How to Stop Beard Growth if You’re Trans

For transgender women looking to permanently stop facial hair growth, combining HRT with methods like laser hair removal, IPL, or electrolysis offers the best results.

If you’re ready to take control of your beard growth and achieve smooth, hair-free skin, consider starting with IPL or laser treatments and finishing with electrolysis for permanent hair removal.

KetchBeauty’s IPL devices provide a convenient at-home solution trusted by thousands of trans women to reduce facial hair and manage beard growth over time.

 

In this guide, we’ll explore the most effective methods for stopping beard growth, from hormone therapy to long-term hair removal techniques like laser hair removal and electrolysis.

 

Can Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Stop Beard Growth?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) plays an essential role in the physical transition process for transgender women.

By introducing estrogen and testosterone blockers (anti-androgens) into the body, HRT reduces the levels of testosterone, which is responsible for stimulating facial hair growth.

Over time, this can lead to thinner, slower-growing facial hair.

 

However, while HRT can reduce the rate of beard growth, it usually does not completely stop it. Here’s why:

  • HRT Slows Hair Growth: Testosterone is the hormone that drives facial hair growth. By suppressing testosterone, HRT can slow down hair growth and make facial hair finer and less coarse.
  • HRT Doesn’t Eliminate Existing Follicles: Although HRT helps reduce beard density, it does not remove the hair follicles that have already been activated during puberty. As a result, even with HRT, some beard growth will continue.

For most trans women, HRT alone is not enough to fully stop beard growth, which is why many combine HRT with more permanent hair removal methods.

 

Long-Term and Permanent Solutions to Stop Beard Growth

While HRT can help slow beard growth, achieving smooth, hair-free skin usually requires long-term or permanent hair removal treatments. Here are the best options for transgender women looking to stop beard growth:

 

  1. Laser Hair Removal: Long-Term Reduction

Laser hair removal is one of the most popular and effective methods for reducing facial hair in transgender women. This procedure uses a concentrated beam of light to target the pigment in hair follicles, damaging them and inhibiting future hair growth.

 

How Laser Hair Removal Works:

  • Targets Pigment: The laser light is absorbed by the melanin (pigment) in the hair follicle, which heats and damages the follicle enough to stop it from growing.
  • Multiple Sessions Required: Since hair grows in cycles, laser hair removal requires multiple sessions (usually 6-10) to target all the follicles as they enter the active growth phase.

 

Why Laser Hair Removal Is Effective for Beard Growth:

  • Long-Term Results: After completing several sessions, many transgender women experience significant hair reduction, with beard hair growing back finer and thinner. In some cases, regrowth is minimal or even eliminated.
  • Less Frequent Maintenance: After the initial treatments, most women only need occasional touch-up sessions to maintain smooth, hair-free skin.

 

Considerations:

  • Works Best on Dark Hair: Laser hair removal is most effective for those with dark hair and lighter skin. If you have lighter hair (blonde, gray, or red), laser hair removal may not be as effective.

 

  1. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light): At-Home Hair Reduction

For those seeking a more convenient option, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a great at-home solution for reducing beard growth.

IPL works similarly to laser hair removal by targeting the pigment in hair follicles with broad-spectrum light, reducing hair growth over time.

 

How IPL Works:

  • Targets Hair Follicles: IPL uses broad-spectrum light to heat and damage hair follicles, slowing down regrowth.
  • At-Home Convenience: Devices like KetchBeauty’s IPL handsets can be used at home, making it easy to incorporate IPL into your routine.

 

Why IPL Is a Good Option:

  • Cost-Effective: While IPL devices have an upfront cost, they save money over time by eliminating the need for professional treatments.
  • Long-Term Results: With regular use over several months, many trans women see a significant reduction in beard growth, with smoother, hair-free skin.

 

Considerations:

  • Requires Consistency: IPL treatments need to be done regularly (typically once a week) to see long-term results. Consistency is key to reducing beard growth effectively.

 

  1. Electrolysis: The Only Permanent Solution

Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved method for permanent hair removal, making it the most effective option for transgender women who want to stop beard growth completely.

Electrolysis works by inserting a tiny probe into each hair follicle and delivering an electric current that destroys the follicle.

 

How Electrolysis Works:

  • Destroys Hair Follicles: Electrolysis uses electrical currents to destroy hair follicles one by one, preventing them from growing back.
  • Works on All Hair Types: Unlike laser or IPL, electrolysis can remove hair of any color and texture, making it effective for transgender women with lighter or finer facial hair.

 

Why Electrolysis Is the Best Permanent Option:

  • Permanent Results: Once a hair follicle is destroyed by electrolysis, it will not grow back, making it the best option for permanently stopping beard growth.
  • Works for All Hair Ty: Electrolysis can target light-colored, fine hairs that other methods may struggle to remove.

 

Considerations:

  • Time-Consuming: Electrolysis targets each hair follicle individually, so multiple sessions are required, especially for large areas like the beard. This process can take months or even years, depending on the density of the hair.
  • Expensive: Because of the precision and time involved, electrolysis can be more expensive than other methods.

 

  1. Combining HRT with Hair Removal Methods

For the best results, many transgender women combine hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with one or more hair removal methods.

Here’s how you can stop beard growth by combining these approaches:

  1. Start with HRT: Begin hormone therapy to reduce testosterone levels, which will slow down facial hair growth and make beard hair finer and less coarse.
  2. Use IPL or Laser Hair Removal: After starting HRT, you can use IPL or laser treatments to target the bulk of your beard hair. These methods work well for long-term reduction and are especially effective on dark, coarse hairs.
  3. Finish with Electrolysis for Permanent Results: For stubborn hairs that remain after laser or IPL treatments, electrolysis is the best option for permanently removing them. This method ensures that any remaining beard hair is eliminated for good.

How Long Does It Take to Stop Beard Growth?

The timeline for stopping beard growth depends on several factors, including your hair type, skin tone, and the methods you choose.

Here’s a rough estimate of how long each method takes:

  • HRT: You may begin to notice changes in facial hair growth after 6 to 12 months of consistent hormone therapy. However, for most trans women, HRT alone won’t fully stop beard growth.
  • Laser Hair Removal: Most women see significant results after 6 to 10 sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart. After completing the sessions, you’ll likely need touch-ups every few months.
  • IPL: With regular use (once a week), IPL can reduce beard growth after 2-4 months of consistent treatment.
  • Electrolysis: Electrolysis is a longer process, requiring months to years of regular sessions to fully stop beard growth, depending on the density of the hair.

 

Conclusion: How to Stop Beard Growth if You’re Trans

While hormone replacement therapy can help slow down beard growth, it’s usually not enough to stop it entirely.

For transgender women looking to permanently stop facial hair growth, combining HRT with methods like laser hair removal, IPL, or electrolysis offers the best results.

If you’re ready to take control of your beard growth and achieve smooth, hair-free skin, consider starting with IPL or laser treatments and finishing with electrolysis for permanent hair removal.

KetchBeauty’s IPL devices provide a convenient at-home solution trusted by thousands of trans women to reduce facial hair and manage beard growth over time.