Hello, Angels. Welcome to the studio. It’s so good to see you all. If you are new to SayTen Studios, My name is Samantha (They/them/she/her) and it is my goal to affirm trans feminine folks and along the way, help a few other people out as well.

As director of SayTen Studios, I am profoundly proud of all the service we have provided for QTPOC. That’s Queer Trans People of Color. The studio’s mission is to situate itself in the fight for representation of queer folks who identify as Black, Indingenious and other queer people of color. We run a QTPOC reparations fundraiser in which folks are encouraged to donate. At select intervals, SayTen Studios matches funds two and sometimes three fold by providing services to QTPOC folks completely free of charge.

As of late, the studio’s lights have been turned off due to the realities of Covid-19. That means those who would benefit from the fund are unable to seek services such as photography, videography, LGBTQ Literacy Training, Multimedia and social media consultation and more.

It also means that I have directly been affected. I relied heavily on my income through the studio to fund affirming procedures and support, like therapy. It’s been tough not seeing a therapist while medically transitioning which is a very strong suggestion for all trans folks seeking affirming practices. Due to this, my transition has been stunted and my mental health has taken a huge hit.

Despite this, I have decided to put my transition back into my own hands. But, I will need some support from folks like you.

Here’s a reality check for folks interested in transition, specifically Trans femme folks seeking affirmation through procedures such as laser hair removal:

Hair growth is cited as one of the major factors in which trans femmes and non-binary folks experience dysphoria. Gender Dysphoria is the medical terminology that describes the mental turmoil trans folks feel due to an incongruence between their gender identity, often as it is defined by social norms, and the realities of our gendered bodies.

Laser hair removal has significantly helped many trans folks alleviate physical, mental, and social dysphoria. Physical dysphoria is experienced when folks feel their bodies do not represent their gendered realities. Most women, femmes, and female-identified folks in all forms of media lack facial hair. When a woman or femme with facial hair feels immense discomfort due to them having facial hair, this is called physical dysphoria. This contributes to mental dysphoria as well, which defines the anxieties, discomforts, and everything else accompanied by them that exists primarily inside of ourselves. It’s all those nagging thoughts that tell us we aren’t enough, that we aren’t deserving, that we will never feel true happiness. It can be really tough, especially when in social settings. Having a five o’clock shadow even through your makeup while in social settings can cause intense anxiety and often it has a huge affect on our ability to simply be our most authentic selves. This is often referred to as social dysphoria.

Personally, I have experienced all of these types of dysphoria surrounding my facial hair. Sometimes all I have to do is catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror before I’ve shaved for the day and I break down in tears. I also feel fatigue because I have to shave every single day. Sometimes twice a day. And on days when I do not have the time to shave, I walk around feeling insecure and I don’t feel like myself.

As a response, I have sought an initial consultation with an esthetician who is going to provide me laser hair removal services. I am eager to start, but there’s a big hurdle I have to manage…and that’s the cost.

Many spas and dermatologist offices offer rates close to $100 per session per region of the body. My consultation put into perspective how much I would have to pay out of pocket.

For facial hair removal, there are 3 sections of the face accounted for: Cheeks, Neck and the upper lip and chin area. Each region is priced at $90. That means every session will be priced at $270. But wait, don’t forget about the $40 Uber ride because taking the train is way too risky for trans folks. So, that’s $310 per session. Trans folks should expect to see best results after 10 sessions. That’s $3,100 just for facial hair removal.

Suppose you are like me and you are looking forward to top surgery, which is a surgery provided to trans folks who wish to modify their chests to be more congruent to their gender identity. For many folks, they are on their own to front the costs. Luckily, at this moment and hopefully for the foreseeable future I will have health insurance that covers this procedure.

However, most trans femmes would prefer to have a chest absent of hair before the procedure. Laser hair removal to prep for surgery or to ensure a feminine finish, clear of body hair, is not covered by most insurances, including mine.

Laser hair removal for the chest is priced at $250 per session. Trans folks may need another 10 sessions for this as well. Add travel and that’s an additional $2,900.

Not counting any other procedure, I’m looking at $6,000. There’s no way I could afford this, especially since I haven’t brought in any income for studio work. If not for Covid-19 I’d be able to manage on my own, at least for these procedures, but it has been over half a year and there is much more quarantine in our futures.

After half a year, I decided that Gender Dysphoria is way too much for me to bear. I have to do something to achieve comfort and happiness. So, I’ve devised a campaign to fundraise for these procedures.

But, I do not want to accept donations without putting in some work and providing for my community. So, here’s my plan.

For every $500 donation interval, I will provide one free service to a Queer, Trans Person of Color. I will keep you posted on which individual receives these services.

Additionally, I have some entertainment to share in the form of virtual shows. I’m also scripting an LGBTQ Literacy Training that will support folks packing common concerns and best practices related to transition as well as allyship. But wait, there’s more. I will also be providing affirming trans feminine makeup masterclasses completely free for any and all trans folks. It will also be NOTAFLOF for any queer folks.

Please stay tuned for these services. And as we acquire donations I will release content and provide services. Virtual services such as consultations, 101 classes and even tarot readings may be best, unless you are willing to wait for a vaccine and for the reopening of SayTen Studios. If so, you can enjoy a free photo shoot in a trans owned space that is affirming and trauma-informed.

So, what do you say? Would you donate to my affirmation which will directly support the LGBTQ community at large? If your answer is a resounding yes, you may donate, at your convenience, any amount of money you can reasonably part with. I’d appreciate every $10 donation as much as a $250 donation; however, folks who donate $50 or more will receive special shoutouts in the content I create and share with you all.

To make a donation, please visit the SayTen Studios Trans Affirmation fund, linked below. You may also visit SayTenStudios.com to access the campaign and all of our highlights.

I can’t wait to serve you, and I can’t wait to see a hair free face when I look in the mirror. For now, I hope you have a wonderful, splendiferous day. And until next time, bye bye Angels.

SayTen Studios Affirmations Fund

By Samantha Fotos

SayTen Studios Affirmations Fund

Providing Trans Affirmation to the individual and the collective