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Preteens

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

Original poster

Removing leg hair - at what age?

33 replies

Utrecht · 02/09/2019 08:33

DD1 is 11 and about to start year 7. She keeps mentioning how hairy her legs are. The secondary uniform is a skirt - no trouser option. I remember feeling the same at her age but thinking my mum would be appalled at the idea of me shaving my legs - and my relief when my mum eventually (a couple of years later) broached the subject. Is 11 too young, though? WWYD - or WDYD, if you've been through this?

OP posts:
MrsElizabethShelby · 02/09/2019 08:36

If it's bothering her, show her how. Doesn't really matter what age and stopping her from doing it might mean she tries to take matters into her own hands, which could be dangerous if she uses the wrong thing

Sirzy · 02/09/2019 08:38

If she is old enough to be bothered by it then she is old enough to be helped find the best way to deal with it for her!

kellyw1989 · 02/09/2019 08:39

I think I was about 10 when I started shaving

homertonb · 02/09/2019 08:41

It’s not too young, it seems to be bothering her so I would definitely help her remove it!

I was very embarrassed about my dark body hair at that age, but my Mother wouldn’t let me remove it ugh (easy for her when she had light hair)

mumdebump · 02/09/2019 08:44

I would buy her a decent razor and shaving gel and teach her how to shave her legs safely before she borrows a blunt old razor from someone and makes a mess of her legs. I would also have a conversation about why she shouldn't worry about body hair and conforming to a supposed ideal body image.

funmummy48 · 02/09/2019 08:45

Once it's bothering them then it's only fair to let them remove it. I wouldn't want to wander around with hairy legs either so I think it's fine.

ShowOfHands · 02/09/2019 08:45

Dd asked before starting high school and I was on board but she then decided the uniform policy was outmoded and told the school she was wearing the boys uniform instead. And she did. She is the only one but quite adamant that she is leading a march.

SoupDragon · 02/09/2019 08:45

Let her shave them. I put DD off for a few years (primary) and she was OK but then she kept asking so I did show her how before summer of Y6.

I told her she didn't have to but it was her choice.

oigetoffmycheese · 02/09/2019 08:48

Anyone got tips on best way? I'm thinking electric razor is best.

Any views?

SquirellTamer · 02/09/2019 08:48

My DD is olive skinned and has very thick leg hair. Sadly she has been teased about it already, so she has been shaving her legs since she turned 11. I buy her the shaving bars with the razor inside which she finds easy to use.

olivo · 02/09/2019 09:05

I've been wondering about this too. DD1 isn't bothered but DD2 has lots of very fair leg hair. I thought I might get her an electric one as she is not very coordinated! She is only 10 though so might wait until y7.

Callingallbutterflies · 02/09/2019 09:16

My 13 year old uses hair removal cream. Softer regrowth. We get the extra large bottles from Amazon. I offered to take her to get them waxed but that was rejected! I think we may invest in a family Philips Lumea.

Original poster
Utrecht · 02/09/2019 09:27

Thank you for the quick and helpful replies - I'll have a chat with her this morning and see what she wants to do. Emphasising, of course, that she doesn't have to do anything at all unless she wants to.

OP posts:
Babbabump · 02/09/2019 09:35

My dd was 8 when she got really upset about her legs - she has very dark noticeable hairs and (my mum never let me do anything about my hairs and it damaged our relationship) so I let her use one of those sugar scrub pads to rub the hair off .... she also used a hair removal cream before deciding her hairs didnt bother her anymore (yay!) But she knows she has options if she ever changes her mind :)

TheExtraGuineaPig · 02/09/2019 09:39

Mine has just mentioned it too.. she is going into year 7 and her leg hair has just changed from blonde to darkish brown. I have found a lady who will wax hers and has done other younger girls so will try that first in the hope she won't need or want to do it too often but if not I'll probably get her some cream.

By the age of 12/13 I was stealing my Dad's bic razors, making a mess of my legs and getting told off by both parents. I'd rather DD didn't do hers at all but I totally understand

MyRaGaiaStarFishPieA · 02/09/2019 09:50

I think an electric razor is perfect for the younger girls . Safe but also environmentally friendly and reduce single use plastics. My daughter is 11 going into high school tomorrow. Her leg hair is fine but she insists on removing it so she is using hair removal cream for now ( also helps to unblock the hair trap) and I'm getting her a decent electric hair trimmer or epilator for Xmas.

VeganVeganVegan · 02/09/2019 09:53

My daughter is 9 about to go into year 5 and has been using an electric shaver for a year.

AmIThough · 02/09/2019 09:57

If it's affecting her let her do it. Even if she was wearing trousers/tights she'd feel self-conscious during PE.

I'd suggest Veet sensitive hair removal cream.

CheeseChipsMayo · 02/09/2019 10:02

Your daughter sounds awesome@ShowOfHands! Id be proud of her taking matters into her own hands like that!

AliMonkey · 02/09/2019 10:12

DD has just started age 14. She mentioned it a couple of years ago and l said it was up to her but my advice was to leave it for a while as it was actually a lot of hassle as needing a shave legs looked worse than never shaved. She decided she couldn’t be bothered. She raised it again this summer and is now using an epilator - it’s what I use and means that if she changes her mind or gets lazy the regrowth is smoother than if shaves but cheaper than waxing or cream (particularly as currently using mine!)

Inforthelonghaul · 02/09/2019 10:13

I bought mine an electric shaver and just said that if and when underarm hair/leg hair bothered her she could just get rid of it. It was entirely up to her but I didn’t want her to feel awkward about it. It’s a personal choice.

Inforthelonghaul · 02/09/2019 10:16

And she was 11 and just about to start secondary but I’d have been fine about it earlier too.

MagicKingdom · 02/09/2019 10:18

I had my legs waxed from aged 11. Most girls year 7 will be removing leg hair.

AuditAngel · 02/09/2019 10:23

DD1 (12) mentioned only that she was glad the sun bleached hers blonde quickly this year. She has completed year 7. We have talked about hair removal and I have offered her a lady shave/epilady whenever she wants it. Her older cousin (3 years her senior) has always used an epilate and she had said this is her preference, although I do have a Philips Lumea already.

AuditAngel · 02/09/2019 10:24

But she has also said she is happy as she is for now.