OT: Tweens shaving legs

[AwaitingMagic]

My daughter was hairy at a young age too - I think about fourth grade. I decided it wasn't an issue that she should have to be worried about being teased about. We naired her legs until about 7th grade. We didn't have to do it that often - she didn't care if they were totally smooth all the time - but it worked until she was old enough to begin shaving (7th grade?).

 

[WantToGoNow]

My Dd9 started shaving this past spring. The hairs were long, dark and she was embarrassed by it. She shaves about 2-3 times a week.

 

[rachael95]

If she's asking, it's time. I didn't even ask my mom. I started shaving when I was 9. I had older sisters and had seen mom and them shave, so knew how to do it. Didn't even think about asking if I could. Figured, it was my legs, my decision. But yes, dark hair here too.

 

[bwhitlatch81]

My niece started shaving her legs when she was 9. My mil is Costa Rican, and my niece has the thick, dark hair and darker complexion so it became pretty noticeable. My mil (whom my niece lives with) bought her an electric razor first but she started using a manual one about a year later. If she dances and cheers, and is obviously self conscious about it and mature enough to handle it, then you have noting to worry about. Homecoming weekend is the perfect time to start!

 

[GotLabradors]

I teach middle school PE and most of my 6th grade girls are shaving already. Those that aren't now, will be by the spring. I'm with all the PPs who say that if she's asking, then it's probably time. Good luck!

 

[asmit4]

Back in the 80s it was 5th grade bras, and 6th grade shaving. I'd bet 4th/5th is the new norm now. Sad that 9yos can't just be 9 these days but times have changed a lot. Being a preteen is tough enough---if she's truly upset about it I'd let her do it. Maybe agree to revisit it in the spring? (shorts season etc)

 

[robinb]

Let her shave if she wants to. It's not a big deal.

 

[wendybeth75]

I had a friend in a similar situation. She bought some time by bleaching her dd leghairs. It made them much less noticeable. You can get the sally hanson bleach kits at most discount stores.

 

[Granny square]

Let her shave if she wants to. It's not a big deal.

No kidding! Why would anyone prevent such a thing? How many issues are that easy to fix?

 

[SmallWorld71]

My DD turned 9 beginning of Sept. She asked to shave her legs about 2 weeks ago and I kinda blew it off hoping we would get past warm weather and wouldn't have to address it again till spring.

My daughter asked to shave last fall. (She was 9 1/2) I have always told her that we could do it as soon as she felt ready. But, seeing as it was fall, I reminded her that it was pants weather and that nobody would actually see her legs for months. I told her my advice was to wait until the spring, but if she really wanted to I would teach her. She decided to wait.
Ironically, by the time spring rolled around she decided she didn't care anymore and didn't want to do it. She is now 10 1/2 and has decided she wants to learn next spring, before going to middle school.
Her legs are very hairy, but the hair is pretty light so you don't notice as much until you are up close to her.

 

[LONES]

Sorry if I'm going a little off topic here.... but I'm wondering how people feel about dealing with facial hair on young girls? I'm talking uni-brows, moustaches and sideburns. Both of my girls have dark brown/black hair, and we're going to be dealing with lots of body hair issues.

When my oldest was 4, they had a water day at daycare. After appearing in a swimsuit, some of the other kids asked my daughter why her back is so hairy.

My youngest (6 years old), came home crying from a birthday party. When I finally got out of her what was wrong, she told me the birthday girl's 8 year old brother "teased me for the way God made me!" He made fun of her having a moustache. I mean... it's a little noticable if you're looking, but she's not exactly sporting the Tom Selleck.

I don't want to be "that mother" that's bringing my elementary aged daughters into the salon for full body waxes... but I also don't want to have to kick any 8 year old boys in "you know what" for making my baby cry!!!! J/K!!!!

 

[Coconuts]

It's so funny that I found this thread; I have a newly turned 10yo/5th grader that is going through the same thing right now.

We within the last month had to buy bras. She also has some hair, with her legs being the hairiest, but not too, too dark. Thank goodness she didn't even ask about shaving or seem to want to. I told her that she should be good for now since she won't be wearing too many tank tops and will soon be in pants for the winter. Hopefully I'll be able to hold off on the shaving until spring, but am thinking we will try Nair first.

And yes, I agree; this growing up thing is coming wayyyyy too fast!

 

[gemini2727]

Sorry if I'm going a little off topic here.... but I'm wondering how people feel about dealing with facial hair on young girls? I'm talking uni-brows, moustaches and sideburns. Both of my girls have dark brown/black hair, and we're going to be dealing with lots of body hair issues.

When my oldest was 4, they had a water day at daycare. After appearing in a swimsuit, some of the other kids asked my daughter why her back is so hairy.

My youngest (6 years old), came home crying from a birthday party. When I finally got out of her what was wrong, she told me the birthday girl's 8 year old brother "teased me for the way God made me!" He made fun of her having a moustache. I mean... it's a little noticable if you're looking, but she's not exactly sporting the Tom Selleck.

I don't want to be "that mother" that's bringing my elementary aged daughters into the salon for full body waxes... but I also don't want to have to kick any 8 year old boys in "you know what" for making my baby cry!!!! J/K!!!!

I'm sorry the other kids are being mean about it
If they are really embarrassed by extra body hair, I think I would consider letting them wax or shave. It's young to start, I know, but if they wanted to I would let them, I think...good luck!

 

[happymommy]

Thanks! That's part our issue, too....Even though I have dark-ish brown hair, I have (mostly) Northern European genes and DH has Latin American genes, so our kids all have dark brown hair/eyes, and their skin, while it tans well, is still a lot fair-er (is that a word??!!LOL) than most Latin Americans. DS13 just started shaving back in May because his hair on his face was starting to fill in more and since he is really my most fair-skinned child, it was really getting noticable! LOL I'm still trying to adjust to the fact that my 13 year old is shaving, and now we are dealing with the 9 1/2 year old This childhood thing is going by wayyyy to fast for me!

I don't think the kid was teasing her, really...I think it was just an obnoxious 4th grade observation that the kid probably said in front of everyone and DD got embarrased. It doesn't help, either, that even though we now live in the Western Chicago suburbs, where there is a HUGE hispanic, and other races too, population around us, the area that we live in is a very small community with one elementary school, and (to DD) it seems like everyone she knows has blonde hair LOL It's not true, of course, but her perspective kills me since we have only lived here for 3 years, having moved from a small town of 3000 people in MI where 99% of the population seemed blonde! LOL Kids.

Thank you for your advice!

Glad to know it wasn't teasing, and yes, childhood is going by way too fast!

Good luck! And yes, you are the "COOL" parent - I recall one girl whose parents wouldn't let her shave in 9th grade (seriously? OK that was the early 80's so I date myself LOL).

And my mom is also from a small town (in Illinois) and there we're all blonde white Irish/German/Catholic but I live in Maryland now, where we have the third largest population of Koreans in the US (or outside Korea I forget) but anyway, it's so mixed. I know lots of Koreans with dark hair but it's not so thick like my DD. We had a good family friend who still in her 20's didn't shave - lucky!

 

[happymommy]

Sorry if I'm going a little off topic here.... but I'm wondering how people feel about dealing with facial hair on young girls? I'm talking uni-brows, moustaches and sideburns. Both of my girls have dark brown/black hair, and we're going to be dealing with lots of body hair issues.

When my oldest was 4, they had a water day at daycare. After appearing in a swimsuit, some of the other kids asked my daughter why her back is so hairy.

My youngest (6 years old), came home crying from a birthday party. When I finally got out of her what was wrong, she told me the birthday girl's 8 year old brother "teased me for the way God made me!" He made fun of her having a moustache. I mean... it's a little noticable if you're looking, but she's not exactly sporting the Tom Selleck.

I don't want to be "that mother" that's bringing my elementary aged daughters into the salon for full body waxes... but I also don't want to have to kick any 8 year old boys in "you know what" for making my baby cry!!!! J/K!!!!

I don't see anything wrong with taking them for waxing then. My DS has a unibrow (or rather, did) and he has had me wax it since he was about 10. It's not like waxing is permanent, and yes if you have a low pain threshold it can sting (doesn't me, but I had two kids with difficult pregnancies so that's nothing).,

 

[qtkksmom]

My DD has very dark hair. When she was in 7th grade, she was teased about her facial hair. I took her to a salon and had both her lip and brows waxed. It made a world of difference in her confidence. She still has both done at the same place.

She was also a competitive dancer, so shaving her legs was a non-issue for us. With proper guidance, it shouldn't be much of an issue with safety. I just guided her until I felt she was ready to go solo.

 

[njmom47]

My dds are both blond, but dd#1 matured VERY early. She was shaving in 4th grade, wearing camis and sports bras as well. DD#2 cheered in 4th grade, so she starting shaving at that time. They did start with an electric razor.
I had a uni-brow, and my mom would wax it. (I still remember the teeny tiny pot with the spoon stuck in the hardened wax that she would put on the stove )

 

[mousehunter3]

My daugher is going to be 10 soon. She has light colored hair, but she does have quite a bit. She was very self-conscious about it. I was worried about her cutting herself. We bought some Nair. I remember using it when I was younger and it didn't work for me. But it did work for her! We do it whenever she asks, maybe every 2-3 weeks. And it is super easy. And cheaper than therapy.