to ask about hair removal for 12yo dd

[dogdaydisaster]

DD12 (Y8) has asked if she can get a shaver for her leg hair. I have no problem with this in principle, but wonder if shaving is her best option. She's a red head and the hair on hr legs is really really fair, and I wonder if once she starts shaving she'll end up with dark stubble? Is there a better way that she can deal with it, given that her hair is so fair?

There's no way she'd go for waxing as she has zero pain tolerance. She has agreed to wait while we decide what to do, as she's as keen as I am to avoid scratchy stubble if she can, and I don't think she's in a huge hurry, but I'm guessing by spring/summer she'll be getting more bothered by it.

I'd be really grateful for any advice on what would be best for her, many thanks.

Fair enough. I have no redhead experience! I am fair haired and had fair hair on my legs before shaving. It came back noticeably darker, thicker and more of it on the first shave and just got worse from there! Been waxing for years now and it has repaired some of the damage!

It may look darker and thicker but it only because the end has been blunted by the razor. It also looks darker as it hasn't been exposed to light to lighten it. There have been studies done that show it doesn't grow in darker thicker or faster when shaving compared to other hair removal methods

TBH she prob doesn't need to shave in your view, but if she's conscious of it then I'd let her, especially if her peers may have pointed it out in Gym class ect.

Again, thanks for the advice. A few ideas to put to her to see which she wants to try. She's not too bothered atm and is adamant she wants to avoid stubble so we'll see how things go.

Any links to said studies pixie? I'd be interested as I don't believe it only 'looked' like it was darker and thicker . . . and I also have parts of my leg now which are completely bald due to having waxed so many years

I just Googled it tbh. Waxing can cause less hair to grow back though as it can damage the hair follicles (something like that anyway ). Probably the reason I have patchy eyebrows as I over plucked them for many years!

www.snopes.com/oldwives/hairgrow.asp - it's even on snopes!