Time to Shave Legs?

Updated on June 19, 2011
R.S. asks from Columbia, MO
9 answers

My daughter is similar to a mother that just wrote in about her daughter not caring about how she looks. My daughter is starting middle school on Tues. Her legs are very hairy but she has no desire to shave her legs yet. I don't want the other girls to make fun of her. The problem is, we already go round about showering every night and washing her hair every other night, brushing her teeth every night, and making sure her hair looks presentable. Do I tackle this battle yet?

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K.R.

answers from St. Louis on

I had the "hairy leg" problem when I was little too!!! Although, it really, really bothered me. I did get maid fun of and was super embarrased. My mom let me start shaving once I started 5th grade....thank the lord. I will tell you, though, I wouldn't broach the subject until she is ready. If it doesn't bother her yet, I wouldn't bring it up. You don't want her to feel like she's not as pretty as other girls who don't have this problem....let her have fun being a kid and not worrying about all the womanly problems yet to come. Good luck

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H.B.

answers from St. Louis on

LOL I just responded to the topic you wrote about in your request. I have just tackled that with my little sister who is 12 and just started 7th grade. Her legs were also very hairy and she also hardly had an intrest in shaving. So, what I did was I went into the bathroom with her (fully clothed of course) and we shaved our legs together! It probably sounds weird LOL but it totally wasn't. I could tell she was pretty nervous and was afraid it would hurt, but once I showed her how to do it, and how to be careful, she really took off with it. (I only showed her to go just above the knee where her shorts usually hit.) Yes it took a half an hour instead of my usualy 10 min, but it was worth it! She really liked her soft legs! She called me the other day and mentioned that she shaved her legs again all by herself, she seemed very pleased with herself..and I praised her for a great job!
I hope that I helped.

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L.B.

answers from St. Louis on

My 12 yr old daughter and I discussed this and she thought she might like to try the hair removal cream first. We shopped for it together and chose the kind she thought would be best. I did help her with it the first time (she doesn't like the smell but I remember it being much worse when I was a kid.) She has been using it occasionally over the summer, but it doesn't have to be a daily chore, and does not make the hair grow back all stubbly.

I would let your daughter know what is available and then let her decide when she is ready.

Good Luck.

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C.D.

answers from Springfield on

That sounds very premature to me. When I was younger, which wasn't that long ago, girls didn't start shaving until high school. If she's not ready to, don't force her. Otherwise you'll have a young girl that just turned semi-hairy legs into a stubly, dark jungle of hair that she has no desire to shave. If she's not willing to do it on a regular basis, best to let it be.

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M.D.

answers from St. Louis on

Ok, I think I reponded to ypu earlier.About not being with her friends? Well this is a whole new matter of its own. I think you need to tlk to her about how important it is for her as a budding young lady to represent herself as well as you. She needs to know that when she doesn't take care of herself, it makes u look like amother that hasn't taught her daughter how to be a young lady, and I am sure she doesnt want that. She also needs to think about if she doesnt start now grooming and everything, it will be that much harder when she has a dsire to be primped. You have a hard one i have to say. i 've heard of these problems with boys, but rarely with girls. Another thing, are her friends the same? If so u really have a problem, if not remind her that her friends are into hygiene and she should be also. Why? because she wants to still fit in with them right? We both know upper grades can seperate childhood friens, and she should want to hold on to the friends she has. Give her a little space though. There is nothing like that first 'cute' boy to make them want to be pretty.

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J.A.

answers from St. Louis on

I would wait for her to want to do it on her own. I know when I was a child I wanted to decide when to do things like that on my own, and luckily my mother let me, except for once, I needed to wear a bra in the fourth grade, I was extremely embarrased that my mom thought I needed a bra before i was ready for one. That issue really can't be avoided, but hairy legs aren't that big of a deal, let her do it on her own time.

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D.G.

answers from Springfield on

My middle daughter went through this and now can't get her out to the frocery store unless she spends two hours getting ready! LOL It's one extreme to the other. Good Luck
D.
www.Debs.ceofamilies.com

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J.H.

answers from New York on

My daughters are not allowed shaved their legs and underarms

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C.Y.

answers from St. Louis on

give her time to come around...make sure she knows u r available whenever she's ready...but the more you push the worse it will be. Choose your battles i guess would be the best advise for you...since showering and teeth brushing are not a choice stick with those. And if she doesn't want to work on her hair give her a ponytail holder so she can put it up. I agree with one of the other mom's that replied it is from one extreme to the next...you will continue to be surprised at the challenges your daughter will keep throwin' your way!

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