Stuff 124: Old Stuff

Old Stuff? Yech!

By J. J. Atwell

Yes, that’s the reaction I usually get about old stuff in general. I’m not talking about nostalgia in this case. Instead, I’d like to look back at some of my original writings from about three years ago. Hopefully that won’t trigger the same reaction.

Way back in Stuff #1, which Stana published on July 17, 2023, I introduced myself to you all. At that time, I said that I preferred the CD (crossdresser) label, and I’m still sticking with it. Not that there is anything wrong with other similar labels—I simply feel that CD is the most descriptive of who I am.

The photo above accompanied that first installment. It’s not bad, but I’ve moved on from there, as we all do in life. Of course, when we move on, we hope we don’t lose track of the important things and how we got here. With that in mind, today I’ll revisit some of the topics I wrote about in Stuff #1 through #6.

Personal Growth

Perhaps this is the most important aspect of my CD life. In fact, it may be one of the most important aspects of any life.

In my case, personal growth was directly related to joining a local CD support group. Through that group, I met many others in similar situations, and the friendships I developed have helped me beyond measure. I credit the experiences of being out and about over the past three years with making me much more comfortable expressing my femme side.

Just as important, my significant other has enjoyed those friendships as well, which has made her more accepting of my dressing. Personal growth is not just for you—it can benefit your entire family.

Hair

In Stuff #4, I started a topic that is near and dear to the hearts of many CDs: hair—how to lose it and how to get it.

This is still a hot topic for me. Lately, I’ve been focused on both by purchasing new wigs and removing hair from my arms, legs, and body.

Since that original post, I’ve bought three or four new wigs. I loved each one when I purchased it, and I eventually retired each one as I searched for different styles. I think of it as a natural evolution, similar to what many GGs do when they decide they want a new hairstyle.

I prefer buying wigs from a brick-and-mortar store so I can try them on in person. I believe that makes a huge difference. I’ve written more about wigs in Stuff #91 and Stuff #98. Just remember, once you buy that new wig, you’re not done. To look its best on your head and complement your face, it will probably need some trimming and styling.

Now for the opposite side of the equation—how to lose hair.

In previous Stuff columns, I mentioned several options, including shaving, depilatories, and waxing. As most of you know, shaving is a very temporary solution because the hair simply grows back. You can begin to feel stubble in as little as 12 hours. For facial hair, a shave may only last a day.

Longer-term solutions include electrolysis and laser hair removal, neither of which I’m qualified to discuss because I haven’t tried them myself.

For the rest of your body, shaving, waxing, electrolysis, and laser are all possibilities. I shaved my arms, legs, and chest for a long time before deciding to try waxing. On my arms and legs, waxing worked very well. Yes, it was somewhat painful, but not unbearably so.

More recently, I moved on to my chest. Ouch! That was definitely more painful. However, the results were so good that I plan to continue with it. I find that waxing lasts a couple of weeks, and subsequent sessions tend to be less painful.

Again, I can’t comment on electrolysis or laser treatments because I have no firsthand experience with either.

I’ll Be Back

I hope you have experienced personal growth over the years and that you will continue to grow in the future. In a future Stuff column, I’ll revisit some of my other early observations and experiences.

As always, I welcome comments and suggestions here on Stana’s page or by email at Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com.

Wearing Ann Taylor

George “Gabby” Hayes femulating in the 1934 film The Lucky Texan.
Click here to view this film on YouTube.