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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to show my daughter how to shave her legs

116 replies

gordyslovesheep · 16/08/2013 21:17

genuinely not sure here and open to AIBU wet fish and general 'being put rightness'

DD1 is 11 in Oct and has started being very self conscious about her leg hairs. She is blond but they are blond and quiet dark brown and long

she refuses to wear skirts etc and has asked me to show her how to shave them

So part of me says 'she's asked, it's bothering her, show her' and the other part says SHE'S TEN

I offered to pay for them to be waxed (less chance of severing a vein) but she wants to shave them

I'm going to have to bite the bullet aren't I?

OP posts:

waltzingmathilda · 16/08/2013 21:19

severing a vein?

AnythingNotEverything · 16/08/2013 21:19

She wants to know, it's affecting what she wears - show her!

Teach her right though - bath time, sensitive shaving foam, clean razor every time, moisturise etc.

I know she seems young, but she might just have a go herself if you don't!

Original poster

gordyslovesheep · 16/08/2013 21:21

That;s it Anything she seems so little - but you are right - I need to do it

Waltzing that was an attempt at humour!

OP posts:

Ifancyashandy · 16/08/2013 21:21

Yes. Yes you are. My mother hated the idea of my growing up in many ways and never showed me how to shave my legs. Cue the blood!

Just show her. She'll do it anyway and if she hates the idea of waxing (which I would personally promote - good habit tonget into if one wants to do hair removal) then save her from (my) scared ankles.

BrokenSunglasses · 16/08/2013 21:23

I think you should go for it!

So what if she's ten, she's going to start at some point and this really isn't one of the growing up issues that you have to worry about happening too soon.

I have a really nice memory of my Mum shaving my legs with me the first time. We sat on the edge of the bath and used the long shower thing, and it was fun.

Make the most of this with your dd, go shopping for some razors together, and if you don't mind nail varnish then you could paint your toes afterwards as well. It could be a really lovely experience for you both.

Original poster

gordyslovesheep · 16/08/2013 21:23

message received do I need to buy her her own razor? (and yes I wish she would opt for waxing)

OP posts:

pianodoodle · 16/08/2013 21:25

Yes - I had (have) really dark hair and around your daughter's age decided to shave them myself with mum's razor. Made a complete hash of it!

Next time mum came in while I was in the bath and showed me properly - much better!

Poppanicolino · 16/08/2013 21:25

Wouldn't a silky mitt be better? Much less chance of cuts and stubbly regrowth.

YoniFoolsAndHorses · 16/08/2013 21:28

Snap! My DD is also 11 on October, and just today she asked me if I could show her how to shave her legs.

I think I will. Shaving gel and nice Gillette razors I think - lea chance of her cutting herself (I hope).

Will probably do it this weekend sometime.

NoComet · 16/08/2013 21:28

Yes!
DD1 just pinched one of my disposable razors, at about 11 and did hers. I have lent her the electric, but she isn't keen. Very few nicks, but there wouldn't be. DD1 is dippy dyslexic and dizzy, except when it matters. Then she just gets on with things.

I don't think I've ever helped her. She gets DH to do the backs up to her swimming costume (she knows which of her parents is the patient one )

DD2 (12) hasn't asked yet, there is enough hair on her shins she will soon. She's likely to be a total liability with anything sharp. I hope she asks DD1 because she probably won't ask me and she'll feel she should ask DH (even though she, also knows, that for all tasks requiring a patient steady hand he is brilliant).

NoComet · 16/08/2013 21:29

Shouldn't ask DH

mrsjay · 16/08/2013 21:29

if she wants to let her and show her I use gillette(sp) razors the agilitte (sp again) ones my dds have never severed legs ever with them , she isn't that little and if she is uncomfy with the hair then get rid I wouldnt get them waxed just yet

i can remember using bic at that age as i wasnt allowed to shave my legs well i was 13 and like a yeti so did it and cut my legs to bits

NomNomDePlum · 16/08/2013 21:30

well, if it was my 10 year old i would have a long conversation with her about how beautiful her legs were, including the hair on them, and that she didn't need to shave her legs just because other people do. and then if she still wanted to, i would find someone who was competent with a razor and get them to show her...

SofiaVagueara · 16/08/2013 21:30

No do it. I still hold an absolute amount of bitterness towards my mother that from the age of 12- 17 I didn't go swimming or wear a costume on holiday because I was ashamed of how hairy I was.

It wasn't that I didn't know I could shave my legs, I did shave them. But i had no idea you could shave your bikini line or how.

Also the only razor I ever had access to was a cheap bic one she used. Fine if you know how to use a razor but my poor little teenage legs were cut to ribbons and she never offered to show me. I didn't even know women could use shaving foam till I was about 20.

FreyaSnow · 16/08/2013 21:31

Do you have to use shaving gel/foam? What does it do?

Sharptic · 16/08/2013 21:32

I think showing ur daughter how to shave with a razor would be a good idea.

I have strong memories of tempting my own legs, completely dry and took a chunk out of each shin. Wish I had been shown how.

She might want to find out about other hair.removing methods but shaving needs guidance!

Quejica · 16/08/2013 21:32

I would buy her a decent epilator.

mrsjay · 16/08/2013 21:33

I dont use foam or gel i used to buy it now and again, but you dont really need it soap does the same thing or hair conditioner

Sharptic · 16/08/2013 21:33

Original poster

gordyslovesheep · 16/08/2013 21:33

Mrsjay I used a bic orange the first time - it was not pretty!

Nom I do get your point and I have discussed the normality of body hair etc but she is determined

Will tackle it tomorrow then x

OP posts:

LittleMissSnowShine · 16/08/2013 21:34

I shaved mine at 12 - I remember my mum got me razors and shaving foam tho she didn't show me how. I think I made an ok job, no memories of severed veins

if my DD was around 11 and wanted to do it I'd probably try and dissuade her a bit first but if she had her heart set on it, then yeah, why not give her a demo first, again underlining how you have to do it very few days etc and what a pain it is. I know exactly how you feel OP, 10 just seems way too young but if her friends are doing it she is bound to follow suit.

mumofweeboys · 16/08/2013 21:34

I second using silky mitt

mrsjay · 16/08/2013 21:34

veet do a girls cream dyspraxic dd2 used that for a while then she was confident enough to shave,

bic orange is bloody evil

plantsitter · 16/08/2013 21:34

I remember my sister and I secretly trying to stem the flow of blood spouting from her leg after she had nicked my dad's razor to do hers for the first time. It bled for ages.

Show her, definitely!

juneybean · 16/08/2013 21:35

Please do show her! I did mine for the first time at 11...dry. It hurt for days.

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