To Shave Leggggs or Not to Shave?

My husband started shaving his legs at 10 for bike racing. They do it in case they fall it is easier to clean and less risks of infection.

But seriously, I had blond hair as a kid. But I remember having hair on my legs in the 6th grade. The kids used to make fun of me in gym class. We had to wear shorts issued by the school. My mom was opposed to me shaving, so I had to sneak and do it. She was very upset when she found out.

I dont know if schools are better now as far as kids picking on other kids, but it seems the same from what I see in the playground. I say let her do it, bc she is probably going to sneak if you dont allow it.

I would probably not want to expose her body to the chemicals though. The electric razor sounds like a good idea, so she doesnt get nicked.

Best of luck.

A.

I would try to invest in an electric shaver. Or try Nair. That way she won't cut herself. I was also the girl with the hairy legs when I was 9 and had to beg my mom to let me shave. She gave in when she found out how bad I was being teased in school. I started with an electric, and there was no problems.
Good luck
-D.

I am the step mother of a 9 year old soon to be 10 'little' girl. Her mother and I have come to the conclusion to wait until 6th grade. We both feel she is way too young to handle shaving her legs everyday when she cant even put her hair in a pony tail in the morning.. I personally started shaving in sixth grade as did her mother... and none of her friends are shaving yet.

I was in 6th grade and the only girl on the basketabll team who did not shave her legs..My mom finally gave in and let me use an electric shaver, it could be used if your legs were wet or dry, this seems like a good way to start...

I started shaving around 8. I also got my period very early and had dark long hair under my arms at that age. My leg hair was blonde but I started shaving them anyways because I was already shaving my under arms. Looking back, I now know that I really rushed it because my legs looked like a normal 8 or 9 year old looks like. My advice to you would be to talk to your daughter and ask her to wait. Right now it is winter time and chances are she will be wearing mostly pants and if she wears a lot of skirts, I'm sure she is wearing tights or nylons of some sort so no-one will be able to tell that her legs are hairy. Re-visit the subject the beginning of next summer when she is a bit older. Good luck!!

I never understood why my mom made me wait - I ended up learning how to do it from my friends at age 10 and so I missed out on the opportunity of any bonding time with my mom. You don't want someone else teaching her. What is the point of waiting? Kids are cruel and I am sure someone will point out the hairy legs. Just let her know that it isn't fun and it's something she'll have to keep up - that you can't do it for her.

I think you should let her do it. The electric razor is a great idea. If she's self concience about this, then I think it's a good idea to allow herself to learn good personal hygene habits and feel good about taking care of herself. Ultimately, if you aren't comfortable with it, then follow your instincts about it.

Yea honestly I think you should, only because what you or I did at 8 or 9 yrs old is differet from now adays, but I'd teach her how be there make it a girls day, thing its important. You can show her how to do it the right ways. Better then her doing it without you there.

Here's a question, has she had her period yet? I was 8 when I got mine and I started shavingmy leggs at almost 10 becuase the hair changed and it was darker and thick. My step daughter just turned 9 and hasn't even once mentioned it. I asked her and she thought I was crazy. So my advise is to wait until a year or so after she gets her period. Let her know that she'll be shaving her legs for the rest of her life, does she really want to start now?

OK so I had to share, I remember being 9 myself and shaving my legs in secret. My mother knew because she smelled my fathers shaving cream on me ! It was a little funny actually. I also didn't exactly keep it up, the novelty wore off. I only have one thing to say- electric is better for the one reason that I would never let her use Chemicals strong enough to EAT away hair on her legs where the skin absorbs them like a sponge! Many medicines work by simply sitting on the skin( Nitro paste , nausea patches, pain medicine, etc.. )
MANY- So therefore when ever she slathers on is absorbed and who knows the chemicals she may absorb into her growing body. I would always be careful with KIDS and CHEMICALS. Just because it's in a "skin care" bottle doesn't mean it is safe.
I am not total granola-crunching person, just a cautious nurse.

Hi A.,

I was 10 when I started shaving my legs :-D...I think the main thing would be to show her how to do it safely, you know, watch the ankles (ouch!). She's probably feeling self-conscious. If you think about it, what will it hurt if she starts shaving now? It never hurt me....I never said, "Gee, I wish I was 13 before I started shaving my legs!" She has a 12 year old sister...is the 12 year old shaving? She may want to be like her big sister (and honestly, for me, I wanted to emulate my older sister).

Just my two cents.
Pam

i say let her shave . i know my daughters had to change for gym and they were embarresd when they were younger about the hair on thier legs.They are 14 and 15 now and doing just fine. it wasnt e segway to becoming permiscus if thats your concern. its not shorts weather now but if she has to change for gym let her other kids can be really cruel if they want to.

How about trying a product like nair? She wont cut herself, and it lasts longer.
Explain to her that once she does start, she has to continue. As hair will grow back thicker.
It may be just a phase. My daughter mentioned it then forgot about it. Peer pressure, or just one child in school making a comment about "hairey legs" can also give them the idea!
Be sure to let us know how it works out !

My daughter is only two so thank God im not there yet. I would ask her why she wants to do it. If her answer is teasing I would help her do it only because kids can be really cruel and unfortunately something minor like that can cause teasing for a child for years . If its another reason i would see if maybe you could put her off. Maybe you could suggest waiting until the spring when shell be wearing shorts again. By then the issue maybe will have passed. Just tell her once you start you cant stop and it is not fun .

She is too young for that. Tell her that there are things in life she can wait for.

I started to respond, then my computer did something weird...not sure where the other message went!!! Anyway, what does your 12 year old do?? Has she matured to the point of wanting to shave or getting her period? I have a 7 year old daughter that has not experienced any developmental changes as far as puberty goes. I don't think there is anything wrong with shaving if your daughter does understand that once she shaves the first time, it will grow back coarse and need to be maintained every 1-2 days. Help her make the choice by educating her and weighing the pros and cons. 8 is young, but every child is unique and develops at different rates.

Good Luck!

Dont give in!! Remember the good old days before we had to worry about shaving almost EVERY day? Well tell her about that and have your mom and your sister's, girlfriends, neighbors, teenagers, anybody that she looks up to that she needs to wait longer.
Just my opinion, but 13 is a good age. The summer before High School. If it really bother's her, have her wear tights or nylons. There are so many different styles out there now that they go with every outfit. They even make footless tights now. I just recently found that out.
If she still is having a 'hissy' after all the ladies have enlightened her, stand your ground. One day you will find that she did sneak to shave them, but until that day you did what you could to prolong it. It doesn't deserve a punishment either because once she realized that she has to shave every day.... that IS the punishment.
How I miss those days where I didn't have to shave. Now I have to shave because my husband hates it when I come to bed with rough legs. I try to tell him to get over it, but it just doesn't work. I tried to tell him they would be soft if I just let the grow out now since it's winter and all, but he will have none of it. I think it's funny.
Good Luck!!

As a side bar there is no truth in once you shave your hair grows back darker and coarser. The only reason it would feel coarse is because the hair is growing in after being shaved and it is prickly. If left to grow completly in, it would be just as soft as it was before the first shave. This could be a great mom and daughter bonding moment whether you decide to let her or not. Give her all the reasons you'd like her to wait, and when you and she are ready, do it together girls reveal a lot about their "outside" lives when they are doing something girl specific with their moms for the first time. Good luck. A. B.

I don't have a child of this age yet, but my sister has a 10 year old. My sister has started shaving her legs, but only about once a month, and my sister actually does it for her so that she doesnt cut herself. I say let her if it's important to her.

If you do decide to try Nair or Veet, it may smell funny but at least she won't cut her legs. My 11 year old uses them and I feel alot better knowing that she does not have a razor in her hands.

I have an 8 year old daughter-thankfeully this is not an issue yet-but she does have all the facts.
I would be carefully with the VEet-those chemicals burn my skin-so I would imagine they would burn young skin.
I think before the summer if you teach her how to use a razor-or even an electric razor-she should be all set.

P.

Hi A.,

For your case, it sounds like you have lots of options - I would remind your daughter she is in your care, you have been around the block a few more years doing these girl things, and she needs to respect your judgement. Then give her some different perspectives and let her know you are being a great teacher and advisor, and there are lots of differnt ways to approach the entire shaving exercise of time, risk, hassle, when and if to be showing off your legs and dealing with friends attempts to influence just how she behaves as a girl, and she'll be making up her mind when she is on her own anyway.
But for now, I am a firm believer that Mom makes those decisions on things that can't be reversed at this young age, like growing in hair that is coarser and darker after shaving. I lived through it and am still ok with mom doing what she felt was right for me (deciding to make me shave my legs to fit in with the girls in my class - I did it but really disliked it).

As for your daughter, I would remind her, that when a woman Nobel prize winner or astronaut or pilot walks by, she has better things to do (and selects more high minded friends) than deal with somebody's opinions of if she ought to shave her legs. Ask her what she wants to do with her life, don't let her friends dictate what she focuses on. Does she want to be signficant and in charge of her life and goals (what to do and what kind of person to be, when she grows up), or is she being told what to think and who to be, and what her goals are, by her friends.

You'll do great. - just decide what is best for her and let her know it's a considered, wise opinion and you (or eventually she) can reverse it when and if it's the right time.

And if her hair is thin and light above the knee, I'd shave only below if you shave at all. That's saved me huge amounts of time and hassle for those dates and formal times.

Well good luck, - You might throw this in the hopper and let your daughter know that there are lots of ways to consider the entire leg shaving and other primping kinds of things - Mine is another way to approach it - here's how it went -

When I was in 8th grade, my mom made me shave my legs because everybody else in my class was doing it, and I was a tomboy, loved math, planned to be a pilot, etc, so she decided I needed to fit in with the girls in my class. My hair was blond and thin, but I learned how to shave my legs safely and I swore people must be right out of their minds to think this is worth the effort.

After that, I decided to wear pants or dark tights or sweatpants everywhere pretty much because that was much less hassle . Then I rarely shaved my legs except below the knee in summertime sometimes for wearing shorts.

Then the wake-up call happened: In college, I was on the swim team and diving team, and several other athletics, the men divers on the other team (Texas A&M) complained about my legs to my coach.

I thought it was pretty judgemental - they needed to get a life, and I considered telling them I would shave my legs when they did. Before I made up my mind what do say, I saw some of their swimmers (men) shaved their entire bodies for better swim times. Yikes. Never mind. So I shaved my legs below the knee for swim meets even in winter, since my hair was visible there, but so thin above the knee, you had to get 2 feet away to see it, and I figured I'd likely break anybody's nose who got that close to check out my legs- nobody has any business being that close checking out my legs, especially at a swim meet.

After I graduated from college, I wore shorts in the summer and decided that if people didn't approve of hair on my legs, not my problem. When I got comments, I shrugged them off like - "Do you shave your legs?" "Nope". If they continued to remark, no matter what they said, I said the all purpose "Why? why does it matter?" That pretty much ended that topic and we moved to different subjects or I found other people to talk with who were interested in something other than telling me how they wanted me to take care of my legs.

I never shaved my legs unless I was wearing a skirt at an occaision (like a wedding), almost never happened, but I looked great and shocked everybody, then went back to being comfortable, healthy and strong and not caring a rip what people's opinion was (mom lived elsewhere).

Anyway, I avoid it because it's a darn pain and a waste of time unless there's some huge reason to show off your legs. I always had more to do with my life than shave my legs, even in 8th grade, yet respected my mom requirements, so I learned how.
Anybody shallow enough to judge a woman by if (or how well) her legs are shaved, it's making any effort to appreciate me for who I am and prefers to think of me as a pretty trinket with adjustable appearance, so I'd graciously ignore their opinion anyway and move in the opposite direction to find more high minded friends.

She needs to respect your requirements since you get to make those calls for her on "growing up things" at this age, whatever the decision is, it's the one she needs to do and be aware you are involved and in charge of her safe development no matter what her friends say and do. You might talk with their moms to get past any "they are all doing this" attempts on ANYTHING -- and I recommend you stay real engaged with these "friends moms" of the friends with whom she hangs out.

M.

Personally, I think it's too young. Kids are growing up soooo fast now! It's insane. But, if you're going to go down that road, I would get her a cheap electric razor. That's what my mom did. She was afraid I would cut myself, like she did (she took the skin off her whole shin when she was in highschool). Anyway, these days you can probably get an electric for $20. Hope this helps.

I have a 5 month old, so I am no where near that stage yet, but like you said, you don't want her to go do it on her own. Maybe you could get her an electric shaver. This way she is shaving her legs, but you don't have to worry about the razor yet. And maybe tell her that when she turns 13 you will show her how to shave with a razor.
Good Luck!
K.

Obviously I am late to the parade here. I just got into the swing of Mamasource.
I have a daughter (going into 3rd grade) born in India, she has lots of hair all over her body, it is the same with most girls in her area of birth.
My daughter is wanting to shave now. Mostly because it hurts when she uses bandaids. We switched bandaids, as adviced by her ped. But it is also a cosmetic issue for her too now.
I told her about the hair coming in coaser thing, and the daily maintainance thing and the option to not shave ever as a feminist statement. I also shared with her my first shaving behind my mother's back - not a pretty picture. And my embarrassment when I noticed the smoothly shaved skin on my 8th grade friends legs, and I had soft, sweet, fluffy barely noticable blond hair. There is alot to this shaving thing!!!
I promised my daughter recently that if/when she wanted to get rid of her hair, that we would do it together.
There is a way to remove hair with a process called 'threading'. It is common in India and the middle east. There is a new place 30 minutes from our town that does it. Threading is alot less painful and easier. So I hope to go that route with her when the time comes.

I think I was around 8-10 when I started, although looking back I probably didn't "need" to. I think you could use it as a bonding moment with her and show her how to do it properly and safely. I actually really like the Intuition with the bar of stuff around the razor to avoid having to use shaving gel. Make sure that you have a rule in place for a while where she can do it, but ONLY with your supervision. That's a good compromise, and I think she might agree if it means you're allowing her to shave her legs ;-)

i started shaving that early, and it sucked.... i'm italian so my hair was dark... i didn't really have a choice, but after a week, i hated it, but i knew it looked better :) girls are doing things earlier these days than when i was younger. peer presurre sucks and it's sad but i think if she needs to do it, then let her. now if it was makeup i'd tell her to wait a few more years :) teach her how to do it, let her watch you, get an electric razor, or try nair or something like that. but just tell her that once she starts she has to keep up with it, becuz the hair grows back darker and faster... buy her that shave minimizing lotion too, it works it if you use it daily... i use it and it helps becuz being pregnant it's hard to shave my legs at this point :) for starters, let her shave to just above her knee, she's wearing pants anyways, so it's not big deal. and by summer, she'll be able to tell if she needs to go higher, or make her a deal and tell her to jsut shave to above the knee until shes a lil older. hope that helped. i have a 3 year old boy and i'm now having a girl, so i just can't wait til i have to deal with all this girl stuff :) good luck

yes it is to young just hide the razors and remind her who the child and who the adult is

I would tell her she is to young, and she needs to wait. Once seh starts to shave, the hair is going to be thicker and darker, and she will have to do it on a regular basis. No 9 year old is going to want to do that all the time, and there is no need for it at her age. Shoot, half the time I don't bother with my own just because it is such an incredable pain in the rear! hehe. She wants to do it to be like an adult, but she is in no way ready to be like an adult at 9 years old. I would tell her absolutely not, and if she does it on her own she will be in deep trouble.

keep your razors put up and try Neet or Nair a little at a time in case she is allergic to it,good luck