Pubic hair

[murphys]

My 11 year old dd is an early developer. She started her period age 10.5 yrs and has had pubic hair for about a year now. She is very blonde, her leg hairs and arm hairs are blonde and very fine. But she has an abundance of black pubic hair, so much so it shows through the sides of her underwear or swimsuit. She still has no underarm hair, the hair that is there is just very find blonde hairs. I was of the opinion that pubic hair is the same colour as all the rest . Do you think maybe as its new hair growth and it will lighten over time, or is this how things will be for her? This is already posing a bit of a problem as she is very conscious when swimming and is wearing shorts over her swimsuit. She has never mentioned shaving at all as yet so I don't want to encourage this right now.

[Magix]

If it's showing through swimsuits could you maybe get her tankini and shorts to wear swimming ? Sorry don't have any other advice .

[Bonsoir]

Take her for a bikini wax, poor child.

[JohnnyUtah]

Different style of swimsuit and knickers should sort it? Those boy short knickers might cover it all up. Does she have dark skin?

[piratecat]

you can get swimsuits in sports shops called boyleg, which hide the tops of the thighs. my dd is an early developer, now 11, and has one of these. finds it really comfy.

[Sparklingbrook]

I don't think you should give an 11 year old a bikini wax.

How about some Imaac just to remove the bits that are visible?

[AmIatwat]

Most 11 year olds have pubic hair. I don't know why you "" don't want to encourage shaving". Just get her some pretty ladies razors ( the tiny ones for pubes). It's all part of a girl's right of passage.

[ilovepowerhoop]

I never shaved as a preteen and don't shave it with razors now either at age 40!! Could she trim the edges with scissors or use a lady shave to trim the edges that show. No need to take it all off.

[Xfirefly]

I had a lady shaver at around 13. it was easy to use and I only done the bikini line. I wouldn't recommend waxing just yet (I'm a beauty therapist).

[titchy]

Did you really think she'd have blond pubes??????

Just get her a decent cut swimsuit, boyleg as others have suggested, and think nothing more of it. Or let her continue to wear shorts over her swimsuit. Not sure what the problem with that is.

If she wants to shave, wax or whatever it's up to her, but I wouldn't mention it unless she does. Not sure why but it seems wrong for mums to tell their daughters to get rid of body hair.

[murphys]

Thanks all. I think the boy shorts are a good idea.

AmI what I meant by not encouraging shaving, is that she doesn't shave her legs or armpits at the moment. She hasn't mentioned it and none of her friends do. So I don't want to be jumping the gun and suggest she shaves her bikini when she doesn't even shave her legs yet.

Titchy Yes, I would assume that if you are blonde then your pubic hair would be the same colour - mine are (were, as I wax mine)....

[JohnnyUtah]

There are blonde pubes?

[JazzAnnNonMouse]

I thought all pubes were darker than other hair and didn't know you could have blonde pubes!
Suggesting hair removal seems wrong somehow - I would however allow it if she asked if she were my daughter.

You can get tankini bottoms with shorts instead of knickers and long vest tops instead of crop/bra tops

[Journeytolight]

Just shave the bits that are visible IMO. Don't suggest it until she does though, she may think that you think it's weird and that may make her feel bad.

[WhateverTrevor83]

Good old Immac (or is it called something else now - Veet?), I think that's the best way forward. Kinder to skin and something she can do herself (obviously with your supervision).
Poor little thing - hope she feels less self conscious soon x

[Theas18]

Yes to boy shorts and tankini shorts

Lady shave and trim the spider legs if she's bothered. Offer to show her or just let her free- she can't damage herself with a ladyshave and it'll grow back, it's just hair. You aren't setting her on a porn star career or making her grow up " too fast" .

Body hair comes under " small stuff don't sweat it" in my "kids and puberty" list. There are plenty of other things that really deserve worrying about for mum or child. This isn't one of them.
.

[fieldfare]

Dd's got a tank suit with boy short style legs, she got it for racing but it's great as it doesn't ride up her bum as she climbs out.

Leave any hair removal up to her. Dd (11 last oct) asked at Xmas if she could shave her legs and armpits, I helped her veet them instead. I think this was mainly driven by swimming with the older girls.

[specialsubject]

waxing hurts like hell - bad message to give.

sadly swimsuits are cut so they don't cover normal female pubic hair pattern. If it is for a holiday then boardshorts are great, but you can't swim properly in them. Boy short legs actually look really good and don't disappear up your backside. Good solution.

and if hair shows through the suit, the suit must be made of tissue or be white.

[bigTillyMint]

murphys I am blonde and have blonde pubes. DD is blonde and has dark pubes. I have blonde eyebrows and eyelashes, but DD has dark eyebrows and eyelashes - is that the same with you and your DD?

If she is noticing the pubes sticking out, etc, talk to her about shaving/Immac'ing and let her decide. I have never waxed and so wouldn't want to suggest it to DD!

[shey02]

Well, you've implied that she may not need to shave her legs... so it's not really jumping the gun taking care of pubic 'business'... it's important and will be really good for her self esteem. Hair removal cream is a good way to start. Try not to let the situation continue, either go with the boy style shorts for swimming AND daily underwear (Ie. PE changing at school) and/or introduce the 'Nair'. If both of you do it, it will be more fun!

[SarahPatricia]

My mum got me veet bikini cream when I was young (the best thing she ever did and I an eternally grateful!) Then allowed me to wax at 15

[lovelymumof4]

A bikini wax for an 11 year old, that's wrong!! Ridiculous! To the poster: just give your daughter a razor and some scissors and show here what to do. That's what my mum did.

[chnagenameforthis]

it's important and will be really good for her self esteem

What? An 11 yo needs her self esteem boosted by learning that her body needs to conform?

Boy shorts all the way.

[Standinginline]

I'm blonde but pubic hair and armpit hair is black. I shave but sometimes when I don't have time to "tidy the garden " I use my lady shaver without a adapter (carefully !!) so I get a very close trim (almost looks shaven )but don't have the hassle of rash and whatnot when it grows back. I don't really get rash now as I've shaven for so long but your daughter probably will as her skin will be sensitive.

[LyndaCartersBigPants]

its important and will be really good for her self esteem, if both of you do it, it will be good fun ?

Shey, I'm glad I'm not your dd if that is what you consider to be mum and daughter fun times! What happened to baking together or going out for lunch? No, let's sit in and remove our pubic hair together.

[ThePinkOcelot]

I bought dd one of those Wilkinson sword things that is a trimmer on one end, razor on the other. They are £10, but sometimes on offer. I have one too. They are good.