HI Mom's I have been wondering lately and I guess I'm not the only one as my friends have been asking also, when should you start having your daughter shave her legs. My daughter is 9 and in 4th grade, her legs are hairy but it is still blonde. I asked her if anyone says anything to her and she said only two of her friends have commented on them. I do remember though one girl in 2nd grade teased her about them. Any suggestions?
My daughter and I were both 9.
why do you care what a 7 year old says? one day she will shave her own legs, and tell you about it, y force the issue?
9 or 10. If she wants to, I would let her. Just tell her to let you know when she feels like she needs to, when she notices that other girls are etc. At her age, you don't want her to feel bad if other girls are shaving and she is not. You also don't want to make her feel like she NEEDS to follow the crowd, just that you want her to feel comfortable. I shaved in 5th grade on my own. My mom never talked to me about it and I have dark hair. One day at school one of my friends pointed out the hair on my legs. I went home and shaved that day and got horrible razor burn because I did not know how to do it. I wish someone would have talked to me about it and gave me a choice.
HI Kathy i know you are confused and at forth grade is not a good time I made my daugthter shave when she was in 7th cause that was when her hair started to turn black. that was the best i could do! sorry
Its to funny you are asking this because i was just talking about this subject the other day. My daughter is 9 and in the 4th grade also. She does have dark hair on her legs, but as you should know as soon as you start doing it you have to keep doing it. I let her start shaving her armpits this summer, but told her she needs to wait a couple more years for her legs. It takes alot of responsibility and i just don't think shes ready for it yet. ( I hate having to do it everyday! lol) I don't think my mom let me till i was like 11 or so. I really wouldn't push it unless its really making her uncomfortable. Hope i've helped:)
Eventually, your daughter will notice that women shave their legs and she'll want to join in. Before that, you're adding unnecessary pressure to conform to things she's not aware of yet... and are not 'necessary' to conform with, anyhow.
It may help to know that Julia Roberts has never (and vows that she will never) shave her underarms. Not everyone agrees that beautiful humans are hairless from the neck down.
My daughter was 11 almost 12 when WE decided.First it was her armpits but her legs was a big decision.I decided that it was easier to use the hair removal cream other then letting her use a razor. Yes other girls will tease other girls but don't let that be a reason to do it.If the hair is light leave it! I do think 9 is a bit too young.My daughter has darker hair and it really was just around the ankle area. Now that she's 13 we do the whole lower leg.I choose removal cream and I love it.She has no reaction to it and we do it maybe once or twice a month.Decide whats best for you and your daughter dicuss it together and dont let anyone tell you if your wrong or right!
When she decides she is ready to. My daughter will be 12 in a couple days and has no desire to. I ask every few months if she is interested and she says nope. She is also a total tomboy so doesn't care about girly stuff as much as your daughter may. I will let her decide, IF she even does! Her body, her comfort. When she is ready just don't use the hair removal creams as I have heard many doing. Those are such harsh chemicals being absorbed into the body.
Good luck and don't worry:)
I think that going into 6th grade is reasonable, i remeber i first shaved my legs after 5th grade ended and it was summer going into 6th. my mom wasn't very happy though i didn't talk to her first about it.
My daughter was in the same situation. I got her an electric razor around the age of 10. She is 12 now and I still won't let her use a disposable razor in the shower. I just don't feel comfortable that she won't cut her self. The electric razor is quick and easy and she can't cut herself and she shaves her legs maybe once a week - but that is more because I think she enjoys "feeling older".
I was reading the other mom's response - I just want to comment every person is different and there is no magical age for anything. If you feel it is time than it is time. My daugther just started 7th grade. She has some friends who reached puberty in 4th grade and some who still aren't quite there yet. You can't really make a decision based on age or grade - every girl develops differenty and as a parent you will know when it is right for your daugther. My doctor told me that the new norm for girls to start changes associated with puberty is closer to 10 and 11 where it used to be 13. With all the hormones in the foods kids eat and drink thier bodies are developing sooner than they used to. It is important for you and your daugther to tackle the changes to her body as they are occuring rather than be concerned with what other people are doing. Introducing new routines (such as shaving) to your daughter a little at a time will be easier on your daughter rather than waiting for "the right" moment to introduce everything at once that could become overwhelming.
I would just wait until she asks. Let her know that you're open to the idea.
I started shaving in 5th grade when I went through puberty. I had very dark hairy legs and my friends would tease me about it. I wish my mom would have let me shave earlier.
I just asked my daughter who's going to be 13 on Halloween if she shaved her legs yet, she said no. The hair on her legs are a light blonde so she probably really doesn't need to yet. She told me she didn't want to shave them yet. She has been shaving her underarms for nearly a year now though, I know this because I showed her how.
My daughter is ten and has very dark hair that bothered her. Our compromise was to get the hair removal cream you put on then wipe off with a sponge in the shower. This has worked great for her. She does it periodically to keep up but it is not like having to shave often. This is a great solution.
Good Luck!
when i first read your question, my initial reaction was that she's way too young for shaving! but reading through the comments i think jill is right - it should be a decision made together when SHE is ready...no magic age!
the way the question is worded - "when should you start having your daughter" is a bit odd...no pressure should be put on your daughter!! only if she WANTS to...
now this is coming from someone who rarely shaves! i remember being told by my mom if you waited, the hair would get thinner...but if you started shaving, it would grow in thicker and fuller! now i know she was trying to scare me...but i swear - above my knees now has no hair!! i never shaved there...maybe it's true?? ha ha!!
When she is ready, she will do it.
Boy, do I remember those days! I was very fair skinned and very dark hair, and very hairy! I was so self -conscience about it, and peers commented me on it, and it so bothered me. Age is irevelant. The time to have her start hair removal, is when she is old enough to be self conscience about it and it bothers her. It doesn't matter if her hair is light or dark, if it bothers her and she feels bad about it, get rid of it! This is totally doable and makes her feel good about herself. Get her an electric shaver, they make them wet/dry now. If it does't bother her,then don't worry about it. She might not be at that stage yet. But believe me, she will be, and you will know, so don't push it. I don't believe there is a magic age, it all happens when they start to develop, which is a range of ages.
I have three daughters...23, 17, 15 years old. My mother was very upset when I decided to let them shave. Needless to say, I let them shave when they felt they were ready. I also explained that once you start, you will need to maintain. But, all three were fine and I didn't make a big deal out of it.
I remember needing/wanting to shave my legs when I was in Elementary school and my Mom told me I had to wait until I was 13. That sounds so funny now because why would you put an age on something like that. Everybody develops differently. Needless to say, I snuck behind her back and learned to shave myself and did it anyway. I think I was in 5th grade then and probably 10 years old. My oldest daughter is 12 and in 7th grade. I think she was in about 4th grade when she wanted to start shaving. So I showed her how and talked to her about it. She probably actually only shaved about twice that year. Ha Ha. I've actually noticed that it was just this year (2-3 yr later) that she really started to make sure and shave. Also, I should add that I'm not one of those people that believe if you shave your hair will grow in thicker or darker. My hair is still as fine and as blonde as it always was. I guess I'm just fortunate in that area. I think those that have more coarse, dark hair and have to shave often would have to no matter when they begun shaving.
Basically, I say let her. :)
Have her use Nair supervised. I wouldn't let her use the razor. No specific age necessarily because everyone matures differently.
I hope this helps!
~Dorethia
www.connercoaching.com