and it also the cost comparison is a joke. I take it every morning at the same time I take my adhd meds, so it's easy to remember.

I have seen so, so many trans men and mascs online lately worried about this, probably because I've seen so many conservatives and the kind of detrans people that conservatives like to parade around put a lot of emphasis about how T will make you UGLY and make all of your hair fall out. I do feel sorry for any detrans women who are dealing with wonky hairlines or male pattern baldness, but also it sure is convenient that none of them see fit to mention that if you are experiencing those things, you can literally just talk to your endocrinologist about what your options are and then take a quarter of a pill every day to fix it. Almost like making you aware of that might move you away from their end goal, which is getting you to detransition.

#trans man #trans guy #transmasc #hair loss #transmasculine #endocrinology #finasteride

[transmascissues]

it's silly but the biggest reason why im not into t yet is bc im so afraid of losing my hair. do you have any solutions/tips for it?

first of all, i don’t think it’s silly — it’s natural to be worried when hair loss is talked about by so many people as like…one of the worst results of aging for men. listening to my dad talk about how much he hates balding definitely did not make me feel particularly good about the knowledge that i may very well be joining him someday. i’m not saying the fear is right, because i don’t think hair loss is something awful that we should avoid at all costs, but it’s an understandable fear given the beauty standards we’re working with, and it’s one that a lot of us (myself included) feel.

one thing that’s helped me is just…paying more attention to the guys that i interact with on a daily basis. i’ve learned two things from it: 1) hair loss is super fucking common. i’d say it’s much harder to find an adult man who isn’t balding at all than it is to find one who’s completely bald. and 2) if you forget everything you’ve been told about how bad hair loss is, you’ll realize that quite frankly, every single one of those guys looks totally fucking fine. it doesn’t ruin their appearance and make them ugly, it looks totally natural and isn’t really even something you’d notice if you weren’t looking for it. we put so much weight on it but it’s really just not that big of a deal. i’ll hear my parents talk shit about men in my family who are losing their hair when i didn’t even notice a difference last time i saw them. it’s one of those things (like so many other appearance-related things) that you really only notice at all because you’ve been taught that you’re supposed to care about it.

this isn’t something i’ve done personally, but if you really want to desensitize yourself to the idea of it, embrace the time-honored queer tradition of just shaving your whole damn head! find out what you’d look like without hair, find out how you feel about it and what you can do that makes you feel good about your appearance without hair, test the waters while it’s still a temporary change and not something permanent. that way, it won’t feel like this big scary unknown, and you’ll actually have a frame of reference for your feelings about how you look without hair rather than accepting the societal assumption that you’ll inevitably hate it. if you don’t want to actually shave your head, you could also just fuck around with bald filters or photoshop and see what happens.

oh, and if you’re attracted to men, keep an eye out for guys who are bald or balding and also hot as fuck. in my experience, there’s no insecurity or potential future insecurity that being gay for other men hasn’t helped me with. just off the top of my head, i can think of a couple actors who i think are absolutely fucking gorgeous who have helped me get over my fears about losing my hair. despite what our anti-aging-obsessed world might want you to think, there is no such thing as a physical feature that automatically makes someone less attractive, and while making attractiveness less of a priority in your life is good, it can’t hurt to also give yourself some proof that actually, you might lose your hair and look hot as hell doing it.

basically, entertain the possibility that it won’t be a bad thing at all! whether that’s just because it turns out to be a neutral thing for you or because you end up actually liking it, it’s not an inherently bad thing. i’ve ended up liking a lot of things that were “supposed to” be bad effects of t — i love the weight i’ve gained and the new shape it gives my body, i get a lot of gender euphoria from the fact that my acne is now on parts of my face that i saw a lot of guys in high school get it and i’m not complaining about the scars i get from it either because i’ve always liked the added texture that acne scars give my skin, and so on. i think there’s a lot of joy to be had in the changes we’re taught to fear, once we look past that conditioning and actually explore how we feel about it.

but if it’s something you really don’t want and you just want to improve your chances of not having to deal with it, it’s not like there’s nothing you can do! products like finasteride (oral) and minoxidil (usually topical but i think there might also be oral versions) are pretty commonly used among trans guys, for the purpose of avoiding hair loss and for other reasons, and there are plenty of other anti-hair loss products out there (though i don’t know how effective any one of them might be). if it’s a big enough deal for you, you can just decide that you’ll go off of t if/when you start noticing signs of it, since no longer having higher t levels would stop the process in its tracks. and if you don’t find prevention options that work for you so it ends up happening, you can always explore different hair styles (judging by the pattern of hair loss i see in my family, i suspect that keeping my hair long would make it less obvious if i started losing mine), find your preferred method of covering it when you don’t feel good about it (personally i love a good beanie generally and would probably wear them a lot more if i didn’t have hair to worry about because my main complaint is the way they press my hair onto my neck), or just shave it all off if you don’t like the look of the partial balding but don’t mind a shaved head. the point being — you have options!

at the end of the day, whether you go on t or not, you’re going to see your body change as you age in ways that aren’t always going to be attractive to others or aesthetically pleasing to you. that’s just the reality of having a body. even if you never went on t, you’d get older and you might see your hair thin out even if you don’t bald, you’ll see your skin start to wrinkle and sag in places that used to be smooth, your metabolism might slow or your body fat might start to gather in new places; hell, you might lose your hair for a totally different reason and end up in the same place but without the benefits of having been on t that whole time. life is full of bodily changes like that. transphobes will fearmonger about the permanent changes of testosterone all day long but the truth is, there is no escaping permanent bodily changes. whether or not you go on t, your body now isn’t the same as it will be in 1 or 5 or 10 or 20 or 50 years, just like it isn’t the same as it was at any point in your life before now. our bodies are never supposed to stop growing and aging and changing throughout our lives. there’s no guaranteeing that we’ll love every single change our bodies go through, but that’s okay! there are so many things in life that are more important than the way our bodies look. even if you go on t and lose your hair and don’t like how it looks, your life won’t be ruined; plenty of other things will bring you joy and more than make up for the insecurities.

just think about the gender euphoria and relief from dysphoria that t could give you. would losing your hair be bad enough to outweigh all of that? or is it just the pressure of a society that decided balding is bad that’s making you fear one single change despite how much joy you could have if you let that fear go? only you can decide if going on t is worth the potential downsides for you, but i suspect that for most of us, the benefits of going on t far outweigh the possibility of side effects like hair loss happening down the line.

#when i say i love helping people beat their fears about t this is what i mean. i will simply write a whole essay about it #some people might think it’s silly to answer a question like this so extensively #but i don’t think it is! i feel like this is a really common fear but also one i don’t see talked about much #maybe because it’s so common among cis guys that people don’t see it as a question to ask in trans spaces? idk #but i think we should talk about it more. especially when transphobes use it as a way to talk shit about t #ask answered #testosterone #hrt #ftm hrt #hair loss #trans men #transmascs

[wheelie-sick]

shout out to the people whose illness caused them to lose their hair

shout out to the people whose medications caused them to lose their hair

shout out to the people whose hair is completely gone

shout out to the people who have bald patches

shout out to the people whose hair is thin

shout out to the people who choose to cover and hide their hair loss

shout out to the people who embrace their hair loss

you all deserve the world

#chronic illness #chronically ill #physical disability #physically disabled #cripplepunk #cripple punk #systemic lupus erythematosus #hair loss

[lilrobotman]

Hey trans mascs on HRT who are feeling hair loss p hard: rosemary oil may be a good option if you want to promote a bit of new growth and keep your hair nice and healthy. I've had decent results using it for about 4 months now, parts of my hair that were thinning have thickened back up a fair amount

There are a few studies showing that rosemary oil is about as effective as other hair loss treatments like here and here, but it's definitely a field needing more study, though I've seen plenty of testimonies from others backing up its efficiency (me included!)

Some things of note:

-Obviously I'm only speaking from personal experience and not everyone is the same! I can not speak to how effective this will be for you.

-Like with hair loss treatments, if you stop using it, your hair will return to its former state. However the great thing with rosemary oil is that it takes forever to go through a bottle. You only need 5-10 drops per application and you only need to use it a couple times a week. Most bottles of rosemary essential oil cost about 10 dollars, which I find to be a decent price considering how long it can last.

-Additionally, rosemary oil seems to only work on thickening up pre-existing and thinning hair, not make new hair (at least for me). My high peaks have hardly gained any new growth but what I do have has thickened up quite a bit.

If you want to try rosemary oil, please make sure to only use it 1-3 times a week and mix it with a shampoo or carrier oil (jojoba and coconut are good ones). Rosemary oil is really strong. Dont apply it to you bare scalp without diluting it a bit. Make sure you scrub it into your scalp for a couple minutes, and most importantly, be patient. Like many hair loss treatments, it takes about 4-6 months to really start seeing a change. I still suggest looking into more detailed application descriptions as applying it correctly is rather important, applying straight up rosemary oil to your hair will probably make things worse.

Additionally, these tips are coming from a white guy with cowlicks and stiff hair, if you're someone with a different hair texture, please make sure to research what others like you may have said about applying rosemary oil. Always use a carrier unless the product you get says otherwise!

DO NOT USE IT FOR BEARD GROWTH. The androgen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), is what promotes male pattern baldness but it also promotes beard growth. Supposedly (and this is not a claim I have 100% verified as scientifically true but I've seen this explanation used quite frequently) rosemary oil helps block the production of DHT. So using it on your beard will likely not help it.

Please know this is a post with good intentions, I'm not trying to give anyone false hope. My hair loss really made me stressed and dropped my confidence a lot. Some hair loss medicines have been known to cause trans mascs to start their period again and their overall efficiency is flaky, so I didn't want to try any of them. Rosemary oil has been very helpful for me and it could be for you! The worst thing the oil can do is make your hair smell nice, even if it doesnt give you a lions mane. Just remember to be patient and do some research about applying before starting :]

#Eventually I will accept my hair is going and stop using it but for now this has been really helping my mental health #Long post #Hair care #Trans masc #Trans man #Hair loss #Transgender

[weirdveil]

ondıne

[bɛʃtɨəl] self-portrait, inkjet print, water, human hair, typewriter.

source: objkt

#inkjet prints #frontside #human hair #black hair #hair loss #sewing #typewriter #original #scans #ondine #artists on tumblr #weirdveil #chiennefantome #2024

[savagechickens]

The Escape.

Snake-with-a-Moustache Week continues!

#snake #moustache #escape #laboratory #hair loss #experiment #advertising

[etherealfqiry]

How to get long healthy shiny hair in 2024 🎀

HAIR OILING: It is recommended that you oil your hair at least once or twice in a week. The benefits from oiling your hair are endless, from strengthening and lengthening your hair to preventing dandruff, lice, hair breakage and so much more. But remember that you should not go overboard as too much of everything is not good! Finding the suitable one depending on your hair type is essential for getting the best results!

SHOWER ROUTINE: It is very important to find the right shampoo for your hair type that gently cleanses and removes all that heavy buildup of products you apply in your hair, that doesn’t damage and dry it out, which is what a Clarifying shampoo does. But remember to check what hair type it is for as some shampoos aren’t suitable for all hair types. After shampoo is when you should use a hair mask, as it is advised to be used before conditioning since using a hair mask injects moisture into the hair and conditioner locks it in! A lot of people think that you just use conditioner from that same brand of shampoo and hair mask, but the real truth is that it is best to use the best conditioner you find works well enough for your hair.

AFTER SHOWER ROUTINE: Use a microfiber towel after showering! Not only does it dry your hair faster, but it’s much softer and gentle while doing no damage to your hair. If you plan on blow drying your hair, remember to let your hair air dry about 80-90% before blow drying. And you must use heat protectant for your hair! And wether you’re blow drying your hair or not, find the best hair serum and apply (can be used before and after styling) it firstly to your ends and then apply the leftover serum on your palm on your roots to prevent your roots from looking greasy. Always remember a little goes a long way with hair serums.

Thank you for reading and I hope you find this beneficial! Let me know if you have any questions <3

#long hair #hair tips #brunnete #health and wellness #healthy hair #long hair tips #shiny hair #healthy hair tips #beauty tips #beauty tutorials #hair growth #hair loss #hair care #hair care tips #haircare #health tips #self care #self improvement #clean girl #hairstyle #shiny hair tips #self care tips #wellbeing #wellness #thick hair tips #how to get long hair #wonyoung #wonyoungism #wonyoung motivation #girlblogging

[shijieswife]

wwx who was extremely vain about his thick, sleek, pretty hair - his mamas hair, because its the only thing jiang shushu told him about his mother, how they both had the same hair.

wwx who does not regret giving his shidi his golden core. who does not regret, even for a second, giving up his entire life for the wens.

wwx who doesnt mind most of the effects of the absence of his golden core, of starving. who can deal with the sharp pain in his stomach that wont go away, with his tan giving way to skin as pale as the corpses he raises, skin that sticks so close to his bones. with being cold all the time, with his hands that shake, his fingernails brittle. with constant aches throughout his body, unhealed, healed in a way that was nor proper.

wwx who still cries and cries and cries, as he looks at how much his hair has thinned out, the clumps that collect on his brush as he combs his hair, the hundreds of hair strains that catch on his fingers as he washes it.

as he sees his mothers hair, once thicks and glossy, able to be braided into two wide ropes, a single one thicker than all of jcs hair braided, now hang lank and dull. frizzy, fine like spider webs.

#mdzs #wei wuxian #hair loss

[one-time-i-dreamt]

I was in a supermarket browsing some weird fruit, including a giant passion fruit the size of a pomelo, and guavas, which were also far too big. Then a chunk of my hair fell out while talking to my brother in the shop. 

#dream #supermarket #fruit #passion fruit #pomelo #guava #guavas #hair loss #brother #family #shop #talking

[smileyyiyy]

365/365🥂👏🎆

Thank you 2023 for unforgettable experiences!

Before the end of the year, what is your biggest loss this year?

#thank you #2023 #welcome #2024 #tumblr memes #joke #funny #funny meme #funnies #funny pictures #funny stuff #friends #fresh memes #memes #meme #funny jokes #this is a joke #jokes #hair loss #dankest memes #dankmemes #lol memes #i love dump people #i love myself #lol #funny photos #tumblr #relatable memes #funny relatable #mental health

[sleepyeye17]

Hair loss WIP

Losing hair is a hard thing so I thought I’d work on a little fic about it! I’m only just starting:

Eddie sat on his bed and stared at the dark snarl of hair in his hands. He’d only run his fingers through it, that was all, and it had come out in his hands. He couldn’t quite wrap his mind around this new development. It was just one step too far.

The doctors had told him that he might experience some strange symptoms, like tremors or hair loss, nausea, fainting, weakened fingernails, change in appetite, halos around lights. They said it was perfectly normal, just a natural response to the trauma and the medications he and Steve were taking. Because Steve and Eddie had actually been bitten by the bats, they were on a massive regimen of antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, anti-everything. The Lab was not going to make the same mistakes they’d made with Will. 

They’d been tested for radiation and heavy metal poisoning, and had been exposed to both, but the exposures had been brief, and they hadn’t eaten anything in the Upside Down. So Eddie knew he shouldn’t be concerned by some standard hair loss. He’d been told to expect it.

Still.

Eddie stared at the clump of hair and tried to wrap his mind around it. It had started earlier this week, and he’d hoped that it would slow down, but then this morning a whole tangle had come out with his hand.

He was interrupted by the phone.

“Munson residence, this is egghead speaking.”

“What the hell does that mean?” It was Robin. Eddie smiled.

“Nothing. What’s up?”

“Steve won’t leave his room.”

“Has he told you why?”

“He just keeps saying that he’s too ugly.” 

“Oh God, not the hair.”

“What?”

“I’ll be right over.”

#steve harrington #steddie #steddie wip #hair loss #eddie munson #steve x eddie #Joe Quinn #joe keery #joseph quinn #stranger things #wip

[nonbinaryresource]

I’m tempted to go on T, but there’s one thing thats really setting me back. Both my father and his father went bald very early on in life (starting around senior year of high school). I’m absolutely terrified that I’m going to start balding if I begin taking testosterone

Finasteride will help mitigate hair loss. You can also bring up your concerns with your doctor, and they can discuss best prevention methods with you. There are lots of options (hair loss is a common dysphoria trigger for many cis men), and you can see some of the different treatments people have chosen from this reddit thread.

You can also go for a low-dose of T. It won't stop hair loss, but it will let you take a slower journey through your transition to explore if testosterone is right for you. Do know not all effects of T are reversible, though, including hair loss. But a low dose could give you time to see how being on T makes you feel, and if it's something you feel is worth pursuing even though your fears of hair loss. And if you notice the beginning of hair loss and hate it, you can stop taking T and prevent further loss from occurring.

Finally...it's hair. Hair is one of the most dynamic/least static things on our bodies. Hair loss happens. Hair thinning happens. Hair color changes happen. If you really hate it, then you might find salvation in wigs. But you might also find being bald empowering. There's nothing wrong with baldness! Especially if you're able to just own that and rock it. I think it's worth exploring...what about balding triggers fear for you? What's the underlying fear you're struggling with?

But also - you don't have to have the answers now. It's fine to take as much time as you need to consider this, weigh the pros and cons, and make your decision. It's also completely fine to make one decision now and change your mind later. Spend some time on other transition aspects that may feel more approachable right now. Those might be social, fashion, surgery oriented or anything else. See what kind of happiness you can find without T. It might help you make your decision later down the road.

It's okay. You're not alone. <3

~Mod Pluto

#hrt #testosterone #hair loss #finasteride #transition #medical transition #ask #anonymous #hair #mod pluto

[sedehaven]

Abide

a space of naked skin, pale as sour milk, at the crown of my head, hair falling like spiderwebs

covering nothing

my liver swells past the boney constraint of ribs, a hardness that calls my fingers to rest there,

a blind of fingers and palm

this lump of flesh presses down, intruding into empty space, into my bladder and bowel -- both scream urgency, even

empty, they are haunted

the vertigo crashes over me like ocean, dredging up scattered light, fractured seizures, the rattling breath of dying neurons

i am a house, falling

cobwebs and cages, rickety beams and the wail of lost souls, lights flickering, death making his inspection, finding the rot

yet still, i live yet still, i abide

#poetry #spilled ink #inkstay #poetryriot #writerscreed #poem #poets on tumblr #twcpoetry #allpoetry #lupus #systemic lupus erythematosus #living with lupus #variegate porphyria #porphyria #chronically ill #chronic illness #actually diabetic #hair loss

[pymanderprosthetics]

The Journey of Beard Growth: A Guide for Transgender FTM Men

For many transgender FTM individuals, the desire to grow a beard can be a crucial part of their gender transition. However, the process of beard growth can be different and sometimes challenging.

In this blog post, we'll delve into the intricacies of beard growth for transgender FTM men and offer some helpful tips and advice along the way.

Understanding Hormonal Changes

One of the primary factors affecting beard growth is HRT: Hormone Replacement Therapy. Testosterone, the hormone prescribed to transgender FTM individuals, is responsible for promoting masculine secondary sexual characteristics. It plays a crucial role in facial hair development. However, the rate and pattern of beard growth differ for each individual.

During the first few months of testosterone gel or injections, some might experience faster facial hair growth, while others may need to be more patient. The extent of your natural hair growth patterns, genetics, and hormone levels all influence the process. It is essential to remember that everyone's journey to beard growth is unique, and comparing oneself to others should be avoided.

Patience is Key for growing an FTM beard

Beard growth takes time, regardless of gender. It's important to embrace patience and let nature take its course. Don't be discouraged if you don't see immediate results. It may take several months, or even a couple of years, for your beard to fully develop. Consistency and perseverance are crucial during this period.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Though it may not directly influence the speed of facial hair growth, adopting a healthy lifestyle can contribute to overall well-being and hair quality. Here are a few tips:

1. Balanced Diet: A diet rich in protein, vitamins (A, C, and E), and minerals (zinc and magnesium) supports hair growth.

2. Hydration: Drinking enough water keeps your entire body healthy, including your hair follicles.

3. Exercise: Regular physical activity helps regulate hormone levels and increases blood circulation, potentially promoting hair growth.

4. Skincare: Taking care of your skin helps maintain a clean and healthy environment for beard growth. Cleansing, exfoliating, and using moisturizers can enhance your facial hair's appearance.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil, also available as Rogaine (foam), is a medication originally used to treat high blood pressure, but is now commonly used to treat hair loss. When applied topically to the skin, it opens up potassium channels and increases blood flow to the hair follicles. This increased blood flow can help stimulate beard growth in FTM men.

To use minoxidil for beard growth, first make sure to get the 5% solution. Using a dropper or a cotton swab, apply a small amount of the solution to the areas where you want more beard growth. Rub the solution into the skin using your fingers. Please be sure to ask to your endocrinologist before buying and proceeding with the usage of Minoxidil. Also notice that it can be dangerous for animals living in the household.

Microneedling

In addition to using minoxidil, microneedling can also be used to stimulate beard growth. Microneedling involves rolling a device with tiny needles over the skin, creating tiny punctures. This microtrauma stimulates the body's healing response, which includes the production of collagen and the release of growth factors. This process can also help increase blood flow to the hair follicles in the beard area.

To use microneedling for beard growth, first make sure to get a microneedling device. Using gentle pressure, roll the device over the skin in the desired beard growth areas. Apply minoxidil immediately after microneedling to further stimulate beard growth. Repeat this process once a week for optimal results.

While both minoxidil and microneedling have been proven effective for stimulating beard growth, it's important to note that results can take several months to appear. Additionally, it's important to use the products as directed and to talk to a doctor before starting any new medication or treatment.

Extra tips

These tips will help you to take good care of your beard once it starts growing.

Wash your beard regularly with a gentle cleanser: It is important to keep your beard clean to prevent build-up of dirt, oil, and bacteria which can cause skin irritation and beard dandruff. Use a gentle cleanser that is specifically designed for facial hair and avoid using regular soap as it can dry out the skin and beard hairs.

Condition your beard with a beard oil or balm to prevent dryness and itching: Using a beard oil or balm can help to moisturize and condition your beard hairs, making them softer and less prone to breakage. It can also help to prevent itching and irritation that can be caused by dry skin.

Brush your beard daily to remove any tangles or knots: Brushing your beard daily can help to distribute natural oils throughout the beard, which can help to prevent dryness and breakage. It can also help to remove any tangles or knots that may have formed in the beard hairs.

Trim your beard regularly to maintain the desired length and shape: Regular trimming can help to keep your beard looking neat and tidy. Use a good quality pair of scissors or clippers to trim your beard and be sure to trim it evenly on both sides.

Avoid over-washing or over-brushing, as this can damage the beard and cause split ends: While it is important to keep your beard clean and well-groomed, over-washing or over-brushing can actually do more harm than good. This can lead to dryness, breakage, and split ends.

Stay hydrated and eat a healthy diet to promote hair growth and overall health: Drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals can help to promote hair growth and overall health. This can help to keep your beard looking healthy and strong.

Embrace Your Journey

Remember, the journey of beard growth is just as important as the end result. Give yourself permission to celebrate each stage, regardless of how fast or slow your beard develops. Your beard growth is an important part of your self-expression and personal journey.

Surround yourself with a supportive community, seek advice from experienced individuals, and always remember that your worth and masculinity are not solely defined by your facial hair. Embrace the process, cherish every milestone, and most importantly, be proud of who you are becoming.

Now, go forth and embrace your journey to beard growth – You've got this!

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