My DD is almost 14, she dances and does the usual sports at school. She's not alabaster pale, but she is fairly pale with dark hair. She has quite hairy arms and legs - it's fine but dark.
I'm not as hairy as she is, so I've not gone through the angst she has. I don't know what to do, where to draw the line!
Since she was 12, she's used creams to get rid of hair on her legs (calves, up to get knees). I helped her because she was becoming self conscious and unhappy about being hairy and in a swimming costume at school.
She then moved on to using my epilator (I occasionally do my legs during the summer) and today she tells me she's been epilating her calves and her thighs. She now wants to do her forearms.
She is self conscious about the hair on her arms, she would like to get rid of it. She says all her dancing friends do it.
Is this something I should allow or dissuade? Is an epilator or cream or perhaps even waxing? the best way forward?
I'm afraid of what this might mean - the beginning of a life time's battle against oneself and trying to achieve a modern day impossible ideal.
Or do I just need a grip and accept it's her body and she's growing up? I'm afraid she'll turn into a "hairless freak" (her words).
I want her to be happy with herself. I think she is beautiful and I don't think she needs to de-hair her body to such an extent.
What do you other parents do? How do you handle this issue? Help!