When Do Girls Start Shaving Legs?

Whatever age you decide to let her start at.... please get her waxing instead of shaving. With waxing you don't get that nasty stubbly hair and you don't have to do it as frequently. Nowadays you don't even have to use the messy "wax" but they have little appliances that do the same as a waxer.... a good one is made by Norelco and it is called Satinelle.
Ciao,
T.

My Mother shaved my legs for me starting at the age of 10...she explained that it was VERY dangerous for young girls to use a razor on their own. She also bought me an electric razor for my own use.

I was 11. I don't think that there's really anything wrong with letting an 11 year old shave her legs. If anything, it'll make her feel less self-concious, which is a good thing.

HI E.,

I say if she's hairy, and she's asking you- let her now! My daughter, who is 12 now, is very hairy, and when she was like 4 or 5 she told me she really needed to shave her legs. So I let her. She's been shaving responsibly since then. I used an electric razor at first, and did it for her. I walked around a hairy monster till I was 12, cause my mother kept saying no, no, no... I was so embarrased... till one day I just finally shaved anyway! I couldn't stand it. And I ended up burning myself, because my mother wouldn't help me or tell me what to do. Hope this helps! :)
Blessings,
V.

ah, so it begins.....

if she has hair and is bothered by it, it's time!

My daughter is 16 now....she was probably about 11 when she started to shave. Let her do it; it will make her feel more like a young lady. The new razors have gel in them; you can have her experiment with some of those...and they sell shave gel now...I never bothered with that, but my daughter likes it. Each of us shave in the shower. Whatever works for her; let her try different things until she finds a way that suits her. I wish you both the best as you start this journey into the teenage years!

i'm 30 and i have a sister that is 29 and one who is 34. and a niece who is almost 14. we all started shaving when we were 9. but my older sister and i have dark hair so we needed to, and i guess my younger sister just followed suit. and my niece wanted to because a lot of friends were doing it and she doesn't like body hair :).

I was 8 or 9 when I started. I had an older friend (11 I think) who really needed to and I wanted to be like her, so I started shaving with her. I didn't tell my mom nor did we ever have a discussion about it. So consider yourself thankful that your daughter feels comfortable enough to have this conversation with you. Does she even need to shave her leggs? If there is some unsighlty hair, I see no harm in buying her the right materials so that she doesn't hurt herself. My older friend used her fathers razor and shaved a thin piece of skin off her shin.

I think I was around nine too. I was in the fourth grade I'm pretty sure. But like some of the other moms here I had dark hair. I would wear high socks if I wore anything other than pants and was totally embarassed about it. It sounds horribly young, but it did help with my perception about myself which is always a good thing.

I had to laugh a little when I read this b/c I felt the same way with my daughter. She got to the point where she refused to wear shorts or dresses/skirts b/c you could see the hair on her legs. I didn't remember my age either but I know I started a lot of things earlier than most girls when I was little. So I assume my daughter will do the same. My daughter turned 10 at the end of December & I beleive she just began shaving, I think, in August. I didn't really want to let her but a friend of mine had started allowing her daughter around the same age so I thought it was time to let go a little. It is a good thing b/c she felt more confident about wearing the clothes she wanted to. I bought the rasors that have the shaving stuff in an attachment that you put on it so they don't cut their legs. She likes it & it does what it needs to do.

Hi E.! Wow..my daughter is only 2...it gives me a reality check of what is to come! I guess I have never thought that far :) I personally was 12 when I did...and I snuck into the bathroom to do it. Like the other moms say, you are lucky that she feels safe enough to share that with you. I guess if it were me, I would let her. It would be bittersweet...it seems like a step away from the innocence of childhood. Have you noticed if her other friends have? Are you friendly with any of the other moms? If they all are shaving, you sure don't want her to feel left out and embarassed. If they are not yet shaving, then that would be grounds to have her wait. I would look at it like this...is it something that she wants to do to feel more comfortable? Then okay. Is it something she wants to do so that she can wear a short little skirt? Than no way! If she is a good girl, than I don't see any harm! Good luck!
A. C. :)

Hi E.,

The other moms have given some great advice that I agree with. It is wonderful that your daughter has come to you first. I might suggest finding out what triggered the question. Did someone say something to her or are her friends starting to shave? I remember being in the 4th or 5th grade and knee socks were popular at the time...well, when my dark hair was poking through and out the top of my socks and a boy teased me I was mortified. My mom was reluctant but at that point my self esteem was at risk and she finally agreed. But of course not without a talk about image etc. Good luck!

Hi E.,

My oldest is 9 and she, too, has asked when she can shave her legs. I told her when hair begins growing under her arms, she can shave her legs then. I was 12 when I began shaving, so I would assume most girls and boys get underarm hair growth by age 12 or 13. What fun time!

Hi E.,

Well my rule for my three now grown daughters was this: when the hair on your legs starts turning black, or ninth grade, whichever comes first. Like I told them, once you start, you can never turn back, and once you shave that baby fine almost invisable hair off, it will never grow back the same. They each had to start in seventh or eighth grade, as the hair on their legs started getting longer and darker, but we let mother nature decide.

11 is about the perfect age. Its the age when she is starting to see herself as a woman, at least part time. This is a great opportunity to start talking with her about feminine hygiene and how her body is changing. You can use this time to also begin to talk to her about how important it is to think about what her image presents to the world. Is she sloppy and messy, clean and classy, or trashy and slutty. Sorry to be blunt, but 14, 15 yr old boys are going to start gawking at her and she needs to think about how her choices of clothes and make up will affect what people think of her. Build her up and let her know that its very normal to desire to be pretty and woman-like, but that it is also a big responsibility.

Hi E.

i remember shaving at 11 also,My mom wax me ,we used to have our own heater.Believe me i am a true brunette so that was necessary at that time. teenager years can be at time challenging so, We don`t want to expose our sweets girls, to kids less kind. I still remember that time...but it`s another story

Best wishes
I.

I had oldersisters who didn't 'let' me until I was older- but i have light hair...
WAX mama!
WAX!!!
why start shaving??

I was about 11 and did it because my older sister taught me how. I did it til I was about 24. I have fine blonde hair and I don't shave anymore.

when they want to! Look at it this way they are asking to shave not for the pill Make up comes soon teach them how to use it correctly.

Wow this made me have to think back to my adolescent days lol! I was probably 12 or closer to 13. I have 3 girls and 2 boys my oldest one is 17 and she has very light hair to almost none on her legs so i told her to hold off until it gets darker, but her armpits she has to shave. I have a a 9 year old daughter and a 7 year old daughter, so we are approaching those years soon, my oldest daughter is very light skinned with light hair from her fathers side and my other 2 daughters are darker skin like me for italian so i know they will be shaving sooner. My 2 boys are still young so i have years before i hear about shaving their face hah! Good Luck with the decision and remember to tell her once she starts the hair comes in thicker and darker and she will have to do it all the time.
S. Mom to 5 amazing children 17yrs,9yrs,7yrs,3yrs,and 16months check out my sons journey www.liamlockhart.com

If she's got hairy legs and wants them smooth, then show her the options: Nair, a safe razor (with shaving cream)
or waxing (painful) She'll also want to shave under her arms, too. It's time....and don't forget to talk with her about menstruation.
Good luck, dear.
Blessings to you...

E.,

I was around 12 when I started and my daughter didn't start until she was 15 (by her choice). I think if your daughter is pretty responsible then it should be no problem with her starting now. At least you can get razors that are safer than the one I started with.

D.

Okay absolutely be thankfull she is talking to you.. if you can barely see the hair, I would recommend she wait as long as you can to start.. the older she is before she shaves the less hair will grow back.. I never believed that but my friend didnt shave till like 20 and she barely has hair.. now if she has a lot of hair.. I see no harm in letting her if you feel comfortable.. girls can tease you unmercifully over stuff like that... I would highly recommend your close supervision until you think she has the art down.. I was about 12 and my mom handed me the razor and walked out.. I have many battle scars..lol.. shaving is not a talent you are born with... I wish you lots of luck. God Bless you and your family!!

I remember the first day of sixth grade at my new school (I was 11) I had a really cute (age appropriate) skirt I wanted to wear, but my mom would not let me shave my legs. I was so embarrassed, so I wore pants instead, for the entire year. The following summer I just started doing it and never said anything to my mom about it again. I don't know if she knew or not, but I was very secretive about it. BTW, I am naturally blond and actually have very little hair on my legs, but at that age it was a very big deal to me. I laugh now, becasue with two little kids, I rarely shave anymore...only when I am going to wear a skirt/shorts/bathing suit. Good thing I can get away with it.

You already have many great answers - most of which I agree with. I was 11 when I began shaving, and I do have very dark hair. This post made me think back to that time... I had asked my mother first, so armed with a razor for the very first time I set out to the bath. Being the strong independent type, I didn't want any help - or at least didn't want to admit it anyway. So, I emerged from the bathroom, happy to say that I had not nicked myself once and my Mom reached down to feel my handy work and started laughing. Having had no instruction, I had shaved only the front of my legs. It never occurred to me to do the back too. We had a good laugh about it and I still look on that memory with fondness.

Getting in on this later but wanted to say that instead of a razor etc you can use a lotion hair remover that I use and it is a good product. www.HSN.com search for Serious Skin Care...it is called liquid lazor. It is a lotion that you but on in a thick layer, then to the shower with warm water and a cloth and wipe away. My husband uses it also. Then there is a lotion (post lazor) that you put on the area you took the hair off. You can you it too! Not just your daughter.

BTW I started shaving about her age too, I am blonde also.

Hi E., My daughter is 15 and has been shaving her legs for almost four years now. I stepped to the plate and bought her an electric shaver for Christmas when she was eleven and a half. How did I know she was ready...she had hairy legs, its quite that simple. As young ladies switch to middle school they are required to change for P.E. which can lead to insecurity/embarrasment issues. If your daughter feels she is old enough and ready to start shaving you should support her. Discuss together different shaving methods...razor, electric, waxing, creams, and find one that shes comfortable with. Wal Mart sells little pre-teen shaving kits with sample shave gels and sometimes bonus toenail polish and toe seperators.
Don't let this catch you off guard.. but my daughter also started her period at age 11, so you might want to prepare yourself for that conversation soon as well.
Best of Luck,
M. W.

Here is what I did: I am 30 y.o. and I shaved at 12. So hopefully that will give you perspective. I think once the little one gets hair in other places, you should let her shave.

Hope this helps :)

-T.

My oldest daughter starting shaving at age 11. And I am pretty sure the day my yougest turns 11, which is in May, she will remind me that her sister got to shave at 11 and she should to. I dont see a problem with it. Just to let you know, I gave my daughter a Venus Breeze to use.