12 year old son shaving?

[Liv1990]

My 12 YO son started showing signs of puberty at 9-10 years old. His voice started breaking at 11 (whilst still in primary school). Nothing has phased him, but everyone is now pointing things out, particularly his tash which started growing at the beginning of this year… It’s now very prominent and I do think he is becoming conscious about it, with lots of comments about him shaving. Is 12 too young!? I feel like it’s thick and dark enough and I don’t want him to become self conscious, but lots of people say ‘he’s too young’ ‘it will grow back even thicker’. For context - he is 5ft 6, with a deep voice and facial hair at 12… so he’s clearly gone through puberty way earlier and I think he’s ready. Has anyone else’s child gone through it this early ?

If he has facial hair then of course he has to shave regardless of how old he is.

What age do you think it would be acceptable then? Surely if he has facial hair and he wants to shave- he should be supported to do so.

Well, he doesn’t have to unless he wants to! I doubt he’ll look like Gandalf any time soon!

Dors he want to remove it? If he does then get him a razor and some shaving cream.

Just let him shave!

Sorry - just to clarify….i will 100% support any decision he makes. But he seems extremely relaxed about it and hasn’t actually asked me. Only over the Xmas period have family members started making ‘jokes’ or comments to him about shaving. Whatever he wants to do is fine with me…but he is my only child and I haven’t had to go through this stage before, so simply asking advice before I speak to him about what he wants to do

Yes, help him sort out some shaving if he'd feel better. It won't be long before others catch up.

DS has a friend who was the tallest and had the most facial hair age 12/13. At the time DS was the smallest in year. Now DS is taller and just as hairy

I may have worded my original post in the wrong way - I am not stopping him from shaving. He has not raised this with me. I will be raising it with him… I just wanted kind advice, as several people have told me ‘it’s too early’. I thought this platform was for sharing advice and thoughts on subjects ? (Or so it used to be when he was a baby) Not insinuating or blaming ??

My ds was not much past 13 when he started shaving. Its only every few days/once a week to begin with. He chatted with a male relative (dad isn't around) and he talked him through wet shaving, and let him try an electric razor he had. After this, I got his own electric one and he just whizzes it over every couple of days. I was an early developer, so it didn't surprise me hugely that he was too.

Do you have anyone he could chat to?

There’s no such thing as too early - if he needs to shave he needs to shave. All the other comments are ridiculous. Tell him
he needs to start and get him a razer and shaving cream and crack on.
Tell everyone else to butt out.

My sons have been shaving since that age, and having their eyebrows done longer. I was a bit hesitant over the eyebrows at the time.

DH is Indian, so their lighter skin with dark hair is very prominent, he pointed out if we were raising them in India, threading would have been offered at any hair cutting appointment anyway.

I have been a single Mum since he was 1 & he sees dad every other weekend…But it’s family members that have told me over Xmas that I should be getting him a shaving kit, with mixed opinions when I’ve asked for advice from Males friends/family.

I’ve actually just raised it with him and asked him after all the replies and said he doesn’t want to yet. 🙈 I got the impression he was becoming self conscious because of the comments over Xmas - but clearly not 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thank you for the advice though. It’s crazy how quickly other Mums seem to attack on this platform

My son was the same, he used a electric razor from about the age of 12 for his tash, but wasn't a everyday thing.

He's now 15, almost 16 and has just got into wet shaving as beard area needs doing too.

Boots had some nice gift sets over Christmas, might be in the sale to put away for when the time comes.

People have always remarked how hairy he is, which he takes in good humour and it means he can live in shorts year round, as he has a fur coat to keep him warm!

I bought my son an electric razor to start with as he’s fluffy rather than stubbly. He uses it every few days. He doesn’t have a Dad but I’ve got
a male friend who will teach him how to wet shave when the time comes. You’re a lovely mum.

If you continue to let family make “jokes” about him, you’ll eventually have bigger problems to worry about. He will resent them for being horrible & you for not sticking up for him.

I'm a teacher. There's an Easten European Year 7 lad in our school who started in September with a full-on bread and mustache l mention his heritage because I suspect that not shaving is linked to religious beliefs.

Point is though, he looks very odd and different amongst his peers.

While we will make sure he's not bullied or made to feel 'different', it doesn't change the fact that if my (non religious) son had significant facial hair as he left primary school, I'd be getting him an electric razor.

DH husband reached puberty early. He achieved his adult height of 5 feet 9 at eleven. Had difficulty getting child fare on buses. He could have shaved at 12 but adults at the time thought early shaving
lead to bushier growth. I think that idea is now debunked as daft. He’s nearly 61 btw

Its great that your boy is confident with his appearance. Your family need to keep their
mouths shut. His facial hair is none of their business

Just buy him a Gillette razor 🪒 for whenever he gets the urge to use it with some Gillette shaving gel.

we did buy DS an electric razor but he’s always preferred to wet shave. So I guess you’ll need to ask him which he prefers when he gets round to it. My DS and his friends liked to see how long it would grow as it’s a novelty.
I got really annoyed with family members commenting on his new facial hair and told them to leave him alone.