At what age did you let your daughter start shaving her legs?

[TEENEE]

My daughter will be 9 in July. She has wanted to shave her legs for about a year. I know she has tried at least twice. She has dark hairy legs so I understand why she wants to shave but I'm just not sure if I want her to start shaving so young. So, when did your daughter start shaving?

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

don't jusge by my girls - they're both very blonde -- but I let them use Nair starting at about age 11.

 

[lrmillen]

o my...this brings back memories. it was easter of 4th grade. i got a razor and shaving cream in my basket...thanks easter bunny anyway i think it depends on how you DD feels about it. if it makes her feel self-concious to not shave then IMO let her start shaving.

 

[chesirechik]

I started around 9 or 10 much to my mothers horror. I also had very dark hairy legs and was totally embarassed of them. I took one of my mom or dads razors and tried to do it myself because my mom wouldn't let me. Totally cut myself up! She gave up protesting after that and showed me how to properly do it.

 

[stinkerbelle]

I'm not a mom - but I can tell you my mom let me start shaving around 9/10yrs old(with an electric razor though) However I was on the swim team and played basketball...

I had to learn on my own the joy of the disposable razor - TEACH your daughter how to do this...don't let her just "attempt" it on her own like I did.

 

[Kimberle]

If she would feel more comfortable about herself, I think you should let her. Kids can be very mean at this age.

Be glad she asked, I never did. I just grabed a razer & started. I'm blond, though, didn't show nearly as much as someone dark haired.

 

[darlene9947]

Teenee,
If your daughter feels strongly about shaving her legs, what would it hurt if she did it? Leg hair will grow back!! I think we need to pick our battles with our children and make sure it's important ones.

I always told my daughters I absolutely forbid them to get a tattoo or nose and bellybutton piercings. I can't stand seeing girls with rings coming out of noses, eyebrows, etc. Well, of course, my youngest at the time (23 now) went and had a tattoo on her hip and got her tongue and belly-button pierced! After I calmed down, I realized the only time the tattoo would be visible was at the beach or goofing off around the house. And the payoff---she said it hurt like h*ll!! She'd never do it again. And the tongue and belly=button piercings- she got infection after infection and finally took them out!! YEAH!! So all my preaching went in one ear and out the other, but in the end she realized I was right.

 

[Sleepy]

I got in a huge fight with my mom at age 11 over this topic. I did not want to shave my legs for aesthetic reasons (as she thought), but rather the fact that when I put on a pair of socks, the hair would be pulled in the opposite direction of how it grew and then it would try to straighten back out and I could not stand the way that felt. It was like having fleas in your socks. Mom gave in.

 

[Serena]

Personally, I think shaving her legs should be her decision. She will know when she's ready to do that. It's not exactly something like wearing makeup. It's part of grooming and if she's uncomfortable with the hair on her legs, then she should be allowed to shave.

I just bought my 12 yo a Venus shaver. I told her about how to shave and how to change the blades. I even accidently cut myself.
She didn't express an interest. But she's had some other changes and I wanted it available to her when she's ready.
As we were talking about it, I realized she's already been thinking about it and wanted to start shaving. She just hadn't told me yet.

 

[MAC3]

Actually I heard my DD and her Best friend talking about this last year on the way to the water park,

DBF" DO you shave your legs?"
DD No
DBF Neither do I my Mom won't let me yet."
DD "Maybe next year"?

I really think she could get away with the legs for another year, but I have mentioned to her that I need to teach her to shave her underarms!

It's time for that. It's so sad to have them cross that line!

Lisa

 

[momm2four]

I agree with the others who said to go with your daughter's feelings. If she is old enough to be self-conscious about it, I would say she is old enough to shave. I never understood what the big deal was when my mom said I couldn't shave until I was 12. I was lucky b/c my hair grows very light and very sparse, but if it has been darker/thicker, I would have been so embarrassed as a 9-11 year old.

One of my best friends let her daughter shave at 8 b/c the hair on her legs was very dark and her daughter was very self-conscious about it. She debated with herself for a while, but then realized that there was no "magic shaving age", and decided to do what she felt was good for her daughter.

Lori P.

 

[aprilgail2]

I was in 4th grade when I started shaving...actually I don't recall even asking my mothjer or telling her I was doing it, I had hair on my legs and I didn't want it there...I used to take my dads razor and shave with that...now that I think back on it boy his face must have taken a beating being shaved with the same razor I shaved my legs with LOL. To this day I hate body hair on anyone, guys or girls...its just so yukky and the sweat sticks to it..BLECH!! Only hair I like is on the top of ones head LOL!

 

[TalkisCheap]

I was 9-10 i don't really remeber I have really dark hair and it was before summer, so I didn't want to wear shorts...so finally I just asked my mom if I could, and she let me. I play sports every season, all season so i'm constantly in shorts. I would have been very self-conscious if she had not let me. She didn't have to 'show' me...I did just fine the first time. Venus razors are so much better for starting out though, I have never cut myself with my Venus and i think that if I had cut myself more the first time, I would have given the whole shaving thing a second thought!

 

[wdwnutze]

I started letting my dd use Nair last summerwhen she turned 11. I waited til she asked about it. For Christmas I bought her a Venus razor because the Nair was a huge mess(and didn't do a great job). She was happy to switch to the razor. Luckily no cuts yet!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I atarted shaving in 4th grade. My Mom had me start, I never even asked. I did have dark hair though and one eyebrow. Started tweezing then too.

I will let DD start shaving whenever she asks. Unfortunately she got her hairy gene form me!

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I started doing that when I was 12. I was being teased in school by the "popular" girls, so I came home one day and did it was a razor and a bottle of baby oil Not only were my legs beat up, but they stung like heck. My mom was REALLY angry with me.

My mom isn't the best example, but I guess she didn't want me to "grow up". She didn't want me to use deoderant until I was 13 (but I bought some and did it anyways much earlier...sheesh!) among other things.

When Maddy is old enough to make the decision, I'll let her do it

 

[missypie]

Well my DD is 11...has a lot of leg hair but it's totally blonde...I've been resisting letter her shave, but sounds like 11 is a normal age.

 

[thatchicktrish]

I started around age 10 too but with a ladies electric razor (lady remington) because my mom was afraid of me accidentally cutting myself with the regular disposable razors. The electric ones leave short stubble but you can't really see it and that was my main purpose of shaving it off, I had dark hair on my legs and I hated it. I moved on to real razors when I was about 11 or 12. Maybe an electric razor would work for her since she is so young and when he is a little older, teacher her to use the disposables. Good luck!

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

My dd is 3 and already has hairy legs! I was 9 when I started shaving. My mother wanted me to wait until I was 13, but I would have looked like a werewolf by then.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

DD#1 just turned 12 and asked, so I let her start, bought her some disposables and some "skintimates" shave gel. I remembered a friend in 6th grade who kept asking her mom and was refused because she was "too young," although she was really hairy. It really is something to judge by need, not age. On the good side, armpits are NOT an issue yet at all and her "time" is over a year away, according to the pediatrician. Hurray!
Robin M.