There’s nothing like silky smooth skin to make a girl feel extra feminine!

Hair removal is an essential part of your feminine image. But let’s face it – when you’re dealing with lots of facial and/or body hair, it’s easy to go wrong.

The secret to a smooth, hair-free chest, soft feminine face, and silky smooth legs lies in avoiding some common mistakes.

Here are 5 male to female hair removal mistakes to avoid – and what to do instead!

Mistake #1: You didn’t exfoliate

All methods of hair removal can cause ingrown hairs, particularly in the beard, chest, and pubic area. You can reduce ingrown hairs by exfoliating your skin 2-3 times per week. Exfoliation helps get rid of dead skin cells that trap the hair.

To exfoliate, gently massage your skin with a washcloth, loofah, or exfoliating scrub. (My favorite exfoliation tool is The Body Shop’s exfoliating body polisher.)

It’s best to exfoliate before you remove hair instead of after you do it. Exfoliating too soon after hair removal can irritate your skin.

Mistake #2: You forgot to moisturize

Dry skin is another cause of ingrown hairs, so it’s important to keep your skin hydrated. (Besides, you want the added benefit of soft, glowing skin, right?)

A great moisturizer to use immediately after hair removal is pure aloe vera gel. Aloe vera is a natural moisturizer and skin soother. Perfumed lotions can irritate freshly shaved, waxed, or lasered skin, so avoid them for the first 24 hours after hair removal.

Mistake #3: You didn’t treat ingrown hairs

Exfoliating and moisturizing help prevent future ingrown hairs – but what should you do about existing bumps?

Avoid the temptation to shave over ingrown hairs or dig for them with a needle. These tactics can lead to infections and scarring. Instead, try an ingrown hair treatment such as Tend Skin, PFB Vanish, or Kalo Ingrown Hair Treatment.

Mistake #4: Your DIY was a DON’T

Professional waxing, electrolysis, and laser hair removal treatments are expensive, so it’s tempting to try them on your own. But be careful…

Newbie waxing mistakes – like waxing over the same area twice, pulling the hairs in different directions, or pulling too hard – can lead to rashes, bruises, and torn skin. Not a sexy look!

If you insist on doing it yourself, pay for some professional waxing treatments first so you can observe the proper techniques.

Home laser and electrolysis kits aren’t as effective as professional systems. Although girls have been reporting success with the No!No! Hair Removal System, the risk with these products is that they’re expensive and don’t always deliver results. Be sure to read reviews and do your research.

Mistake #5: You got what you paid for

I’m all for beauty bargains, but don’t let price be your sole criteria when choosing a place for hair removal treatments.

A cheap price tag often means a wax job with a bunch of stray hairs left behind or a patchy laser treatment. At worst, you could end up with burns or scars.

Check the qualifications of the person treating you and read the reviews on any place you are considering. Yelp is your friend!

Also, keep in mind that upscale places tend to put more emphasis on comfortable treatments. If you’re a waxing or laser wimp like me, it’s worth spending a bit more for a less painful experience.

What’s YOUR favorite hair removal method?

This is a hot topic, so I’d love to hear your thoughts! What’s your hair removal method of choice? Are you a diehard do-it-yourselfer or a pampered princess who loves her spa treatments?

Take my hair removal poll below and leave me your comments!

Love,
Lucille

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Can you believe it’s already May 2012? Time flies when you are having fun!

I’ve got tons happening behind the scenes that I can’t wait to share with you – including a top secret photo project that is going to help redefine society’s concept of “transgender beauty” …

I’m about to show the world what you and I already know – that crossdressers and TG women can be every bit as beautiful, feminine, and fabulous as their GG sisters! (Stay tuned for more details coming soon!)

Photos are a perfect way to express your femme side – and they can be a huge confidence booster.

But I know what it’s like to freeze up as soon as the camera comes out …

Bad shots are a bummer, so keep reading to discover the top 5 femme photo posing mistakes – and how to fix them!

1. Shooting shoulders square on

Most crossdressers and transgender women have broad shoulders, so it’s a big mistake to shoot them square on.

Instead, pose with your shoulders at an angle to the camera. This makes them look smaller and more feminine – and gives you more of an hourglass shape.

2. Holding your body too straight

Posing with your arms, legs, head, and torso too straight makes you look stiff and awkward. It’s also makes you look more masculine.

The secret to flattering, feminine photos is to create softness and curves with your body – so bend your arms and legs slightly, tilt your head, lean forward at the waist, and relax your fingers.

3. Shooting in unflattering light

Lighting makes ALL the difference in the world in photos. The #1 rule is to avoid strong overhead or side lighting since this creates ugly shadows on the face.

If you are indoors, move away from overhead lights and try placing a couple lamps with soft lighting around you.

If you are outdoors, avoid shooting in strong midday sunlight. The best time of day is to shoot at dusk or dawn when the sun has a soft, diffuse glow.

If you must pose in strong light, tilt your chin up a bit to minimize shadows.

4. Placing the camera below eye level

Nobody wants to rock a double chin in their photos, so never pose with the camera below eye level. The lens should be at or above eye level to diminish a double chin and downplay a large jawline.

5. Not engaging your mind

I’m a huge fan of America’s Next Top Model. I love how the show demonstrates that modeling is as much about mindset as it is about natural-born beauty. If a model isn’t feeling fabulous, it WILL show in her photos.

The same is true for you! You need to psych yourself up so you feel as stunning as possible during your photoshoot …

Having trouble mustering up your confidence? One trick is to imagine that you are portraying a character (either real or imagined). “Modeling” somebody else is a great way to channel their energy in photos.

One of my favorite parts about blogging is seeing the photos you girls upload to my site. (Literally thousands of photos at this point!) So in this post, I’d love to see your best shots. Leave me a comment and upload your favorite femme photos below!

Love,
Lucille

Feminization Secrets