9yo dd wants to shave her legs!

[siouxi31]

My 9 year old daughter asked me if she could shave her legs. I think 9 is awefully young to worry about such a thing not to mention I don't want her handling a razor.
We are a hairy bunch and she does have dark hair on her legs which embarrasses her when the kids in the neighborhood say "Eeewww! Your legs are really hairy!".
I told her that she was too young to worry about having to shave her legs and that if the kids say something to her she should just say "Yes, I do have hairy legs." and let it go at that.
Do any of you have any other words of wisdom for me to pass down to her? I'm at a loss and my comments haven't settled this issue.

 

[ElizK]

Both my daughters are pretty hairy, too. I decided that once they were old enough to be bothered by it then I would let them shave. DD12 was 10 when she asked. I let her (though it wasn't easy.... who wants to turn a 10yr old loose with a razor...), and I have not regretted the decision. My younger daughter is 9. She's maybe not quite as hairy, but her body hair is darker than her sister's. I'm hoping she won't ask before 4th grade is over.

Too bad they couldn't have inherited my Native American genes... I have very little body hair!!

 

[tidoublegger]

Honestly, I think if her legs are considered hairy and comments bother her, you may want to invest in a women's electric razor. You could show her how to use it and then you wouldn't be worried about her handling a sharp razor. I know it seems really young, but if it's something that she's become self conscious about, I think it's appropriate for her to begin shaving. Good luck!

 

[WDWAurora]

Let her have one of the bladeless razor systems-that way you don't have to worry about safety and she doesn't have to do it as often. She could also stop if she decided she was less embarrassed by it with no real changes since it softens the hair, unlike shaving.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I was like your DD and shaved at 9. I also hit puberty at 9-grew 4 inches, developed breasts, and menstruation. If a girl can menstruate she can shave her legs. JMHO.

 

[siouxi31]

What is a bladeless razor? Does it use some sort of Nair type product?

 

[Robinette]

I started shaving my daughters legs for her when she was 9. I don't think it's a big deal. She was very embarrassed about the hair and I couldn't blame her, they were hairy! The hair did not grow back very fast so I only shaved them about once a month. She is now almost 11 and does it on her own, very successfully!!

 

[ZachnElli]

As a former "hairy" child, PLEASE PLEASE do something for her! Kids are horrible and relentless! Try Nair, something, just do something! I was probably a year older than your daughter, but it will not get better or go away! I know if my dd takes after me I WILL shave her myself if I have to! She will not go through what I did!

 

[LisaTx]

4th grade is when Chelsea asked to start shaving. She was just 9 too. I hadn't really thought about it before then, but after she asked, I noticed most of the other girls were shaving.

I decided to go ahead and let her. I was worried about her cutting herself and she did. She got much more careful afterwards. The Venus razor is very good for girls. I also like the Shick Intuition, but the refills are expensive.

Girls these days have it so hard anyway and their bodies are maturing earlier. If shaving makes them feel better about themselves, why not let them?

 

[barbeml]

I was an "early bloomer" and I am thankful my Mom let me start shaving when it started bothering me. I agree with the other posters--kids are developing earlier, and it is a kindness to let them deal wth it when it starts.

 

[Pooh93]

I have a feeling I will be faced with this same dilemna in a couple years. Youngest dd (6 1/2) has VERY hairy legs already and it's dark. I didn't think she'd really noticed, but she told me the other day that our neighbor's dd mentioned how hairy her legs are and that she should shave them Great just what I need, a first grader wanting to shave her legs. I told her to ignore the neighbor and just enjoy being a little girl because she'd have to worry about being a grown up soon enough. I don't know how long that answer will suffice.

I keep telling dh that she will probably start shaving when oldest dd does, particularly if she's self conscious about it and other kids are making comments.

 

[WDWAurora]

The Bladeless razor is made by Veet, but very similar to Nair products, which probably work equally as well. I'm mainly recommending that because it would teach her the amount of pressure to use to really shave before she learns with a blade. It should be available at Wal-Mart, Target, drug stores, etc.

You spread the mousse like product onto your legs, wait 3-8 minutes, then "shave" the mousse off. The "razor" has to be cleaned fairly frequently, so keeping the water running, but not hitting the legs helps.

 

[siouxi31]

Thank you all very much for the positive responses! When my daughter gets home today I'll sit with her and discuss alternatives for leg hair removal and we'll take care of it together.
I reached out because I thought that my reasons for her not to shave were pretty lame--it turns out they sounded lame because they were! Thanks for calling it to my attention This will be one of our first grown up tasks together---a real bonding scenario. Now I'm looking forward to it.

 

[zurgswife]

My mom...made me wait...and to this day I remember being tormented....my dd asked about shaving her legs at about 9...with my experience .... I let her do it without having to even think about it...

I didn't go through puberty until about 12 my dd started her period at age 10....at 9 her body was just starting the process....

Don't let your dd suffer...it is not a big deal...but it is if you don't let her do it...

 

[chrissie123]

Kids are so cruel.... I think if your daughter is really worried by this you should help... Like what was said before can you get an electric razor for her....I had to get one for my DD when she started secondary school...The other girls relentlessly teased her about her hairy legs, but what upset me the most was apart from her only being 11, she did not tell me but told my niece instead...Who went on to tell me, you are so lucky that your daughter feels she can tell you things like this...When i asked DD why she had not told me she said she was afraid i would freak & phone the school...(i would not have done that) but i do have a habit of freaking....I guess i think i`m looking out for them, obviously they think differently

 

[LisaTx]

It's hard to watch our babies grow up. She'll love you for being so supportative though.

 

[ZachnElli]

Originally posted by siouxi31
Thank you all very much for the positive responses! When my daughter gets home today I'll sit with her and discuss alternatives for leg hair removal and we'll take care of it together.
I reached out because I thought that my reasons for her not to shave were pretty lame--it turns out they sounded lame because they were! Thanks for calling it to my attention This will be one of our first grown up tasks together---a real bonding scenario. Now I'm looking forward to it.

I think you've made the right decision! And like Chrissie said, she came to you and you should feel very proud that she feels like she can come to you! And now that you two will come up with a solution together, I bet she'll continue to come to you with her problems!

 

[Jeanny]

I second the electric razor... but also have you considered letting her bleach her legs?? Sally Hansen has a creme bleach... my daughter (who is a lot older than 9) bleaches the hair on her forearms in the summer if she's not out in the sun a lot... the dark hair is not as noticiable.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am glad you came to the decision to let her shave. It is really a matter of us "hairy's" feeling good about ourselves. I had armpit hair at 8!

I am trying to convince my 13yodd to go for laser treatment for her face. (I need it everywhere!)

It sucks being hairy!!!

 

[6_Time_Momma]

My 9 yo dd shaves hers. She uses that Igia personal trimmer thing, where you can't cut yourself.