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Original poster

What age did you or let your dc shave their legs

118 replies

onelastgoatthis · 27/10/2021 19:20

Dd is 12 and asking to shave her legs, I'm sure I was around 14 when I started to shave...just after opinions

OP posts:

BitterTits · 27/10/2021 20:48

I've given DD 11 a razor which she uses when she gets round to it (much like me). She wouldn't take her leggings off at the beach over summer so we wondered if that was the problem. It didn't really change though, she just likes to have her arms and legs covered.

KurtWildeWitchOfTheWoods · 27/10/2021 21:00

My puberty passed my mum by, there were never any razors or toiletries in the bathroom for me when I was reaching that age.

Consequently, I've always made sure I have plenty of toiletries in the bathroom for my DC (DDs and DS), and kept a dialogue open about any body changes they'd like to discuss. I remember my mum never talked to me about it (mid to late 1980s) and it was crap.

My older DC were about 10/11 when they told me they wanted to shave. Youngest DD is 11 and she's just started. They didn't need to ask, it's their body.

VienneseWhirligig · 27/10/2021 21:04

I nicked my dad's razor when I started secondary school. My mum bought me a lady shave but I couldn't get on with it so she bought me my own razor. I don't remember asking permission, but I think my dad cottoned on when his blades kept being blunt

DS shaved his legs when he was 6, I had left him in the bath to play and when I came back he had expertly deforested his legs, copying what he had seen me do in the bath. Not repeated the experience since though!

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GreenWhiteViolet · 27/10/2021 21:06

I didn't ask, I just did it. I was probably 11 or 12. I don't think girls should need to ask, but if they do, I think it would be cruel for a parent to say no, regardless of age. And I say that as someone who stopped shaving at 19 or so and has been naturally hairy ever since. There's nothing wrong with body hair. There's a lot wrong with forcing a girl to keep hers when she doesn't want it, because you want to set an arbitrary age on it.

icedcoffees · 27/10/2021 21:07

I was about eleven and I never asked, just took my dads' razors and got on with it lol.

RacketeerRalph · 27/10/2021 21:08

@AnonAnom940

to those asking why does she need to ask ....Surely a child does have to ask because they need someone over 18 to buy the razor.

It's more about the idea of "letting her", like it's not a given.

Razors should be available for us by those who want to. Like sanitary towels and tampons, soap and shampoo.

CaMePlaitPas · 27/10/2021 21:10

antsinyourpanta · 27/10/2021 21:11

I think I was about 12 when I started shaving my legs. I persuaded DD(15) to let me wax her legs when she suggested shaving them. She shaves her armpits - I think she's been doing that since about age 13 but I'm not entirely sure. She doesn't bother with her legs in the winter and then I wax them for her during the warmer months.

TheCanyon · 27/10/2021 21:14

Dd started using my shaver last year, so at 11. The batteries are ALWAYS dead when I want to use it so she now has her own one.

Cantstopthewaves · 27/10/2021 21:15

DD 10.5yo asked if she could have a razor to shave her legs a couple of months ago.
She's fair haired and tbh the hair is unnoticeable but she said she could feel the hair and didn't want to wear shorts or go swimming so I showed her what to do.

RoseMartha · 27/10/2021 21:16

When they asked if they could age abt 12

Spoldge45 · 27/10/2021 21:16

I agree with AnonAnom they need to ask as how else would they get the razor? Firstly they would need to have the money (not all kids that age get pocket money) and they would need someone over 18 to buy it for them, so I don't think its all about giving 'permission'

My DD is 12.5 and has never asked about leg shaving, she knows that some of her friends do & she know I do (sometimes!) & I know that if and when she feels ready to start shaving she will come & ask me, but as others have said I don't want to put ideas in her head, its a very personal choice, not all women shave and so we shouldn't expect all our young girls to want to. I think its a sad world if girls are made to feel they have to have to shave. its all about personal choice. Personally I'd save yourself the hassle and wait until next summer!!

CoastalWave · 27/10/2021 21:18

My 8 year old shaves hers. I might add she's a gymnast so legs on show a lot and she trains with older girls. She was very hairy and very self conscious. Job done now. Happy child.

MrsAvocet · 27/10/2021 21:21

Well just to add a bit of variety to the thread, my DS started shaving his legs when he was about 11 or 12, well before he started shaving his face.
I had advised him against it, but cyclists are vain creatures, even at an early age. He ignored me though, helped himself to one of my razors and I came home to a bathroom that resembled a scene from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. He's got the hang of it now though.

Redwinestillfine · 27/10/2021 21:23

Mine was 10 but I got her am electric one

Concestor · 27/10/2021 21:25

I can't remember but was definitely shaving at 15. My daughter is 12 and hasn't asked yet (and I agree she will ask, they need a razor for a start!)

frazzledfragglefromfragglerock · 27/10/2021 21:25

My 12 year old has had razors since year 6. She doesn't use them all the time but I gave her the choice once she started noticing hair. I explained that some women choose to shave, some don't and it's up to her. She said she'd like to try but in all honesty she's too lazy to do her legs most of the time. She always does her armpits though.

Having say that my 14 year old never asked for razors and she only really tried it when her younger sister did. She doesn't like it and doesn't shave at all.

I think at 12 your daughter is old enough to choose but I do think a conversation about personal choice over societal "norms" is a good idea. I'd hate for my girls to think they HAVE to shave.

SisforSoppy · 27/10/2021 21:28

Dd 9 has been shaving for a year. I usually help. Her leg hair is quite dark and thick and she is very sporty and lives in shorts and leotards. She knows I’ll pay for laser as soon as she is old enough. DM wouldn’t let me shave until I was 14 and had been humiliated multiple times at school. That wasn’t going to happen to my dd.

ZZGirl · 27/10/2021 21:31

I didn't ask.
I'd seen my mum do it so I knew what I was doing. I was 12

icedcoffees · 27/10/2021 21:38

@AnonAnom940

to those asking why does she need to ask ....Surely a child does have to ask because they need someone over 18 to buy the razor.

I think most pre teens just borrow their mums/dads/older sisters/best friends, don't they?

It never occurred to me to ask my parents to buy me one of my own until my mum suggested it

snackess · 27/10/2021 21:48

I remember being so uncomfortable to speak to my mum about this I just didn't and worried and was anxious and avoiding of thing.

It's a good sign she is able to come to you to talk. I agree that you should provide her with what she needs and show her safely etc.

I think I'd also talk through all the options e.g. waxing, shaving etc so she can consider them all

Essen · 27/10/2021 21:54

I leave a packet of razors in the bathroom so my daughter can use them, if she wants to. I don’t want my daughter to feel that anyone else should have control over her body. Also, when I was at school, girls did get bullied for having hairy legs and I don’t think today’s youth are much more enlightened.

MissCreeAnt · 27/10/2021 21:56

Mine doesn"t, but does do armpits for ballet. I'd buy her an electric shaver.

gogohm · 27/10/2021 22:21

I bought my DD's battery operated razors when I noticed their legs were getting hairy, around 13, but they both were late developers - periods were 14 and 15.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 27/10/2021 22:26

I was about 11 or 12, it wouldn’t of occurred me to ask permission.

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