To let DD shave her legs?

[hellodarknessmyoldfriend22]

DD is 9.

She's not started puberty in anyway but is worried about her legs being hairy. They aren't particularly hairy, but light hair has increased recently.

I think 9 is really young. Obviously I'd start her on electric razor.

Ideally I'd encourage her to wait but it's her body and I want her to have freedom to choose.

I remember hating my legs, wanting to shave and being told I was too young by my mum. I was probably about 13 and people had commented at school.

I allowed my daughter too at 9, she has dark hair and it was making her feel conscious, she’d attempted to do it herself and cut her leg so when I found out I bought her an electric razor as there’s less chance she can cut herself.

Mine is still just down and not proper hair. I’m fair and have very light, thin hair. I still remember being desperately anxious about my leg hair at that age. I didn’t have access to any money and was too embarrassed to even ask my mum so I stole her used disposable razors from the bin and used those - grazed myself multiple times because they were blunt and had awful rashes.

It doesn’t actually matter what the hair looks like. She feels self-conscious, that’s her feelings whether it’s objectively justified or not.

I think you’re right to let her remove the hair but would strongly encourage her to use a cream. I remember I started with cream and I would just do it occasionally, then I moved to a razor and realised that there was no going back because the hair seemed to grow back much thicker and darker… I really regretted it.

I shave my 7yo's legs for her.

She has lots of light brown hair on her legs and was really self-conscious about it - we spoke about how it was normal, that everyone had hair on their legs, she's beautiful no matter what... but she still wanted it gone.

I used shaving foam, a brand new razor and took it very slowly while she was in the bath and she's much happier to wear skirts/dresses with just socks now (in summer anyway!)

No I wouldn't let her at 9 it's just too young. If she is desperate for it then maybe hair removal cream instead.

She’s young, but you’re better to show her than leave her to attempt it herself like I did. Scratched my legs to bits ☹️

🙄

Why wouldn't you? It won't harm her, and potentially will make her feel better.

Societal pressure making women do this, is another discussion, that you're not going to solve between the 2 of you. So you may as well help her feel more confident. She'll most likely try and do it anyway, and with your help she's less likely to cut herself.

My 9yo has been shaving her legs and underarms since last summer (started puberty at 8). She didn’t want to at first and it was us that first raised it (as something she could do if she wanted) as the underarm hair was very noticeable. She changed her mind and asked me to do it after a while which I did the first few times and now she just uses the razor in the bath when she wants to - she’s never cut herself. It’s a fairly blunt Venus type proper razor. I wouldn’t substitute for cream as she has sensitive skin and it’s a massive area, can’t see why strong chemicals would be preferable to a blade!

What do you mean too young? Is it only leg hair you object to cutting off or the hair on children's heads too?

@SnoozyVanWinkle If you read my post I do not object, I suggested hair removal
Cream instead. I wouldn't give a razor blade to a 9year old, no.

Assuming you name changed then you said

"No I wouldn't let her at 9 it's just too young."

I wouldn't suggest hair removal cream on a child's skin over a razor.

This is a case of your child knows it is there and the girls at school are mentioning it.
I would buy her an electric shaver.
So she can do it herself, the noise it makes will give you a heads up, and a chance to chat to her. With half term around the corner you could plan a pamper at home day, It could be a fun thing, with a movie and such.
Or don't and she will just do it and hide.

Which do you want? I would also take the time that day to have the period talk and buy her supplies.

Razors aren't dangerous as long as they aren't blunt. If you are worried you can get razors with a wire cage over the blades.

www.boots.com/wilkinson-sword-quattro-for-women-replacement-blades-6s-10082213

Shaving would make it worse - since her hair is fine I would say wax - we used this on my daughters legs and reduced hair growth dramatically. once you shave hairs thicken so more painful to wax. she might do it once and forget about it for the next year or two.

I'm dark haired and had very hairy legs as a child - please let her. It's distressing her if she's plucked up the courage to ask. As an aside, I'm fascinated and a bit jealous that my 12 yo DS doesn't have hairy legs - his Dads are very hairy. He's much lighter skinned and haired than me though.

My DD is the same age closer to 10 and has asked a few times then doesn't mention it. She's mixed race but has my white skin tone. It doesn't help me and her dad both have black natural hair brown eyes and dark body hair. I've tried to stall her but with summer coming up I think she will want to even more xx

You don't need a beautician to wax her legs.
I bought a pack of the veet wax strips for my daughter when she was 10 (at her request!) and I've done them for her ever since (she's 13 now)
She uses a razor sometimes depending on what she is doing/if she can be bothered but the waxing lasts far longer and the regrowth is much softer.

It does seem very young. But I’d rather help her do it than her take a razor and try doing it herself.

If it makes her happy then let her. I’d let her try wax strips first and see how manages with those before using a razor.

Genuinely, good for you.

BUT, I’m not about to make my dd make statements with her body that actively make her uncomfortable and self conscious. I can do that with my own body hair if that’s the way I feel.

Another one saying please help her.

I remember starting secondary school and cutting holes in the toes of my long socks so I could pull them up further during netball. I knew my mum was getting annoyed with me asking so I was frightened to ask again, and was frightened to do it without permission.

My mum is the best person in the world, this is literally the only part of my childhood I look back on and wish she'd been different.

Anyone talking about societal pressure, children often want to be like their peers, it's a natural part of development. You can't force your child to be different just because it aligns with your own values. I've just been swimming with prominent underarm and leg hair, so wanting to shave my legs as an older child/pre-teen hasn't stripped me of my body autonomy as an adult.

I wouldn't tell my daughter to shave because it's disgusting having hair, but I will explain to her around 9/10 that she doesn't need to shave but if she ever feels she wants to she can come to me and I'll help. I think this is a generational thing that will hopefully be better in 20 years, much like my mum telling me she was frightened to tell her mum she needed tampons whereas I could openly ask my mum that without being anxious/nervous.

Another one who says help her and show her what to do. My dd hated her hairy legs even though the hair was blonde and fine. So she waited until I went out and nicked my razor! I bought her an electric razor after that but she soon progressed to a razor and shaving cream…