9 yr old son shaving

[waveneygnome]

My 9 yr old son has facial hair on his top lip. (He has always had some since he was born)

Last week he mentioned he wanted to start shaving, but I think its way too early. I was looking through some old photos the other night and looked up at DS and was shocked/surprised to see how much more hair there is now - so I am reconsidering my view.

Is it too early at 9?
Should I start him with electric or wet?
If he starts now, will it grow back quicker/thicher etc?

It will grow thicker and quicker if he shaves.

Is he open enough to try depilatory cream? May get away with once a fortnight treatment?

Why don't men use cream anyway? Seems to do a better job for longer...

Shaving at 9?! Yikes. It seems far too young to me. I'd buy a book on what's happening to his body and explain that when he's older he'll have to shave every day so make the most of not having to do it. Why does he want to start shaving? Is he being teased, or does he think it's manly? I'd talk to him a lot about it before starting shaving.

With things like this I dont think the adult can decide, he is the only one who knows how he feels. So if he doesn't like the hair I'd let him shave it off. Agree with whoever said about cream as it will last longer and so wont be a faff for him.

I'm not sure the 'grows back thicker and longer' thing is true. A quick google search brought up this:
www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2007/12/13/does-shaving-make-hair-grow-back-thicker.html

But it may be a moot point as 'seeming' thicker is basically the same thing when we're talking about the way he looks! But shaving now wont mean he has to shave more often when he is older.

If he only wants to shave it because it is grown up then I'd say no, there will be lots of time for that later.

Either way a good chat needed.