Ok moms, when did you let your DD start shaving their pits?

[Angelhalo]

My mom didn't tell me when I could start shaving anything, I just decided when was best for myself. When I started feeling self concious about it, I started shaving. Believe I started shaving both my legs and my underarms at 10.

 

[punkin]

DD11 does not shave her underarms yet because she has nothing there, but she did start shaving her legs this year. I really didn't think she was particularly hairy but hey, girls this age can be very mean. She does have brown hair and very white skin (yes, both my girls look like snow white), so it does show more hair than my olive skin does.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

My DDs were 11 when they started shaving. They haven't mastered it yet (it's only been a year) because they still miss a lot under the arms and we have had a few cut ankles.

 

[clovergirl5]

I asked dd13 when she was 11, if she wanted to start shaving. She didn't ask me, didn't seem bothered by it. For xmas that year, I got her an electric razor for women. Problem solved.

 

[ZachnElli]

My mom didn't tell me when I could start shaving anything, I just decided when was best for myself. When I started feeling self concious about it, I started shaving. Believe I started shaving both my legs and my underarms at 10.

My mom had an old-fashioned razor, the kind with real blades you attach to the razor. Nothing like you buy today. I wasn't touching that thing without some instruction, my mom took the blade out after each use. And that was all I had available to me.

 

[princess momma]

Holy cow! I used an Epilady when I was about 15! It was an experience that I never want repeated, ever! My stepmom and I tried it out and she made me go first and I was nearly in tears! She was too, not from pain but from laughing at me. Serioulsy, it felt like little knives digging out my leg hair! That thing is like some kind of medieval torture device.

I think I'll get my DD one of those wire shavers then that another poster mentioned. I'm terrified she's going to cut her pits to shreds.

Yeah, I wanted that Epildady so bad and I think I managed to use it once. That was the worst pain I'd ever experienced. My legs were beet red and even a little swollen. I don't know how those things got to be so popular.

 

[mbw12]

my daughter started shaving at the age of 9.......first sign of any pit hair!!!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If your dd is afraid of a razor, you might try something like Nair---they have a 3 minute cream.

It is a little stinky, but takes care of the issue for about a week or so at a time.

I know some folks don't like to get into using chemicals....so to each their own. However, it is an option if the razor is becoming a huge issue for your family.

I think I have several brands under my counter. Nope won't go for that. She is just going to have to master the razor.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

My dd started using Veet (like Nair) on her legs last summer at age 11. She just started getting noticable armpit hair and Veet-ing that too, this fall. She's afraid of the razor too, so the Veet works well for her.

I agree that it's not an age thing so much as it is about them being self-conscious of it. My friend started shaving her dd's legs at 6, because her hair was very dark and she was getting teased about it, and I would do the same in that situation.

 

[TeresaBelle]

My DD just turned 11 a week ago. For about a year she's been asking me if she could shave her legs. I have not let her. I didn't realize it was that traumatizing. I thought little girls are supposed to have hair on their legs!

We made a deal that she could start shaving when she starts her period. Or when she turns 12...whichever comes first! That's when my mom let me, I was 11 when I "started". (sorry if that's TMI...lol)

She doesn't have pit hair and has not asked to shave there.

 

[clovergirl5]

My DD just turned 11 a week ago. For about a year she's been asking me if she could shave her legs. I have not let her. I didn't realize it was that traumatizing. I thought little girls are supposed to have hair on their legs! We made a deal that she could start shaving when she starts her period. Or when she turns 12...whichever comes first! That's when my mom let me, I was 11 when I "started". (sorry if that's TMI...lol)

She doesn't have pit hair and has not asked to shave there.

11 isn't a little girl....teasing does happen at school about these issues. If she is asking you for this long, does she feel like she really has too? I mean is there something there to shave or is it because the other girls are doing it? If there was something that really needed to be taken care of, I would let my dd. If it was just because the other girls are doing it, nope. Like the pp said, swimming class can be embarrassing if you are sporting bushy spots. Jmo...

 

[MarilIncredible]

My DD just turned 11 a week ago. For about a year she's been asking me if she could shave her legs. I have not let her. I didn't realize it was that traumatizing. I thought little girls are supposed to have hair on their legs!

We made a deal that she could start shaving when she starts her period. Or when she turns 12...whichever comes first! That's when my mom let me, I was 11 when I "started". (sorry if that's TMI...lol)

She doesn't have pit hair and has not asked to shave there.

Please reconsider your deal. My mom had an arbitrary age rule (13!) for shaving legs when I was a kid and it was brutal the teasing I had to go thru at school. Mom had fine, very fair leg hair so she didn't start shaving until she was 13 or 14. I have darker, coarser hair and the teasing started when I was in 4th or 5th grade. At least she let me shave my pits by age 9 or 10 (once hair showed up), so I just had to wear a lot of pants to school (NO FUN in south Florida, let me tell you).

 

[TeresaBelle]

11 isn't a little girl....teasing does happen at school about these issues. If she is asking you for this long, does she feel like she really has too? I mean is there something there to shave or is it because the other girls are doing it? If there was something that really needed to be taken care of, I would let my dd. If it was just because the other girls are doing it, nope. Like the pp said, swimming class can be embarrassing if you are sporting bushy spots. Jmo...

Hmmm...to me 11 most definitely is a little girl. I'm pretty sure she's not being teased. While she does have hair, it's not super long or bushy or anything. I think it's more something she's just curious about and eager to try...like driving. I certainly wouldn't let my 11 year old drive! LOL

 

[ORMom2Four]

If she's embarassed, then it's time to shave

 

[mjkacmom]

Hmmm...to me 11 most definitely is a little girl. I'm pretty sure she's not being teased. While she does have hair, it's not super long or bushy or anything. I think it's more something she's just curious about and eager to try...like driving. I certainly wouldn't let my 11 year old drive! LOL

An 11 year old girl is a tween, not a little girl. Dd13 had the ability to reproduce when she was 11, and definitely shaved, as did all of her friends. My dd6 is a little girl.

 

[clovergirl5]

Hmmm...to me 11 most definitely is a little girl. I'm pretty sure she's not being teased. While she does have hair, it's not super long or bushy or anything. I think it's more something she's just curious about and eager to try...like driving. I certainly wouldn't let my 11 year old drive! LOL

Sorry, I was just thinking of my dd's. I have 4. 2,6,9 and 13. I consider the 2 and 6yr. old little girls and the 9 and 13yr olds tween and teenager. They will always be MY little girls though

 

[ZachnElli]

Hmmm...to me 11 most definitely is a little girl. I'm pretty sure she's not being teased. While she does have hair, it's not super long or bushy or anything. I think it's more something she's just curious about and eager to try...like driving. I certainly wouldn't let my 11 year old drive! LOL

My 10 year old DD is the same height is me! I was definitely teased in 5th grade for not shaving and that was 27 years ago! I just don't consider 11 years old "little" girl. Girl yes, little no.

 

[mjkacmom]

Sorry, I was just thinking of my dd's. I have 4. 2,6,9 and 13. I consider the 2 and 6yr. old little girls and the 9 and 13yr olds tween and teenager. They will always be MY little girls though

Maybe having a lot of kids makes us realize it when are kids are growing up - dd13 seems ancient compared to dd6, and I don't even consider dd8 a "little" girl anymore.

 

[Sleepy]

That being said my 13yodd has a fear of the razor and cutting herself.

I have a nice scar above my right ankle bone. The razor ate the skin right off. Some 30 years later, I am still extra careful in that area

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

I think any pre-teen girl who has hair under the arms (and noticeable on legs) and is being teased or is self conscious, should be able to shave. I don't see the big deal. It is about gender identification. If you had a pre-teen daughter who had darkening of the hair on the upper lip, wouldn't you want to assist her to either bleach it or get rid of it, so that she wouldn't be teased anymore? Or would you tell her she is too young to be worried about that and force her to wait?

Pre-teens are well aware of the changes happening to their bodies. They are aware of the changes that WILL happen as well. Kids talk. Kids tease. Kids feel self conscious and get embarrassed easily. While some issues can remain on the back burner because they have not presented themselves yet, we must remember there are many issues that need attention because she IS becoming a woman, whether mom is ready for it or not. She needs for mom to guide her as a woman, not as a little girl.

 

[lucky978]

My girls are 11.5 now. When they were 5 they had an unfortunate experience while visiting a friend. Their friends older sister (she was about 7) shaved their legs.

I didn't notice for a few months (by then it was all stubbly and gross). I was horrified (and the parents of this girl certainly got an ear-ful). We dealt with it for a while but at age 6 I started using Nair on their legs. They have VERY dark coarse hair so it was very noticible and they were being teased (they even had a teacher once say to them, "Wow - your legs are so hairy").

At age 8 I tought them how to shave as I was sick of using the Nair.

One of them is about ready to start shaving her pits and the other will be soon as well. They are both gymnasts so their under-arms are always exposed. I'm glad to know that at age 11.5 they aren't the only ones who need to shave.