dd (13) leg shaving/waxing

[georgeclooneyfan]

My dd who will be 13 in a few weeks has just sent me a text from a friends house saying can she shave her legs! I cant remember how old I was although my mum told me not to as the hair will grow back darker and quicker but I did it anyway. I told her i will discuss it later her friend apparently does and shes 12 and a half,she has an older sister who probably does it.She may be shaving them at her friends as I type this.Any advice would be welcome I just dont want her too grow up!

At least she's asked you!

At least she's asked.

I used Nair on Dd's armpits last week as she's unfortunately developed huge ruffs like me under her arms and was very self conscious.

If she WANTS to do it - she is probably old enough. (((hugs))) though that your baby is growing up....

I know there is that lol thanks ronx

Oh george if she's adamant and dark skinned/haired, I'd try to go down the waxing route. I am the Gruffalo personified, a cousin same colouring as me has only ever waxed and now has two hairs on each leg! biatch.

Waxing is probably more beneficial in the long run as it slows hair growth - leading to the hair becoming finer. Which in turn would also mean more weeks between waxing. I shaved my legs without asking my mum when i was around 12 and had them waxed from 14; just wish i'd have waxed from the beginning but was far too scared to ask my mum! haha. At 13 her hair growth should already be quite fine, it's lovely that she's asked you!

Thanks for all the comments they are very helpful she has red hair but the hairs on her legs are quite thick but more blonde in colour.i suppose i should be grateful that she has asked me. I think since she has started secondary school the girls probably talk about different things and she is maybe just trying to fit in with what the other girls do! In her group of friends they all have an older sister but she is the oldest and has a younger brother.I think she feels im quite strict compared to their mums its just that they have already been there and done it.Trying to convince her of this is hard shes just a moody judy about everything just now teenagers eh!

Thanks for all the comments they are very helpful she has red hair but the hairs on her legs are quite thick but more blonde in colour.i suppose i should be grateful that she has asked me. I think since she has started secondary school the girls probably talk about different things and she is maybe just trying to fit in with what the other girls do! In her group of friends they all have an older sister but she is the oldest and has a younger brother.I think she feels im quite strict compared to their mums its just that they have already been there and done it.Trying to convince her of this is hard shes just a moody judy about everything just now teenagers eh!

I think 13 is an ok age to shave legs at. most of my friends began to at that age and I know I did. agree its good she asked you.

Please let her. I was bullied during PE lessons for having hairy legs at that age because my mum wouldnt let me shave them :( Was awful. I was so mortified. Show her how to do it carefully and properly. There is no harm.

Before you set her sailing down the patriarchal mineshaft why dont you have a woman-towoman discussion with her about the general pressure on women over their appearance? You could talk about why women feel the 'need' to alter their bodies whether through shaving/waxing, cosmetic surgery, dying grey hair, wearing make up, FGM, footbinding...

Telling her it's ok to shave if 'all her friends' are doing it is not setting a good precedence for when she's 15 and 'all her friends' are re-enacting porn scences and posting them online

The most important thing is that she learns to think for herself and make her own decisions besed on how she feels without being pressured by you, her peers or the media.

How do you know she hasn't Margery?.

footbinding and FGM are not in the same league as shaving legs Margery.
OP, my DD was very concerned about her hairy knees. She has been since she was about three.
A couple of months ago, I invested £4.99 for a TEsco basics leg shaver. She is chuffed to bits with it.

I am all for the feminist view that shaving body hair or any other beautifying activity is symptom of the patriarchy, and I totally agree with Margery that maybe that discussion should take place. But no way on earth would I expect my barely pubescent dd to be brow beaten into "not fittting in" with her peers in this respect. There is a time and a place for everything.

Flicktheswitch, WHY do you think your dd is self-conscious about this? Of course it is pressure to fit in. I shave my legs for the same reason - hairy legs on women are BAD. Why are they bad though?

Please get her to wax not shave.

I shaved from the age of 7/8 (I was a competitive swimmer and felt v embarressed) and now the hair is much darker and thicker and needs way more upkeep. The age is perfectly acceptable but waxing is so much better!

Wax all the way. Dark haired myself and wish my Mum had led me to the wax pot not the razor (certainly for legs).
If I were you I'd book to go together once a month and have a pedicure as a Mum and Daughter time together treat..that's what I plan to do when mine are that age :o

I had blonde, fine hair on my legs when I started shaving them. I now resemble the abominable snowman after he's been at the Grecian 2000. Encourage her NOT to shave.

What about investing in an epilator for her? It'll save £'s in the long run if your not waxing every few weeks.

My DD is 12 and has just started using Avon's hair removal cream for her legs. Apparantly all her friends are doing it. I couldn't remember what age I was when I started shaving my legs but I do remember cutting a chunk with the razor out of my ankle so would prefer DD not to shave

When my girls first wanted to remove their hair I waxed their legs (ouch) and then after that I got them some veet hair removal cream (99p for 2 sachets, 1 sachet is enough for legs and underarms usually) which I think is a good option (no cuts/pain, easy to do)

My DD1 is a redhead (as am I) and was professionally waxed after shaving and using Nair for a couple of years but as she has quite sensitive skin the waxing hurt her and peeled some of her skin off. Check before she gets it done as we didn't think it would be a problem but she has said she will never be waxed again. She has gone back to shaving so I will now have more towels to wash as she can't seem to do it without cutting herself (I really don't know how as I never do).

I have always shaved as I am a wimp when it comes to waxing my eyebrows so don't think I could cope with my legs...... As far as an epilator goes I remember me and my sister using one when they first came out and I think you could hear the screams a couple of streets away

Start with her shaving or using cream and then take it from there x