How old would you let your daughter start shaving her legs

[tumdedum]

We are a fair skinned dark haired kind of family. My daughter is only 8 and is already very self conscious of her hairy legs. She says none of her friends have hairy legs. She wears shorts for PE, but otherwise it will be more of an issue in the summer months.
I'm obviously not going to let her start shaving yet, but what age is it a good time to start do you think?

I was 10 when my mum started to let me use veet. Also fair skinned and dark haired, but I also had a lot of hair. I was self conscious for maybe a year before I started removing and honestly, it still makes me feel a little sensitive at how different I was at such a young age.

I think 8 is young to be conscious of such things, however she is self conscious so age seems irrelevant to me here. I think conversations around why we shouldn't be ashamed of our bodies and shouldn't compare etc etc are important, as are ones about how our bodies change as we reach puberty and what that means. I think the fact that she's noticed changes and is worrying about them means she needs to have bigger conversations.

But back to your question OP! I would support my child in whatever way I could and try and guide her if she needed it. Quite a few people I know have facilitated their DDs to wax rather than shave, it's less maintenance, is better for the hair and if started early it can reduce re growth etc. It might be that she's happier to leave longer gaps between in the winter / if hair regrowth is reduced. I'd leave laser removal until she was older.

My DD broke her leg when she was 8, she was in plaster for 9 long weeks.

When it came off her hair was dark and thick and she hated it.

I gave her the lady shave and she shaved it off. It was her choice and I agree that no one should feel they 'have' to shave body hair, but it's more of a personal choice.

I let me boys start getting their brows done when the asked. Nothing extreme, but they were both self conscious and started towards the end of primary school.

In all honesty I'd let her shave them now
You can get an electric lady shaver as if she's feeling self conscious then nows the time

I have very hairy arms, legs etc and my mother didn’t. She wouldn’t let me shave, so it secretly shaved at friend’s houses with their razors. Very unsanitary. When my daughter asks I’ll provide what she needs and show her how. I’m a feminist and an activist, I don’t need to keep body hair to be either of those things.

Why do you think she's too young? What do you think will happen if she shaves her legs?
Why do you get to decide if its causing her a problem or not? She wouldn't have asked if it wasn't bothering her.

My dd started shaving her legs at 12 she's 13 now. She didn't ask me she just did it but it's her body and her choice. 12 is well old enough to make decisions about their own legs.

OP 8 does seem really young but I think if she's self conscious and would feel happier and more comfortable with shaved legs then I'd probably let her. Maybe she could use Veet or something?

This is very extreme IMO.

I started my period shortly after turning 12 and was already big enough to be wearing bras.

I wish I’d started at 8, as sad as that sounds. I spent a lot of my later childhood missing out on activities and being horrendously self conscious.

She’s aware and self conscious about it now so why don’t you just follow her lead and buy her the necessary stuff.

When they want to

Why won’t you let her? If she’s uncomfortable and self conscious, why force her to feel that way over some spurious age rule you made up in your own head.

Why would you do that. She feels self conscious. It makes no difference to you. Don’t force her to be uncomfortable as you’ve weird rules. It’s not ok.

DTs were ten when they asked. I bought them some decent razors and gel and showed them how to do it without shredding themselves.

My mum didn't let when I asked so I used to nick my dad's old school blade razor with no guard on it. The amount of shaving cuts I had.

I never had a daughter but when I was 10 or 11 I started shaving my legs regularly, in the bath when lathered. I didn't ask permission, it wouldn't have occurred to me.

As soon as DD needed to shave I let her

Age had nothing to do with it

But hairy legs played a huge factor

My mum had very dark hair and I can remember her using hair remover cream when I was quite young. She’d say to me, don’t shave your legs until really have to and that she had copied her older sisters and regretted it.

I’ve actually never shaved my legs because they are hardly hairy at all. I feel very fortunate but I do understand it’s different if you are more hairy legged. I think 8 is a bit early, although the judgement must be made taking all factors into consideration.

When it comes to arm hair, peach fuzz I think it should not be necessary. Armpits is fine, but if you are not swimming, doing PE or wearing sleeveless tops then why bother? More intimate bits, well they actually ought to be hairy up to a point - again swimming is the guide

Why wouldn't it 'sit well with you'? She's not asking to have sex or smoke or get drunk. She's obviously uncomfortable or she wouldn't have asked and now she probably darent ask again.
OP one of mine was primary school, she's very dark haired. As someone who was bullied for hairy legs I left it up to mine to choose when they felt they wanted to.

I can't believe your sending g the poor girl to school with hairy legs

When she's begging you not to

It's cruel and slightly bizarre (and a bit abusive because you're letting her be mocked at school which is fucking embarrassing for her )

As soon as they want to.

Why are people so precious about what age a DD shaves their legs

WTF that's so weird

Just shave as soon as they get hairy and DD asks to shave them

What do you mean 'let'? It's her body hair, it's causing her distress. Do you make her keep her hair long as well?

Poor bugger

Whenever she wants to in an age appropriate way. My Dd first asked at age 8. I got her an electric razor. She used it now and again. At 11 she asked again. I got her a Venus razor and showed her how to use it. She now uses this most days.

Why?

My 11 year old has autism, and last week she complained her arm pits felt itchy. I had a look and she had some hair. I asked her if she wanted to leave it or remove it, she asked to shave them so I gave her a razor. She was too scared to do them herself so I shaved them for her because it was her choice and she wanted to remove it!

As she’s feeling self conscious I would let her start now.
but, not shaving - waxing is so much better and only needs doing every 4-6 weeks and the hairs over time grow back finer