My daughter wants to shave, but...?

Question

My daughter is turning 13 this year and she wants to shave. She says that everyone shaves and in her gym class they wear shorts and all of the girls talk about shaving and knicks and etc in the locker room. She says that she feels like the girls always look at her legs and so she always sits without showing her legs. She doesnt really have much hair on her legs, but they are pretty long. I didnt shave and I still dont and I dont have any hair on my legs (it isnt noticable, if you stare really close you can find a couple of hairs) so I dont have any experience of shaving.

My daughter is a brunette and doesnt have hair on her armpits.

Answer 1

It sounds like she needs to be allowed to shave her legs. When I was 11 I was BEGGING my mom to let me start shaving. All the girls in my class had already started and I was so embarrassed about my legs I refused to wear shorts of a skirt, even on hot days. My mom had the idea in her head that I was "too young" because I wasn't in junoir high school. Finally, I was out shopping with my mom one Sunday afternoon and I had a skirt and tights on. I got her attention and pointed down at my legs where my leg hair was actually stick out through the tights. lol she said "fine." and that night I was allowed to start shaving :)

In my opinon, as soon as a girls starts hitting puberty, she is old enough to shave if she wishes.

Answer 2

Nine seems a bit young, I think I was more like 12 when I started. However, I would talk a close look at your daughter's legs before deciding. Girls mature faster these days, and there are girls as young as 9 that begin menstruating. Consider why your daughter wants to begin shaving. Does she get teased at school, or is it simply something all the other girls do?

Answer 3

You don't need experience to support her. She is DEFINATELY old enough to start shaving. Lots of girls are 11 when they start shaving. I was becuase hairy legs are embarassing and that's why she sits hiding her legs. Both of you can try it together even if you don't have much hair to shave, make it fun! You're going to knick yourself sometime or another so don't be afraid. Just get a couple of good razors (not the cheap 2 blade ones) but the ones for about $5-$7 for a pack of four w/ 3-5 blades. Get some shaving lotion and then shave! It's not hard to get a hang of.

Answer 4

The bad thing about shaving is that once you start you can't stop. Depending on how fast the hair grows, you may have to shave every single day. And you can nick yourself.

There are other ways your daughter could hide the hair on her legs. If it's dark, she could bleach it. If she wants to remove it she could try Veet or a similar product. Waxing will give the longest-lasting results, as would epilation (like a shaver but it plucks the hairs out instead of cutting them) BUT these methods can be painful.

The only permanent method is laser removal which is VERY expensive.

Answer 5

She's at an age where it is appropriate to start shaving. Talk over other hair removal methods with her - and let her know that you are new to it as well. Maybe consider waxing if you have any personal qualms about shaving. If she does want to start, take her to the drugstore and look around for different products. Shaving is not very complicated. In fact, it's probably the most pain-free and inexpensive method of hair removal. Do some research on it with her, and it's probably not a bad time for her to experience it first-hand.

Answer 6

Any question like this involves a delicate balancing act. Everyone fights that fight to be accepted and be an individual all at the same time. Ask her why she wants to shave, whether it's for her or for the other girls. If you're the one with the issue you have to ask yourself why that is. If you just think shaving is dangerous there are other options out there like dipilitory creams (stay away from Nadz, though, that stuff is painful and you'll just end up traumatizing her).

Answer 7

my mom had the same issue with me at age 13. All the girls in my gym class shaved and i had really light hair too but the girls just kept on staring and I tried to hide my legs too. So she taught me how to shave my legs and I have been shaving my legs since age 13. Honestly, most girls start shaving their legs around age 13, so it's a good idea to probably let her go ahead and start. it's a natural thing for most girls to start shaving at 13. so she should be fine.

Answer 8

I have 3 daughter ages 17, 15 and 12 and all of them shave their legs, underarms and v*ginas. I taught them how to do it and I don't think that there is anything wrong with it. For her legs, there are creams that can be used.

Answer 9

Thats about the right age Try Venus Razors or I'm not sure if they still sell them but she could try silk effects razor (this one has guards on the blades so it's harder to cut yourself, not impossible just harder).....I think some of these answers are pretty rude.......anyways the Silk Effects razor is made by schick and I did find out you can still get them at walmart etc. I will attach a link (picture) so you have a better Idea of what your looking for, they also have a shave kit out by Veet which is razor-less its a gel you put on and just run this plastic razor like tool over it, do a test patch first to make sure she's not going to be allergic

Answer 10

She needs to shave. It's a part of being a woman. Women are supposed to shave their legs and underarms. If she doesn't she'll feel weird with all that hair and she'll get teased at school.