6 Year Old Daughter Wants to Shave Legs

It wouldn't surprise me if she was teased at school, and noticed that you have saved your own legs. In any case she is two young to be using a razor of any kind or bleach for that matter. And make sure you put your razor away after using it because at some point when you aren't looking, she will use it.

Talk to her about it. Listen to her feelings and respect them. Let her know you understand how she is feeling and that you are sorry she feels that way but that nothing is wrong with having hair on her legs at her age as most beautiful children do. Tell her shaving at her age is out of the question and explain it will not only grow back, it will grow back thicker and it will itch a lot as it does which will make her feel even more uncomfortable. Tell her sinse she is feeling this way, instead you will take her shopping so she can find the answer to her problem....
Maybe she'll turn her tights in for knee high cotton socks...and how about cotton slacks for those hot days instead of shorts???...lead the way. Take her shopping for these items so she feels that she's doing something about her problem and that you aren't ignoring how she is feeling about it.
Work on building up her self esteem. Tell her how special she is, the way she is....how pretty she looks...and that you love her.
When she puts on tights, don't argue with her about it.

Hopefully at some point she will begin focusing on other things.

2 moms found this helpful

J., you've received a lot of advice, ultimately, you should make the decision with your daughter, since you know the circumstances, (whether someone is teasing her, or if she is excessively hairy, etc.)
I can offer a situation I had with my 15 year old when she was 8 as well. She came home from camp crying that a little boy made fun of her eyebrows....unibrow poor kid, and she was so hairy since birth I knew waxing was in her future, haha. Anyway, I asked her if her eyebrows really bothered her, or if it bothered her more that this boy made fun of her. I explained that there would always be some insensitive kid who would make fun of something about another kid, including her, and she shouldn't care what he thought, but if it really bothered her....I would bring her into my shop and get her eyebrows waxed (I am a nail technician). I explained that if she did it for the wrong reasons, because she was teased, she'd get them done, he'd find something else to make fun of and she would still feel bad. I told her to think about it and I would respect her decision. She came back to me and said it bothered her more that the little boy teased her about the eyebrows and since it was for the wrong reasons, she would not get her eyebrows waxed. I agreed with her, told her I was proud of her decision and when she decided it bothered her, I would get them done. She came to me 2 years later and said it bothered her, would I get them done, and I did.....I disagree with the mom who said it doesn't really affect their self esteem, I was there at that age and it does. So do what you think is right, for the right reasons.....N.

2 moms found this helpful

Hi J.,

What memories that brought back of my own childhood!!! :-(

I know how I felt from 1st or 2nd grade on, and I can sooo feel for you daughter. I was picked on about the same thing. I was shy/quiet, and this was just one of the first of my insecurities through the years. Some kids are cruel, and can make sure to bring attention to anything "different" (especially for the quite ones).

I know alot of people are saying "tell her to tough it out" or "too bad-let her cry", but I can't imagine letting my child go on feeling the same way I did for years. And as far as "trying to boost her self esteem", I agree, but I also think that by six if she has self esteem issues, they've already begun. And to make her "cry it out" is just going to make it worse for her.

I have a boy, so I don't have to think about that specific situation. I do think six is young, but I also think if you can help her with her insecurities now, that is a great thing.

If you do let her, I'd say an electric razor first. Or if you don't let her shave in any way, then let her wear the nylons. (I wore them whenever I could, till I could finally shave, and did feel alot more comfortable with myself).

Good Luck!!
--J.

1 mom found this helpful

SIX... SIX...!!!
NO WAY !!!... The hair will grow back thickER and black and you and she, will have more trouble for the NEXT 7 years while she's still growing... and she'll only be 13! - jUST Bearly a teenager, when should 1st want to even start shaving her legs!

Its up to you to overcome her crying, boost her self esteem and tell her how pretty the hair on her legs is right now, and thats the way its supposed to be on a SIX YEAR Old!!

Ask her to see how many of the other 6 yr. olds are shaving thier legs... (None I'll Bet) She'll see how ridiculous that idea is.. Don't Do IT!!

1 mom found this helpful

You've received so many responses and I hope that they've helped. The only advice I can give is that no matter what you decide to do, make sure you teach her how to use the razor (when the time is appropriate) and keep yours locked away. I took my mom's razor to my leg when I was about five or six and had a nice scar to show for it that looked much worse imo than hair on a young child. And truly when I think back to when I did it, I was so scared that it bled and bled. If she feels bad enough abut it, she will find a way to get around it. I think the important thing is to continue to show your daughter love, no matter what her choices, and if she chooses to wear tights with her shorts and then she is hot and sweats and is uncomfortable, but it makes her feel better about herself--so be it.

1 mom found this helpful

J.,

First of all, let me tell you that I am the mother of a very self-conscious 10 year old, so I have found myself dealing with issues like this for a while...I know many people have said that she must be getting teased, but at 6, I would have a hard time believing that other 6 year olds would notice such a thing. I am fair skinned with lots of dark hair and in 1st grade became very self conscious about my hairy arms. I wore long sleeves the entire year! I wasn't teased, I just noticed it on my own. Then I must have forgotten all about it. I think you should focus on positively reinforcing your daughter's inner and outer beauty and let her wear the pants/tights or whatever she wants if that makes her feel better. She'll change her mind when she gets hot enough! Six really is too young to shave and please disregard all the advice to use Nair! It could really burn a child's skin.

1 mom found this helpful

Wow, she is a little young to even be aware of this. Does she really have hairy legs or is this something that is really there? If so you may want to try one of the mild creams they have for hair removal. That would be better than a razor. I hope this helps some.

1 mom found this helpful

Wow, I cant believe she is worried about that already. I just wanted to tell you my story, I dont know if it will help but I can definately relate to your daughter. I was about 9 or 10 years old when a very close friend of the family was getting married and I was at her home while she got dressed in her wedding gown. I saw her shaving her legs and I hadnt seen anyone do that before. So I asked her what she was doing and she showed me what to do. She went ahead and shaved my legs (I did have hairly legs but not dark hair, it was pretty light). Well, as you know a few weeks later the hair came in very dark. I was too scared to tell my mom that I had shaved that one time so I hid it but I couldnt always hide it like at school. During Gym the girls would call me HAIRLY LEGS and teased me terribly. Later in High School I started to shave regularly but it was very tramatic for me. I promised myself that if I had a daughter I would allow her to shave if she felt embarrassed. I dont know that there is anything medically wrong with starting earlier than other girls. I just remember the embarrassment I felt at school and it was really rough to deal with. Well, I hope this experience can help you and your daughter. Take care. D.

1 mom found this helpful

How about getting her Capris? Or even long skirts(calf length). My 9 yr old recently told me the same thing...that this summer, she will NOT be wearing any shorts as she's conscious of her hairy legs...she's a brunette, so it's more obvious. We went shopping and got some nice crops and capris, as well as some nice gypsy type skirts. This season, Gap and Children's place also have summer pants and capris in thin fabrics(poplin and linen) as well as light knit/jerseys. They can be as comfy as shorts in the summer.

K.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi J.
I feel bad for your daughter's feelings about her "hairy" legs.
I guess you feel they are hairy too. It's a tough call. Have you asked her what makes her want to shave her legs? Is the hair dark or light? I know if it were my daughter I wouldn't let her shave her legs at 6 but what about the Nair hair removal? I know it's similar to shaving but maybe she won't get the hair growth back as quickly and maybe it could slow it down a little. I'm not sure but if she's being teased about it then something, some how should be done about the teasing and the hair on her legs. Kids can be so mean and make other kids self esteem very low. I hope this suggestion may have helped. It's a tough call for such a young child. I think you need to talk to her about what and why she wants to shave her legs. Please let me know the out come of this situation. Good luck with your decision. D. S

1 mom found this helpful

My answer would be NO.. This is way TOO young. This is the reason a lot of these "tweens" (can't stand that word) are over-sexed at such a tender age. Parents break under the pressure of their own children because of the crying, whining, etc. when asked to wear makeup at 12 or thongs!! And the parents give in just to shut them up. The young girls today are too sexed up and don't know how to be little girls anymore but who's responsible for this? Society, peer pressure, etc... perhaps that plays a minor part of the equation. But that's only cop-out in IMO. This responsibility starts at home and no where else. A young girl coming into "her own" needs to cherish their own purity and it's up to the parents to teach them how. I know I am getting a bit ahead but it starts with the shaving... Then next year she will want pedicure, manicures, then what is it the following year highlights, etc. Where do you draw the line? Only you know what is best. But for what it's worth, if that were me, I would tell my daughter that that day she gets her period is the day that she may shave her legs. Period (no pun intented), end of story, topic closed for dicussion. Whatever you decide it has to feel right in your heart J.. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

i started shaving my legs at 8 yrs old (but i'm italian and was pretty hairy...which has all seemed to fade to a "normal" person lol. i would say if she really wants to shave, since she's SOOOOO young, and you don't want to risk her getting hurt, try the veet. it's kinda like nair, but you spray/gel it on, like a cream almost, and then you use a BLADELESS razor (basically just a piece of plastic that's molded to almost a sharp edge) and you scrape off the veet and the hair comes off with it! i would say it solves her insecurity on the hairy legs, and any fear you may have of her getting hurt with shaving. good luck.

1 mom found this helpful