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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

13 year old with underarm hair

212 replies

scunner · 04/07/2020 19:57

What do mums advise for a 13 year old girl with quite a lot of underarm hair. Not fine and fair, but dark and wiry. Should I find a cream to remove it? She is very self conscious. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

OP posts:
Ohtherewearethen · 04/07/2020 20:16

@rosiejaune - seriously? Good grief you come out with some nonsense

back2good · 04/07/2020 20:16

You not hate your body and still not want hairy armpits. I don't find hairy armpits attractive in men or women, personally.

DrWAnker · 04/07/2020 20:17

My almost 13yo was self concious about her leg hair. It's not dark, but very noticable.
No way I was letting her loose with a razor, she'd cut herself to ribbons! Wax strips all the way. She's been happy with that.

She's mentioned the under arm hair recently and I told her if she wants rid of it we can wax it but she's not too fussed so I'll let her decide.

bambinaballerina · 04/07/2020 20:21

Waxing works best as it weakens the hair. I had laser done after 18 and it reduced my hair to a normal amount (I used to have very very thick hair, and lots of it, you wouldn't believe it).

Teach her not to hate her body? Perhaps leading by example if you don't already.

Crap like this is usually said by people with sparse, light hair, who have no idea what it means being a hairy teenager.The fuck you'd avoid shaving if you had black moustache, monobrow, and hair every where else like I do.

Thisismytimetoshine · 04/07/2020 20:21

Razor

SoulofanAggron · 04/07/2020 20:22

Razor :)

SerenDippitty · 04/07/2020 20:26

Razor. Tell her to be careful about putting deodorant on straight after though.

rosiejaune · 04/07/2020 20:26

@bambinaballerina

Waxing works best as it weakens the hair. I had laser done after 18 and it reduced my hair to a normal amount (I used to have very very thick hair, and lots of it, you wouldn't believe it).

Teach her not to hate her body? Perhaps leading by example if you don't already.

Crap like this is usually said by people with sparse, light hair, who have no idea what it means being a hairy teenager.The fuck you'd avoid shaving if you had black moustache, monobrow, and hair every where else like I do.

I don't have sparse light hair. And my mum (and other teenagers) made me ashamed of having body hair when I was a teenager, by removing hers, and implying it was normal to remove it, so I did. Then I realised how stupid I was being, since adult women have hair, so I stopped.
PerfectPenquins · 04/07/2020 20:28

Definitely get her a razor, im 31 and burnt the hell out of my armpits using the cream! had to keep soft material under there for days thanks to the burn ouch!

mbosnz · 04/07/2020 20:29

Oh my, your mother made you ashamed of having body hair by removing hers? How dare she do what she wants with her body. . . not thinking about the emotional trauma she might be inflicting on her child by having the temerity to want to remove her body hair. Will nobody think of the children?!

Ohtherewearethen · 04/07/2020 20:30

It is 'normal' to remove unwanted body hair and the millions of women who choose to remove it as a personal preference, as we all have a right over our own bodies, are not 'stupid' as you so eloquently put it.

Aquamarine1029 · 04/07/2020 20:31

Then I realised how stupid I was being, since adult women have hair, so I stopped.

Congratulations?

tiredanddangerous · 04/07/2020 20:32

Razor. Creams have a tendency to burn your skin off or maybe that's just me

user1481840227 · 04/07/2020 20:35

I think a razor would be the best idea.

Hair removal creams can be so harsh and cause burns.

Waxing works great for some people, but for others it doesn't suit them at all and they will get very painful ingrown hairs. Also with waxing you have to wait for it grow back to a certain length which might mean that she is uncomfortable or self conscious for part of the month!

cologne4711 · 04/07/2020 20:41

I think I was about 13 when I started with underarm hair. I have shaved it off from the very beginning.

cologne4711 · 04/07/2020 20:42

I don't find hairy armpits attractive in men or women, personally Me neither.

reluctantbrit · 04/07/2020 20:42

We started with a lady shave but now DD moved to wet shaving.

During lockdown she stopped as she couldn't be bothered, I think she only started because of comments in school and dance.

I leave it totally up to her, her body, her decision. I must said no to creams as I had a nasty reaction as an adult, I shudder how it must be on teenage skin. I hated waxing so I told her I would help but when she read it up she only shuddered and said "no thanks".

WorraLiberty · 04/07/2020 20:47

I don't have sparse light hair. And my mum (and other teenagers) made me ashamed of having body hair when I was a teenager, by removing hers, and implying it was normal to remove it, so I did. Then I realised how stupid I was being, since adult women have hair, so I stopped.

Ahh so that's where your projection comes from?

It's made you assume anyone who shaves their pits actually hates their body.

WonderTweek · 04/07/2020 20:48

I would have loved if my mum had bought me a razor when I was 13. I had hairy legs quite early on and my mum had always said that I should avoid shaving because it would all grow back darker. In the end I was too embarrassed to ask for razors so I nicked some from my dad and used them secretly and felt a little bit ashamed of it. Then when I was about 15 I just started buying my own blades. I think being a hairy teenager can be hard so having the option to remove body hair would be good. Underarms are probably a good place to start as it's a small area and quite discreet so even if there are bumps etc they wouldn't be very noticeable.

On a somewhat related note. I would recommend using hair conditioner instead of shaving gels/foams. I heard about this around ten years ago and haven't spent money on shaving foam since. The blade just glides on my skin and it's glorious. Grin

flowerpot99 · 04/07/2020 20:50

Agree with bambinaballerina. My mum gave me a razor around 12. The hair on my head is quite fair.... but everywhere else is dark and thick. And grows by the second. After years of shaving everyday I've turned to waxing. Yes it will hurt the first time but after that the hairs are so weak and fine it's not sore. Plus the results last weeks. Looking back I wish I had of been waxing from the start. If I'd a daughter who had thick dark hairs and wanted rid of them that's what I'd advise. 😊

LadyofTheManners · 04/07/2020 20:50

@Aquamarine1029

Buy her a razor. Job done.
Not all kids will use a razor though, my DD is the same age and she will not use one as she is worried she will cut herself. She used a lady razor but it can leave it sore.
helen650 · 04/07/2020 20:51

If you can afford to invest in a Phillips lumea I would highly recommend it.
Zap the hair and it honestly hardly grows back. I use one - when my daughter needs to, I’m hoping she can stick with this and avoid having to shave loads!

bluebluezoo · 04/07/2020 20:53

What do mums advise for a 13 year old girl with quite a lot of underarm hair. Not fine and fair, but dark and wiry. Should I find a cream to remove it? She is very self conscious

I find your post a bit odd, o/p. It reads to me like you don’t think dark wiry underarm hair is normal in a 13 year old? Where most girls would have underarm hair and be dealing with it long before then.

What do you do with yours? Can she do the same?

I don’t remove mine. An unpopular option but Idgaf what others think.

bluefoxmug · 04/07/2020 20:53

electric razor
safe and quick and painless.

Poppyfields21 · 04/07/2020 20:58

Just use a razor. They’re pretty bloody difficult to cut yourself with. Can’t believe how precious some people are