Hair removal - 7 yr old *sensitive*

[0AliasGrace0]

7yr old DD has premature adrenarche - the symptoms of puberty but not real puberty, in essence. She developed pubic hair age 5 which doesn't bother her, but now has tufts of thick arm pit hair, which do. It's not all over the armpit, just patches about the size of a 5p. Obviously this is more difficult for her to hide than the pubic hair, and she's conscious during dance, swimming and gymnastics classes. Any ideas on the best way to remove?

Electric razor, then she'll be able to do it herself at a younger age and doesn't shave so close so kinder to skin.

Any advice ladies for 10 yr old Dd dark upper lip hair - she's very conscious of it and concerned re starting secondary school on September. I never had the issue as I'm very blond.

Nearly I've not had experience of this as a parent but if it isn't thick then I'd suggest bleaching it BUT if it is thick it will only look worse (think ginger white tash) so depending on thickness bleach or hair remover cream. No one wants to be teased for having a tash. I know from personal experience!

Or maybe you should teach her to accept her body for what it is? No one should ever feel ashamed for having a natural body. It's unfortunate in that this has happened earlier than it has for her peers but she should not feel like there is something wrong with her. Maybe she would be more comfortable is you showed her pictures of women with arm pit hair. Maybe you could find one of a celebrity she looks up to for example.

I challenge you to find a single female celebrity a nine year old child WILL (not should, WILL) look up to with hairy armpits.

I agree that we shouldn't feel ashamed for having a natural body, but neither should we be pushing out opinions about 'real beauty' and 'shallowness' and 'gender conformity' and 'accepting her body for what it is' onto a seven year old little girl who is having a false puberty due to a hormone imbalance, and already feels like she doesn't fit in.

Buster thanks for that, I was thinking hair removal cream, but didn't want to start something that would make life more difficult or limit options for her in the long run ( i.e. Me plucking some of my chin hairs - wish I'd never started just considering having them epilated) . We have discussed it quite a lot, she's only had it mentioned once as far as I know at Primary school but she is very aware of it and bothered by the thought of it at secondary.
Sorry to hijack thread

Nearlyadoctor

How is she with pain? Waxing hurts, but it is SO quick, and totally effective. no weird yellow hair like bleaching, and no stubble like shaving, it's just GONE.

I have a dark tache against pale skin, and I have it waxed every month or so, costs about £5

Also with waxing, it grows back finer

neither should we be pushing out opinions about 'real beauty' and 'shallowness' and 'gender conformity' and 'accepting her body for what it is' onto a seven year old little girl who is having a false puberty due to a hormone imbalance, and already feels like she doesn't fit in.

Couldn't agree more.

I'd just shave them for her. It's painless and you don't need any harsh chemicals. Will probably only need to be done every few days and literally takes second. I shave with dove bar soap. It lathers up really really well and makes the perfect lather for shaving. I use it to do my legs as well. I use their warm vanilla and shea butter scent but if she's sensitive maybe get the baby dove soap.

Would not take any notice of people saying you shouldn't touch the hair/make her accept her body etc etc. If something as simple as a quick shave is gonna stop your daughter feeling down and help her embrace sport/dance then it's definitely the right way to go. Plus they aren't the one with a little girl crying because life hasn't been fair to her.

Sorry if shaving advice no good but that's probably what I'd go with. Btw I don't think hair early on is that uncommon. I've known of 4 yr old girl having moustache threaded xx

My daughter is 7 and gets teased for her hairy legs

We Veet them, it's no big deal.

I have no desire to use her pain as some sort of life lesson; she knows we love her as she is and that she doesn't have to do it, but it makes her feel better at gym.

Very little debate in my mind on this. I simply don't understand the moral high ground, when I've literally never seen a woman with openly hairy armpits, and quite rarely seen someone with completely untreated legs.

I am a feminist and also very hairy. I wish someone would have raised the subject of hair removal with me earlier.

I attempted to shave my own legs at the age of 8 with a dry, blunt razor I found in the medicine cabinet (ouch)

Most women shave underarm hair. Razors are very good and safe now. I'd help her and teach her to shave her underarm hair

The life lesson that childhood teasing teaches you is that it can be a very painful memory that can still bristle years later.

nearlyadoctor

iIf you can afford it, I'd suggest a Philips Lumea

Failing that, hair removal cream but be careful about application time

I think I'd just shave it for her when she has a bath and eventually teach her to do it herself if she wants to. My 6 yr old is growing a lovely 'tache so I empathize!

Nearly waxing is the best line another poster said but tbh it might really scare her off and then she'll be back to square one. Veet is terrible for my skin personally but some others I can tolerate. Please be careful with them on such young skin. Good luck.

I would get her an electric shaver, then she can do them herself without fear of cutting herself, or irritating her skin.

Speaking as someone who was taunted for being hairy at school, please just follow your child's preferences. I was secretly shaving from 7 years old and I would have benefited from not feeling shame from my parents. It was absolutely not dangerous at all.

Thanks everyone - we did discuss waxing but she's not keen so we'll discuss it again in the summer holidays before the new school year. She's happy to leave doing anything about it until then.

Quite a few girls were shaving at that age at my school, it was often discussed. The one I envied was the one girl who's mother bought her an electric shaver. I used to dry shave mine with my elder brother's razor

'or maybe you should teach her to accept her body for what it is'.

Meanwhile back in the real world I can't think of any teenager girl or adult woman with thick underarm hair.

I'd shave it off.
If she is feeling like she doesn't fit in with her peers, for all she knows, one or more of them is also going through this - but how would anyone know - they shave it off!

early

If you decide on the Lumea, start asap and it could be gone by September, with only occasional top-ups after that

Has worked wonders for me

(I would guess it's not 'recommended' for younger girls but I think that is a precaution - used as instructed I've had no side effects at all)

P.S. I am not a doctor

I have a super hairy dd and she uses those mits that are basically a fine sandpaper.

I've just got a personal shaver thingy from Superdrug would be perfect but obviously you'd need to do it for her

I know loads of women with hairy armpits, think it must depend on where you live.

Anyway, my dad also had premature adrenarche, she doesn’t have much armpit hair, but was bothered by it, so I carefully shaved it for her. I would either do that or get an electric ladyshave thing for your dad. My dad is 13 now and is much less bothered as all her friends have hair too, so although she shaves sometimes, she doesn’t care any more if there is a bit of hair.