A year ago, I set three goals for myself, which you can read about here. I didn’t expect things to go so well. I hadn’t done such things before because I didn’t really believe in them, but as it turns out, sometimes it’s worth striving for something. Here’s a brief summary of the past year.
Laser Hair Removal
Since January, I’ve been getting laser hair removal, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. Yes, it’s a painful procedure, especially on the face, but the feeling of smooth skin on my cheeks makes it all worth it. For many years, I had very visible facial hair. Now, when I look at myself in the mirror, I like what I see much more. I no longer need to use concealer under my makeup, and my foundation is much lighter because of it. Doing my makeup now takes just ten minutes, and that’s largely thanks to laser hair removal.
I’ve had twelve sessions on my face. I don’t know how effective the last one will be—maybe I’ll need one more. There are still some light hairs left, which the laser won’t remove, so electrolysis is the next option. However, for now, they don’t bother me too much. Yes, I still need to shave every day, but I no longer have the dark shadow of facial hair.
I also had treatments on my legs but stopped after seven sessions since there were no significant results. Apparently, the hair was too light. Now, I’m focusing on the upper body: chest, arms, and back. I hope to get rid of the hair permanently so that I won’t have to shave those areas. It will also improve how I feel about my body—seeing fewer hairs when I look in the mirror makes a big difference.
Voice Feminization
In this post, I summarized my experiences with voice training. I won’t repeat myself here, but I’ll just say that I’m very happy with the results. It has given me much more confidence when speaking in public. This is a crucial aspect when you want to be perceived as a woman.
Sewing
Last year, I wrote that my goal was to sew a skirt for myself and one for my wife. I made the first skirt quite quickly—you can read about it here. Then, I started working on the second one, using a sewing pattern this time. I’m quite happy with how it turned out, and I wear it regularly. It was supposed to be for my wife, but she’s been into pants for a while now, so I have an extra skirt for myself.
During the spring and summer, I focused on the garden and didn’t have much time for sewing. Only in late autumn did I manage to sew something again—another circle skirt, this time in navy blue. Since I now have some experience, it didn’t take long to make.
Recently, I sewed a cover for our dog’s bed. The old one was completely worn out, and buying a new one would have cost several hundred zlotys. So, I decided to buy upholstery fabric and make a cover myself. It took me just one day, and the cost was around fifty zlotys. Clearly, being a seamstress pays off!
At the beginning of the year, I started sewing my first dress. I bought a pattern online and got to work. The project seemed simple, but some imperfections are unfortunately visible. With a circle skirt, I can hide minor flaws and eyeball adjustments, but the upper part of a dress is different—it needs to fit well. I kept tweaking it, making it narrower and smaller, but it turned out the size was too big for me. On top of that, the pattern was designed for woven fabric, and I used a knit fabric instead. That wasn’t obvious to me before, but now it is. The dress ended up becoming my nightgown. The fabric is soft and comfortable, and it actually fits me well—but not well enough to wear outside. In any case, I gained valuable experience.
Later, I started sewing lingerie. I managed to make four pairs of panties. It’s a more delicate, precise craft since the fabrics are thinner and softer. I’m quite happy with the results, though I know I still need to improve my skills. But I have a feeling that sewing lingerie will bring me a lot of joy.
Right now, I’m working on another skirt—this will be my fourth one. I feel like skirts are easier to learn from. I hope to sew many more great clothes because I have a lot of fabric and plenty of ideas in my head.
Side Effects
As I wrote in this post, the past year was both challenging and eye-opening for me. I am a transgender person, even though I used to think that this didn’t apply to me. I feel like the activities I mentioned above played a role in my realization. They made me understand that I feel better without facial hair, that I like my face more when it looks feminine, and that putting on makeup is easier. I also started liking my voice—this higher-pitched version of it. You could say it reflects my soul more accurately. I feel much better using it, and I get frustrated when I have to speak in my masculine voice.
Sewing showed me that I love feminine fashion—I prefer making skirts rather than altering my men’s trousers.
The closer I get to being a woman, the better I feel about myself. The coming year looks like it will be another turning point. I don’t have specific resolutions yet, but I do know that I will continue my transition with the support of my wife and loved ones. Wish me luck!
