How old is old enough for boys to shave?

[pta-mom]

I need some advice:

My son is 12, 5'11", in grade seven. Recently he has been mentioning that his facial hair is annoying him & he wants to start shaving. He has dark hair so it is noticable over his lip but not terrible....more than fuzz but not yet real coarse.

I'm thinking of getting him an electric razor for Christmas. My husband disagrees....he thinks he is too young & doesn't need it. My mother disagrees with me too....she thinks that if he starts at twelve, he will have to start shaving everyday as it will just grow in thicker & darker because he is shaving! Though I think it will eventually grow in thicker & darker, I don't believe that happens DUE to shaving....my husband has been shaving for 25 years & his facial hair is still not that thick!

Anyway, any advice on this?

Is twelve too young to shave?

Your experience/thoughts?

 

[tink_n_pooh]

If the hair is noticeable and bothering him - he is old enough to shave

 

[debaudrn]

If it is bothering him and he is asking to shave then I would let him. Why make him wait if it concerns him enough to mention it. Teens are awkward and self conscious enough without us not allowing them to do things that are relatively harmless when they feel they are ready (ie shaving legs or face). If his lip hair is dark and noticeable I think it is time for him to shave if he wants to. This is one of those areas where I don't feel we need to dig in our heels as parents. Save it for the big issues. My son is also getting an electirc razor for Christmas.

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

How old is old enough for boys to shave?

As soon as he is uncomfortable enough about his appearance to want to shave.

It is a wive's tail that shaving causes hair to grow in faster and thicker. That is puberty, not shaving.

 

[OrlandoMike]

I started shaving in the 7th grade....

 

[lulugirl]

If the hair is noticeable and bothering him - he is old enough to shave

I agree.

 

[MushyMushy]

I think the same answer applies to boys or girls -- whenever the hair is to the point that it's bothering them, it's time.

I don't get the parents who are "too early" this or "too early" that. Kids all grow at different rates and we need to accommodate that.

 

[RitaE]

I have to agree that I've never understood the whole concept of trying to prevent teens from shaving.

If they have hair that needs to be shaved, then they need to shave. It isn't like he's going to hurt himself with an electric razor.

 

[Nancy]

I think the same answer applies to boys or girls -- whenever the hair is to the point that it's bothering them, it's time.

I don't get the parents who are "too early" this or "too early" that. Kids all grow at different rates and we need to accommodate that.

Exactly. My girls started shaving when they started to not like the body hair. With my youngest that was at a round 9 or 10, she has very dark hair on her legs and it bothered and embarrassed her. I don't recall ever giving permissio, she just started doing it. Same with her sisters.

If he is saying it bothers him then why make him uncomfortable? maybe he is being teased a bit for being a bit hairier than some of the other boys

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

It's not going to grow in thicker and darker. That is faulse. Just won't happen.
If it is bothering him. Let him shave it. What's the big deal?

 

[disykat]

I let my boys use one of those skinny battery operated facial hair removers first because we already had one. I told them when they need to use it more than occasionally it'd be time to get a razor.

I had to talk both boys into it - they were proud of the dark fuzz on thier lips. I had to point out how goofy it looked on someone else for them to get the point.

 

[HunnyPots]

I've seen boys as young as 5th grade with facial hair. What's the big deal?
If your son went to school here, he'd be told he had to shave to meet dress code!
I doubt if it is "bothering" him in the sense that hairy legs bother a girl. Shaving is a right of passage for a boy. I know the happiest day of my son's life was when his principal stopped him in the hall and told him he needed to shave! He was like, finally - someone else can see it!

 

[Tink888]

If it bothers him and he wants to shave, then he is ready and old enough to shave.

 

[3jsmommy]

I would get him a razor & a shaving lesson ASAP, the fuzz above the lip...not a good look!

 

[goofyernmost]

It varies for boy to boy. I had to start shaving when I was 11. It all depends on the rate of puberty. If it bothers him, he should shave. I can understand females not understanding that, but I don't understand your DH's objection.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I started shaving in 5th grade, not everyday but as needed.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Our 12 y.o. recently started shaving. He hit an early puberty and had a pretty noticable moustache. He wanted to start shaving so we bought him an electric razor, figuring it might be easier for him to use than a real blade. Now he uses his razor and he does look better without the little moustache.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

If the hair is noticeable and bothering him - he is old enough to shave

Ditto.

DS is 15 and has quite a bit of fuzz, but doesn't seem interested in shaving. Whatever.

 

[froglady]

The OP mentioned that her son is 5'11", which means that he IS mature enough to need to shave, as he's obviously entered his growth spurt. Age has nothing to do with it, and as everyone else has mentioned, if he feels that he needs to shave, he needs to shave.

He'll probably try it a couple of times, then wait until he's forced to do so again; at least that's what DS did.

 

[pta-mom]

Thanks everyone! You have basically verified what I already thought but figured I would take it to the "Experts"!! Yes, my son will be getting an electric razor for Christmas & his dad will just have to deal with the fact that his "little" boy is not so little anymore!!