Seeking Advice on 11 Yr Old Girl Shaving for First Time

Hi D.. My daughter was 11 when she started shaving her legs. She used a regular razor and a shave gel. If she doesn't have much hair, I wouldn't start til it's noticeable. If you uncomfortable with the idea of a razor, a depilatory cream could be an alternative.

Hi there, my first instinct was not to let her, she's too young! Then I thought back to when I was 12 and had class swimming lessons. I also had leg hair, but mine was dark. My Mom got me some Nair to use. Maybe try that if she asks again? I wish that she didn't have hair on her legs at all, but it's just plain old reality and I've been there. Good Luck!

if her hair isnt that noticeable, i would try a hair lighening product. If you really want to get rid of the hair, try a rinse off spray or cream. these products are easy to use and you dont have to worry about cuts and razor burn.

My mom gave me Nair...the first time I shaved(I had a ton of hair) but you could try that or the VEET(sp?)that isn't a razor...I have all boys so I have no expirence but my own to fall back on sorry. Good luck!

Give your daughter the Intuition razor with the lather/soap attached. You don't even need to use shaving cream with it. Try it yourself first to see how it works but I thought it was the best first shaving experience for my daughter. She used it for the first time at 10 or 11 and had a very positive experience. It worked well, it was very easy, she didn't experience any cuts and she eventually graduated to a better razor with shaving cream.

Have her wait as long as possible before she starts shaving. The earlier she starts it will be worse as she gets older. Usually its just baby fine and hard to see now at that age, if she starts shaving it, it will grow back quicker and thicker!

I'd let the whole idea go, seeing as she has no interest in shaving once the rules were given to her. No need to go electric, you can use the razorless shavers they have now....VEET I think is what they are called. But if she doesn't seem to want to maintain the shaving, I think you should let it go until she is truly ready. Good luck.

First things first.....It's an "old wives tale" that if you shave, your hair will grow in thicker and darker. It's going to grow in thicker and darker whether she shaves or not!

If she wants to shave get her something like Veet or Nair. They work great and there are no worries about cutting herself. If you really want to get her an electric shaver, just about any brand name shaver will do fine. Just keep in mind they don't get as close as Veet or Nair and will have to be used more often. And they can sometimes cause "razor rash" (especially if used under the arms)!

I would let her be the guide about this. I started shaving my legs without my mom's knowledge at this age because it was noticible, and the leg hair was dark, but she put me in this position. Age does not matter so much as puberty, which can happen between 10 and 16, depending on the kid, and if she has dark hair, why force her into a situation where she could end up being embarrassed about the way that her legs look? That self conciousness could carry into other things for the rest of her life.

I would let her try both, but I personally think a razor is more comfortable with a shaving cream, and it is easier for a young girl to do safely. Most girls that age just have a little extra hair from the ankles to the knees anyway. Get a good quality razor with at least 2 blades, the more blades they have, the less likely she will be to cut herself. One thing that you should teach her is good hygenic practice with anything that she uses, like being sure to rinse the blade out with hot water, let it fully air dry and inspect it for knicks and rust before she uses it again.

Hi D. C
I am a mother of a 16 yr old and 13 yr old girls. My oldest starting shaving at the age of 14 and of course the my youngest at the age of 12 had to start shaving to. I sorry that I don't have any suggest about an electric razor but my girls start out with Veet with the bladeless razor. They start recently use the razor/shaving cream. They both don't have any problems with it. My oldest daugther her hair seems to be more noticeable but my youngest daughter hair is light it I didn't see a change. Just wait, next is the eyebrows being waxed.

M. W

Forget the shaving and let her be a little girl! There is no reason she needs to shave yet and she will have lots of years to do it! If her hair is light no one will notice or care and if they do find out why they are paying that much attention to an 11 year olds legs! A.

She is way to young. She has to know this is forever. Her hair will go back thicker and it will hurt as times when she does not want to shave. I read someone said let it go. I suggest the same, she is just a little girl.

Good Luck! :)

Sorry, I don't have any advice on good electric shavers. I just wanted to suggest that if the hair on her legs is bothering her but not enough that she wants to shave, then just try bleaching it. They sell home bleaching kits at Harmons or any beauty store. Just test a small area first in case she is allergic to it.

sounds like you already handled it, she's not interested in her hair growing back thicker, and darker. If it were me, I'd talk to her about blade vs electric. Let her see how they are used, the pros and cons and then let her decide. I am pretty sure I started shaving when I was around 12-13 years old. I used a blade razor. I cut myself a few times, but nothing serious. Just nicks and stuff. She's getting older and interested in older stuff. You can use this an experience together. You can help teach and guide her, and help her make her own decision. Me? I picked up a razor for the first time at 10 and shaved my legs. I used my mom's. My mom was really surprised, and I got over my curiosity and then didn't do it again for another couple of years.

Hi D., I think if your daughter changed her mind, forget it for now. I also don't agree that hair grows back thicker(as my dad tried to tell me to discourage shaving) I did shave my legs for years and hardly have any now. If you can hardly see the hair on her legs, that is most likely the way her hair grows. Good luck, raising girls is a series of issues.Go with your gut. My best, Grandma Mary (mother of 5)

Like S. R, I started shaving w/o my mother's knowledge. It is wrong to stop her from shaving, I should have had help and supplies. My hair has always been dark and thick. I wanted to be sensitive to her needs, so I buy her clothes and supplies and makeup, it is hard enough to go through emotional upheavals at this age. Electric razors don't cut that close, I use one only when no water is available. And the depilatories never worked for me.

I suggest getting her a razor and shaving gel, and give her a little instruction, then just let her handle it. And when the eyebrows issue comes up, take her to a good hairdresser. Young girls will find it difficult to pluck. I used to do it by hand and it took hours. My eyebrows were also very thick.

Hi there, congrats! to you and your daughter, now the "fun" is about to come-PUBERTY and all its wonders!, it was so much easier when they were younger but this was bound to happen.
First off, it's totally an old wives tale that the hair will grow back darker, stronger etc, and if she feels embarrassed let her shave. Just make sure she has the good razors and shaving cream so she doesn't get a rash or nicks.
I remember freaking out initally too but now I wish I could return to that time as well,... Good Luck and enjoy, M.