My 9 yr old wants to shave - advice please!

[SnowWhite607]

I have one daughter who turned 9 last month. She is very self conscious about the hair on her legs. She is fair and the hair is brown. It is not that noticeable to me but then again, I am "mom". She says that people at school remark about it, some call her "hairy" or ask her "why do you have so much hair on your legs?"

She wants to start shaving her legs. I think she is too young. It is so bad that in the summer (which is very hot here) she doesnt even want to wear shorts to school, she wants to wear long pants.

On one hand I think we should not give in and do something just because bullies at school are making her feel like she should. On the other hand, if it bothers her, I feel like maybe I should try whatever I can to make the school day as painless as possible. (she is an excellent student but cannot stand going to school. She has hated it ever since she got out of kindergarten)

Anyone have any advice for me? When is the right age to let a girl start shaving? Is there any harm to allowing her to shave or do Nair or the Smooth Away pads now?

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

The right age is when they feel the need. It isn't a big deal,imo. I'm not big on chemicals, I would go with an electric razor.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Buy her some Nair. As someone who was made fun of for being hairy, it really did hurt when I was a child. My DM (love her) is still not into shaving her legs. She never felt we needed too.
I recently picked up some Nair and I haven't used it in years. I was impressed that it seemed to work quite well. It is much better than I remember it.
So she can get rid of the hair on her legs. It will last longer than shaving. And she won't cut herself.

 

[Christine]

The right age to shave is when kids start making fun of your hairy legs. Unless you want to embrace the "natural" look (as does your daughter), it's probably time to let her shave. I mean, is there a reason you want to keep the hair on?

 

[Minnie824]

My DD is 8 so probably getting close to asking about this. She seems young but if she were to ask, I probably would let her. DH on the other hand, I'm not sure if he would have an issue with it or not. It hasn't come up yet, so we haven't really discussed it. Maybe get her an electric razor, so its not really as difficult for her to cut herself shaving. It might be a good place to start. If it bothers her so much that she won't wear shorts even, I think I would let her shave.

 

[mjkacmom]

I strongly believe that they should be allowed to shave it when they become self-conscious about it. I have a gf who is 40, and still remembers being teased in elementary school, and still resents her mother for not allowing her to shave. Dd13 started at 10, and she is very blonde.

 

[DVCLiz]

I have one daughter who turned 9 last month. She is very self conscious about the hair on her legs. She is fair and the hair is brown. It is not that noticeable to me but then again, I am "mom". She says that people at school remark about it, some call her "hairy" or ask her "why do you have so much hair on your legs?"

She wants to start shaving her legs. I think she is too young. It is so bad that in the summer (which is very hot here) she doesnt even want to wear shorts to school, she wants to wear long pants.

On one hand I think we should not give in and do something just because bullies at school are making her feel like she should. On the other hand, if it bothers her, I feel like maybe I should try whatever I can to make the school day as painless as possible. (she is an excellent student but cannot stand going to school. She has hated it ever since she got out of kindergarten)

Anyone have any advice for me? When is the right age to let a girl start shaving? Is there any harm to allowing her to shave or do Nair or the Smooth Away pads now?

The time to let a pre-teen girl shave her legs is the minute she starts to feel self conscious about it. Go to Target and get her a razor and some shaving cream, then go home and teach her how to shave safely. Then let her handle it herself unless she needs your help.

To make her wait says "I know you are suffering and there is an easy solution but I don't care enough to make you feel better because I am holding on to some pre-conceived notion I had before I was a parent of a pre-teen girl."

There are plenty of battles to fight with teen girls - shaving is not one of them!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

When it bothers her you let her shave.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Let her shave. It really is not a big deal at all. Kids are mean and if they are making fun of her, I wouldn't care if she did it.

 

[Sarah <3 Disney]

That is about the age I experimented with the razor. My mom didn't mind, she had always said, when it starts to bother you, get rid of it!

 

[java]

I say if it's bothering her let her shave. This was one of my Mom's issues- she wouldn't let me shave until I was in high school. Her theory was since it was blonde hair it wasn't noticable.

I went to Catholic School- and wore knee high socks.
Let's just say bangs on your knees is not a good look.
I swore I wouldn't do that to my daughter. As soon as she wanted to I let her. (she was 10)

 

[NMAmy]

I agree with the majority here so far--I'd let her do it if she's self-conscious about it.

 

[babyrich]

My sister had the same issue with my niece. She had very hairy legs and the kids at school made comments. My sister took her to get her legs waxed. She told her it was going to hurt; but she figured if she waxed them the hair wouldnt grow for a while or it would hurt so bad my niece wouldnt want to do it again. It did hurt, but she was thrilled with the results.

The waxing was too expensive to continue so my sister let her shave. She bought her one of those razor with the soap attached, showed her how to do it and watched her. She is 14 now and shaves regularly and is much happier.

Do not feel you are giving in to bullies. This will make your daughter less self-conscious about her appearance and it really is harmless (except for maybe a nick or two)

good luck

 

[ADisneyQueen]

My daughter started shaving at 11, but I did it for her for the first year.

I would let my 9 yr. old shave if she were being teased, but I would not trust her with a razor until she was older. I would do it for her.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Let her shave.

I feel hygeine should be based on what is going on and not an arbitrary date on the calendar.

My kids have not bugged me and I would not stop them if they did.

If you are concerned about nicks, you can start with an electric razor so that she can get the hair off without risk of cutting herself.

I don't recall how old I was when I started shaving--but I had a freak hair that was one inch long that I hadn't noticed on my leg. My mom saw my leg while I was riding in the car one day and said I should consider shaving. My impression at the time--I thought I wasn't old enough and her tone of voice suggested that it should have been obvious that the rain forest on my legs needed a little trimming.

 

[GoofysOnlyGirl]

I started shaving in 5th grade, once I was being teased about "being hairy" I would only do it sporadically though, so it wasn't a weekly thing like it is now. My mom would always help me, and she got me the expensive razors, not the throw away kind to help keep down on nicks. I don't think I shaved on a regular basis until I was 12 but I did start in 5th grade.

 

[luvmy3]

The first time dd told me she was embarrassed by the hair on her legs was the minute I decide to let her shave. She was 10 and like your dd her hair was very fine and I didn't think it was long or enough to shave but I wasn't the one who was self conscious about it.
I went and got her a razor with wires over the blade (Schick Quattro). It doesn't give as close of a shave as a regular blade, but for dd it was perfect, I did not want to use chemicals (Nair and Veet kind of stuff). I did it for her the first time and she's been doing it ever since and hasn't cut herself once.

 

[SnowWhite607]

The right age to shave is when kids start making fun of your hairy legs. Unless you want to embrace the "natural" look (as does your daughter), it's probably time to let her shave. I mean, is there a reason you want to keep the hair on?

No reason really, its just that I am afraid that she wont keep up with it and her legs will end up looking like a prickly grown out forest.

She is growing up too fast and I guess I am trying to stop time. I just always hate it when I see little kids with cell phones, bras, etc (things that should be saved for girls who are much older.)

I can see everyone's point though. If it bothers her, I guess I should let her shave.

Any experiences with the Smooth Away pad? I know that would be easy for her to do and there would be no chance of nicks or cuts.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I agree. My dd is 10 and hasn't asked yet but as soon as she does we'll shave.

I totally understand the OP's dilemna though. It must seem like her baby is growing up too fast. My sister had a hard time with my neice, except it was her eyebrows. The child has her father's unbelieveable eyelashes....I mean crazy thick and they curl back onto themselves. Unfortunately, they came with her father's eyebrows My sister called me when she was about 10, freaked out because her little girl wanted to have her eyebrows waxed. I convinced my sis that if my neice was conscious about it, she should absolutely do it.

 

[SnowWhite607]

I mean, it definitely is noticeable.

I am afraid that if we give in to this and dont teach her to stand up for herself, what will it be next time? Will someone make fun of her cause she is not smoking a cigarette? Or because she is not doing drugs or having sex?