Age for Shaving Bikini Line

Updated on August 12, 2009
S.K. asks from Houston, TX
24 answers

My 12 yo daughter needs to shave her bikini line to wear her swimsuit. At what age did any of your daughters start to shave. Does anyone use or have tried the "Smooth Away" and what is your opinion about it?

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So What Happened?

Thank you for all the wonderful info and advice. I will talk w/her and let her know all the different options and see what she would feel comfortable with using. For the record as some may not be clear...my daughter came to me about it because she was going away to a Christian Urban Camp and she was self consious about the pubic hair showing.

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C.G.

answers from San Antonio on

Even as an adult I don't use a razor down there. You should maybe try buying her a feminine electric shaver. It doesn't get smooth like a razor, but it gets really close and the hair takes longer to grow back.

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D.S.

answers from Killeen on

I started shaving around that age. I have used Smooth Away and was not impressed. I use Veet. You can get it at HEB or Walgreens. It works better. Be careful of how long you leave it on.

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T.C.

answers from Austin on

I would say its not a matter of age, its just a matter if it needs to be done. That smooth away thing, not for that job, fyi! I started shaving at like 11, I was born hairy, I probable could've done it sooner!

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C.C.

answers from San Antonio on

I had to do something with my bikini line as a young teen as well. Not a fun venture - but having some rude adolescent point at your lower region and laugh in a public swimming place is much much worse.
I hve used to Smooth Away before on just my legs- and it actually caused a burn, much like a rug burn. big time OW! So I would not recomend that at all on her bikini line.

To avoid the razor (and the possible rash and painful ingrown hairs) Have her try the Nair specially made for the bikini zone. It comes in a small tube about the size of travel toothpaste - not the big Nair bottle - and is not at all smelly, or burning like traditional Nair.
My mother gave me the bikini zone Nair when I was 14, and I still use it today.

GL to your lovely daughter!

4 moms found this helpful
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N.S.

answers from Houston on

I have found there really isn't a time frame that is / is not right for a girl to start shaving. I started shaving at 9 - my 9yo started shaving under her arms in April of this year and we're working up the nerve to start shaving legs.

I've used Carefree - same makers of panty liners. Nair was a little too harsh when I used it - but their product has changed some so it might be gentler.

You might want to consider taking her in for an actual bikini wax. It doesn't hurt that much - the first time is the worse and afterwards it's not that bad. It will also last longer.

Regards of what direction you go - you'll need something to use for afterwards. Bikini Zone is a cream that works reall well and, believe it or not, BAN (in the green container with black lettering) deodorant works real well also.

3 moms found this helpful
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R.L.

answers from Houston on

I also bought Smooth Away and it only works on very fine hair, not on regular stubble. So I definitely wouldn't waste my money.

I don't think this is an age question, but more a question of wether her body is mature enough to need to shave. So it definitely sounds like she needs to, so let her shave!

Easy tip, instead of using shave lotion, buy a cheap conditioner, it works way better, there is less chance of an allergic reaction and I have way less shaving bumps! (Works great everywhere you need to shave.)

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R.

answers from San Antonio on

I would say let her shave when she wants to. My mom did not let me shave until I was 15 and I was very hairy and felt so self concious about it, so I "borrowed" razors from my dad and shaved secretly.

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N.W.

answers from Houston on

I think it's great you're being realistic and taking care of your daughter.
My two cents; for the bikini area, my 11 1/2 year old uses Nair for the bikini area with aloe vera. It helps if you trim the area first to 1/4" and be careful not to get the lotion in sensitive areas.
I, personally, use a cold waxing method; Sally Hansen has a product out with pre-waxed strips that are easy to use. For a first timer, though, I'd go to a recommended professional initially and just use the SH strips for maintenance.
The Smooth Away is, unfortunately, a waste of money.
good luck

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K.A.

answers from Austin on

My daughter is not shaving quite yet but will be soon. I got the smooth away but did not like it at all. It didn't work at all on the bikini line. And on my legs, the pad had to be changed after each leg, or it stopped working. Maybe I'm just hairier than your average person but it was a big pain.

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L.A.

answers from Austin on

If she needs it shaved, let her shave. You do not want to draw attention to the area if it is hairy. That will just cause people staring. My daughter was shaving her legs and bikini area the summer before 7th grade. She has dark body hair so it was needed.

She tried nair and she tried razors. She hated having to wait around with the nair, so she ended up shaving.

I ike the nair myself, it seems to get everything and leaves my skin moisturized..

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J.K.

answers from Austin on

I am 24 and just had my first child, a boy, so I don't have experience with a daughter shaving for the first time. However, I can tell you that I started shaving at age 13. I do not think 12 is too young. Also, I recently tried Smooth Away, and I would not recommend it for the bikini area. I used it on my legs, and it did not irritate my skin, but it took many, many repetitions to remove the hair. If a product that is supposed to replace shaving takes longer than shaving, I do not find it worthwhile!

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K.B.

answers from Austin on

My daughter was 9 when she had armpit hair appear so we started shaving then. Bikini line is tricky, luckily her swimsuit covers the needed areas.

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J.J.

answers from Houston on

Hello,

My 10 year old grandaughter has started to grow hair under her arms. I used the "Smooth Away" to remove the underarm hair and it worked very well. I did not let her do it though, I did it for her the first time.

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N.T.

answers from Austin on

If you can notice that your daughter needs to shave then she probably needs to shave. I think each person is different. Someone with blonde hair might be able to get away with it longer than someone with brown/black hair. But letting your daughter shave just for the sake of shaving isn't the issue here. It's so that she is not self conscious about wearing her bathing suit. Assuming that SHE is the one who is worried about this and NOT you.

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P.D.

answers from San Antonio on

I don't have a daughter old enough to shave yet, but I will tell you that I was 11 when I started to shave. I got hair very early and was teased for being so hairy. So I begged my mom and she gave in. And it turned out fine. No major problems and I was no longer teased about it. I've also used the "smooth away" and it does work - sorta. It takes a very long time and a lot of effort. And if you use it on sensitive areas (like a bikini line) it can cause some major irritation. But it does remove the hair. I hope everything works out for you and your daughter. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.T.

answers from Victoria on

its not really a question of what age its do they need it or not. as they develop they will have different needs. i started my period at 9 and dont remember life with out boobs or pubic hair. some friends of mine have tried smooth away for there 12 yr old girl. the mother tried it too. they really liked it and said it wasnt like sand paper at all. i thought it would be rough and they said it wasnt bad at all. i think you can find them at walgreens fairly inexpensive. Good luck.

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N.P.

answers from Houston on

I don't have any daughters, but I can tell you from personal experience. Even though ny mom wasn't ready I needed to start shaving in the 5th grade. It was fine, got a lesson from mom and was gifted my first "personal touch" razor:) Try the smooth away, but for people like me, (Italian)with dark, coarse hair it doesn't work to well. Try shaving with bikini zone gel to stay clear of bumps and redness, good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from San Antonio on

Smooth Away doesn't work. It was a waste of money. I tried it on my legs and it didn't do anything.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.H.

answers from Houston on

Hi S. K,
I have not used the Smooth Away, but I have used Nair. It does not leave little bumps as shaving does. I will be interested to see what other moms have to say. HTH

1 mom found this helpful
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D.A.

answers from San Antonio on

I always felt that shaving was a matter of personal hygiene, so whenever hygiene becomes an issue for the daughter. One of my daughters wouldn't wear dresses because of her hairy legs, so it was an issue for her. I bought the smooth away, I wouldn't waste my money on it, it is time consuming and doesn't work so well.
Blessings,
D.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.T.

answers from Houston on

I use smooth away for my facial hair removal.

I think the hair on the bikini line is to coarse to be used with this product. You could try a hair removal cream. I used this in high school before I turned to waxing.

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J.H.

answers from Waco on

I love the "Smooth Away". Easy to use though it took longer than shaving.

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N.H.

answers from Houston on

I've heard the Smooth Away doesn't really work all that well. It's actually just really fine sandpaper stuck to a holder. It may wk on fine hair but I'd just go w/shaving or epilating the bikini area. I shaved at 13 I think. That's when I hit puberty so it must've been 13 & used a disposable razor b/c that's all we had in the house at the time. Well, as a suggestion, you may want to use a battery powered personal shaver (less chance of cutting herself, I seem to cut myself ALL the time no matter how careful I am w/a regular manual razor) or, you can spend the money on an epilator which does the same job as waxing but not as expensive after the purchase. They sell them at Target & CVS pharmacy but from what I've read online, the more tweezers the epilator has, the less painful it is & less time it takes. She may be too young for waxing but you can always consult your beautician or esthetician...some won't wax young ladies under 15 so you may want to shop around if that's what she wants but just tell her if she uses a regular razor, I'd go w/a Venus or a men's MachIII (I started w/the MachIII after a recommendation but ended up w/the Venus & have used it ever since but am going to upgrade to an epilator when I can afford it). The Venus gets a real nice shave but again be VERY careful the further down you shave b/c it gets tricky & slippery & she may cut herself but as far as the actual 'bikini line', works like a charm & although they're kinda expensive, I luv my Venus. Be wary of the disposable version of the Venus razor though, I tried them once & I dunno if I just got a pack of duds but they weren't as sharp, they seemed really dull compared to the regular non disposable but I may've just got a pack of duds. There's also a shave gel for sensitive areas or sensitive skin I personally love & used it on my bikini line but I cannot remember the name at the moment. I'll try to find out & will post here the name for you. But, whichever method y'all choose, good luck!!

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G.M.

answers from San Antonio on

At that age I would imagine that it's not too too much and maybe just a trim with baby scissors or kid any scissor, but trim it short so she won't have to experience the itching like with shaving.

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