An open letter to newbies

I get a lot of emails from new trannies wanting to know various things about how to get started with boobs, hair, etc. If the sender has gone to the effort of writing a polite letter and used joined-up words and stuff, I usually get round to sending a reply. I sat down today and churned out a reply to a particularly long set of questions from a girl called Kate and realised "hey, maybe it would be more efficient in the long term if I blogged this stuff."

So I have.

Over to you, Kate.

Your website is the greatest and you look just fabulous.

That kind of opener earns you a full reply. :-D

What do you do to your facial hair so it isn't noticed? Do you use some special type of makeup?

I shave really well, which helps! All the makeup in the world won't cover a full beard. ;-)

Other than that I tend to use a good pan-stick foundation that matches my skin tone. I use one called "TV paint stick" which you can buy from tranny makeup shops and theatrical makeup specialists. I've flirted with "proper" foundations but I just can't get on with them. Rule One with makeup: experiment as much as you like, but when you're in a hurry fall back on the things that you know will work. And when I'm getting ready for a night out I'm always in a hurry!

What about the hair on the chest and stomach area, any
special product to remove it?

Not for me, just a trusty razor. I use a Gillette Venus because I found men's razors cut me too much. Don't bother with shaving creams or foams, just buy cheap-ish cream bubble bath, and have a good soak in the bubbles before you attempt to shave.

I noticed a ad link for the padded panty, do you use that for your female curves?

Nope, I'm wide enough as it is! So when I need a bit more curvature I tend to take away rather than add. I sometimes use a good basic corset to trim the tummy and present a more feminine figure. Another good purchase is a stout pair of plain ladies control knickers, they might not be the more feminine of undergarments but they do the job when it comes to controlling your shape, especially "between the legs".

As an aside, I never endorse any of the products that appear in my Google Ads zone on my pages. They're simply there to pay for the hosting of the site.

What do you us for breasts?

Trained kittens. Although since the RSPCA crack-down I've invested in a pair of silicone ones from Doreen Fashions. I visited the shop itself, rather than buy online, as it really helps to "try before you buy" to get the right size. They're a little expensive, but last for ages if you look after them. Heck, they'll even last for a fair while if you piss about with them, like I tend to.

Do you use any type of special face creams or hand creams to make them look and
feel softer?

Nope, not regularly. Everything I try just gives me spots. I do some basic things: I never use regular soap, and I try not to do the washing up without gloves on.

I take it that you pluck your eye brows. When your in male attire does anyone make comments about your eye brows?

I did it gradually, so most people didn't seem to notice. People probably have noticed, but they haven't said anything to my face, so I don't worry about it.

If so, what do you tell them?

I have a disease where if my eyebrow hairs are allowed to grow for too long they burrow into my brain and make me go crazy. More crazy.

Do you do anything about the hair on your arms?

Yep, I shave them now and then. A lot of trannies I know don't bother. Then again, neither does the pretty check-out girl that served in Tesco's last night. She had arms like Robin Williams. So it's a personal preference thing.

Can you think of anything else I should know about cross dressing that would help me in my appearance?

Spend more than you think you need to. Don't cut corners. Don't be put off by early failures. Remember when "putting on a face", it's the law that you start looking worse before you start looking better. Always remember that it's not about how cross-dressing makes you look it's about how it makes you feel.

And above all, enjoy it!