Electrolysis Saves Lives: A Call to Recognize Gender-Affirming Hair Removal as Essential Care

Written by Jeff Main, Executive Director of Point of Pride, and Laila Ireland, veteran and advocate.

For Brandi, who was living out of her car, even shaving was dangerous.

Like many transgender women, Brandi struggled with unwanted facial hair. But because she relied on public bathrooms to take care of basic hygiene, there were very few places where she could safely shave without fear of confrontation or harassment. Especially where she lived. Idaho, a state with the most stringent anti-trans laws in the country, makes that danger even more acute.

People often view electrolysis and laser hair removal as cosmetic care. For many trans people, it is anything but.

When Brandi was finally able to access facial electrolysis, her life changed. Today, Brandi is able to navigate the world with greater confidence and, yes, safety. Something as ordinary as going to the grocery store or riding the bus no longer carries the same constant calculation of risk. Hair removal is not vanity, but rather relief: the ability to exist in public with less fear.

Brandi was a recipient of Point of Pride’s Electrolysis Support Fund, which helps people afford gender affirming hair removal. Since we launched this program eight years ago, it has made it possible for recipients to live happier, healthier, and safer lives. But the need has never been greater.

The reasons someone may need hair removal services go beyond even safety and comfort. For some trans men and transmasculine people, electrolysis is required before certain gender affirming surgeries can even take place.

Yet despite the necessity of this care, it can be difficult if not impossible for many people to afford. The average cost of a full round of electrolysis or laser hair removal can be upwards of $2,000 or more, a price out of reach for the nearly 30% of trans people living below the poverty line. Many insurance plans don't offer electrolysis coverage even if they cover most other kinds of gender-affirming care. This gap isn't just financial. For many trans people, especially those who are trans femme, it's a safety crisis.

It was for this reason that we launched our Electrolysis Support Fund, the first program of its kind and still the only one offering dedicated financial aid for gender-affirming hair removal.

To this date, we've been able to award $1.7 million to 838 people, with an average gift of $2,305 per person, since the program launched in 2018. This is a difference that we've been able to make due to the generosity of the tens of thousands of people who chip in donations every year.

And yet we can't keep up. Demand for the program has grown every year, far outpacing supply. We do our best to help who we can. Because we know that when people, just like Brandi, are able to access electrolysis or laser hair removal, their lives improve almost immediately. One study found that people who had this care saw significant improvements to their mental health. The stories we hear from our recipients illustrate this perfectly.

Recipients consistently tell us that hair removal helped them feel safer in public and more confident in social situations. Others felt less financial stress in affording care. Universally, nearly everyone felt more at home in their bodies. When trans people get the care they need, they thrive. It really is that simple.

And yet, trans people should not have to rely on nonprofit grants and crowdfunding campaigns to access medically necessary care. So how do we ensure that many more people are able to get it?

It starts with making it affordable. Insurance providers must stop treating gender-affirming hair removal as elective, and instead recognize that hair removal is a necessary part of many peoples' transition journeys. States can do their part to ensure that this care is mandated as well.

But we all have a part to play too. Sometimes that looks like urging lawmakers to recognize gender-affirming hair removal as medically necessary care. Sometimes it looks smaller, but no less meaningful: driving a trans friend to their appointment, helping them cover the cost of a session, or supporting organizations working to close gaps in healthcare. And if you are able to donate, every dollar is deeply appreciated.

The stakes are real. For people like Brandi, this isn't about aesthetics. It's about whether they can move through the world safely. What hair removal represents is safety, dignity and trans joy. We owe it to Brandi and others like her to ensure that this lifesaving care remains affordable and accessible for whoever may be in need.