Girls, When is it time to start shaving?

Blaike - posted on 01/19/2013

I say to my oldest(10) When you get pubic, underarm, and leg hair let me know and I'll think about it.

Caitlin - posted on 01/13/2013

I started around 12 I really needed to do my legs, around 11 may have been better for me, my under arms I started around 11, not because I needed it, I felt kinda pressured into it,, when I was 11 there wasn't 1 single hair under my arms my friends were shaving so I was like "sounds good"
so ya ever since I regret it, don't start too late or too early you'll regret it if you do so I would say the magic number is probably 11.5 - 12 . Legs can be done any time and in my opinion fine to do when ever you feel its needed. but underarms wait until a few strands come in and then have a talk. nair is also good if you

Brooklyn - posted on 12/16/2012

Well my daughter shaved at 10 her legs were very hairy and she will get made fun of at school that is what happens to my daughter

Josselyn - posted on 10/08/2012

My daughter started shaving her legs without me knowing when she was 9 and she was using my razors. I didn't actually find out she was doing it till she was 12 because I told her I think she should start shaving her legs and she admitted that she has been since she was 9. I asked her why she started shaving them so early and she said because some of her friends at school were making fun of her because they already shaved their legs and she didn't. I would just go by whatever age her friends are shaving their legs. Because a whole lot of drama at school shouldn't be started over if your legs are hairy or not.

Teresa - posted on 10/02/2012

My daughter is almost ten and has been bugging me to shave. I dont feel comfortable letting her use a razer yet so im letting her use my electric one once a week. That way its less likely to cut her self.

Barbara - posted on 12/10/2010

Thank you for these posts ladies!!! Very helpful!

Erica - posted on 12/03/2010

My twin 11 year old girls have been shaving for a few months now. One of them was on board right away, but the other one (the one who needed to shave) didn't want to because when she was little she had grabbed my razor and rubbed her thumb across it. Ouch. So she thought that was how it was going to feel. I had to actually shave her legs the first time to let her know it wouldn't hurt and now they shave all on their own.

Stephanie - posted on 11/27/2010

I allowed my daughter to Nair her legs at 10 because she was called names about her hairy legs. We have not had to shave yet, but when you are called "Wolverine on the bus, cry about it, I think it's time"

Julie - posted on 11/25/2010

I think the time for them to start shaving is when the legs are looking very hairy and it is causing them a problem, not just the fact that they want to do it. Girls are very hard on one another. My daughter is just about to turn 12 adn while she doesnt shave her legs yet, as much as she would like to, she is just about to start shaving under her arms as these are very noticeable.

Klara - posted on 11/19/2010

I honestly think it depends on the child, the amount and color of the hair, and if they are mature enough to handle it. My daughter's friends shave, and she's gonna be 11 in a few days. So, she's afraid she'll be teased if she doesn't, so I taught her how, and occassionally still have to help her. She has a rough time with ankles and back or thighs. I think if they feel self conscious about it, it doesn't hurt anything. My husbands family is extremely hairy, so unfortunately my kids inheritted this dark brown hair, so I let her eearlier than I did. I was 11 or 12 as well, but I think each situation is different. If its think blonde hair, its not noticeable. Thick dark is... Good luck with whatever you decide, but I'd lean toward yes with a good lesson in how to shave first!

Maria - posted on 11/18/2010

My 16 year old daughter started shaving her legs when she was 11. I think if they're hairy and she wants to do it, then let her.

Dawn - posted on 11/12/2010

My daughter is 11 and started 6th grade this year. I let her start shaving her legs after school started. She was getting teased by a few kids and I didn't want her to be embarrassed. She will be 12 in Dec. and that is about the same time I started shaving.

Rachael - posted on 11/09/2010

I just started to let my daughter shave after i caught her using my razor to do it, we talked about it and after i bought her a razor of her own i showed her how to shave the right way, her legs have always had dark hair but now that shes reaching puberty they are worse. she hasent started her period yet but shes in a size b cup already. we havent touched the arm pits yet, she has light hair there yet. But i cant keep telling her no since there are kids in her class whos PARENTS have been taking them to get there eyebrows,upperlip, and body waxing done since 4th grade.. theres a line between whats right and wrong. a 11yr old depending on her wants should be able to shave if shown the right ways. raven and i sat down and figured out all the pros and cons shes gonna have from shaving. she thinks shes ready so im willing to let her try.

Julie - posted on 11/03/2010

the answer to this is simple
When the girl is old enough to be self conscious of having hairy legs

Nelly - posted on 11/03/2010

My daughter was only allowed to shave when she started high school

Tiffany - posted on 02/26/2010

I think it became more of an embarrassment for my daughter to have the "hairy" legs,, Kids at school can be cruel. I allowed my daughter age 11 to start shaving 6 months ago. I was dead set against it but realized that it was more of a self esteem thing for her and not neccessarily "just because". She doesnt do it that often but has my permission to do it when needed. I wish u the best of luck.

Ann - posted on 02/24/2010

Nair seemed to irritat my daughters skin so we switched to a diiferent product that was avail. It came witha plastic "shaver" that looked like a razor but wouldn't cut her. Her hair is still soft and easy to remove. at 19 weeks, I'd do a small spot first to make sure you don't have a reaction to it, before I'd do both legs! The cream stuff seems kind of expensive but for a child that shaves only once every few weeks, it lasts a while so long as she uses it properly.

Felicia - posted on 02/24/2010

My daughter will be 12 in June. When she started getting alot of hair, I let her shave. Legs as well as underarms. I just remembered when I got hair under my arms and I got teased. I would never want that for my daughter.

Melissa - posted on 02/24/2010

my daughter will be 11 in April. She has been asking to shave for a couple of yrs. now. We finally decided to get her an electric shaver for now, and she seems to be happy with that. FOR NOW!! haha

Helen - posted on 02/24/2010

My daughter shaves under her arms but I haven't let her shave her legs yet. I wouldn't have done the arms either but I noticed last summer that she was starting to get really hairy. I got my period when I was in 6 th grade so I think she's going to be the same way. I can't believe it's almost time for that already! She's already started to develop and shaves under her arms. I hoping I can hold off on the legs for a tiny bit longer. Oh mine will be 11 in May.



I've been interested in trying that smooth away thing, curious if it really works. I'm almost 19 weeks and its getting hard to shave. lol I think I'd be willing to let her use that before razors. She's kind of clutsy some times and I'm petrified of her cutting herself.

Ann - posted on 02/24/2010

my 12 yr old uses a lotion hair removal cream. No cuts and keeps legs softer longer. Try it!

Tina - posted on 02/24/2010

If she needs to shave I say let her you'll have bigger things to fight about in the near future then this, gotta pick your battles.

Carmen - posted on 02/24/2010

i know were you are coming from but i disagree with the razzors there are some very good hair removal creams on the market that would put you mind at ease they are quick and easy to use and best of all no way she could cut herself my 11 year old keeps asking if she can shave but as she is still in jounior school i wont let her till she starts sieniour school

Annette - posted on 02/23/2010

My daughter turned 11 in November, but she has been going through early puberty since she was 6, with the early onset of hair. I allowed her a few months ago to start shaving her underarms b/c the deodorant just wasn't enough. I am against many things because I believe that kids do things too early, but shaving just isn't one of them. If she had hair on her legs and she wanted to shave, I would allow her to do so. I try to promote her taking care of herself starting at an early age. Now waxing or shaving bikini area, not a chance. Not necessary at all, at least not now.

Carol - posted on 02/20/2010

i told my daughter that sohe could start shavin when she started growing hair under her arms, and that helped

Marsha - posted on 02/18/2010

My step daughter is now 12 years and she started shaving when she was 9. Once I found out she was shaving, I bought her some Veet hair removal cream w/ the plastic razor to go with and it worked out well for her. That way her hair didn't grow back so fast, and since she had just started shaving, her leg hair wasn't coarse either and it kept it that way for a while. She also had her period early, at age 9 and was developing in the bra area also. Don't know if you're open to this but it cut back on the getting darker hair faster w/ regular shaving.

Cheryl - posted on 02/17/2010

shaving doesn't mean they will be hairyer. i showed my 11 yo how to do it properly, and that was only because she, like me, was quite hairy at that age. it depends on the child i think, if they need to or are ready to

Melissa - posted on 02/16/2010

I am against it 100% .I have never shaved my legs .But
my daughter is 13 and in high school she was being teased about it so we opted for waxing -we are both happy with this and you don't have to do it all the time .Once every 5-6 weeks depending on the hairiness .

Traci - posted on 02/16/2010

I have two daughters, 15 and 13-1/2. My oldest started the summer before she turned 10, because even though she was blonde, the hair REALLY showed up on her tan legs, and she was definitely already filling out everywhere. My youngest turned 10 in June, so I let her start that summer. We simply talked about it, and I felt that they were more than ready, so I let them. My husband was less that thrilled, but that was only because they were growing up, so I very briefly explained being a girl to him, and that was that. Out of all of the things girls have to go through in life, shaving their legs just wasn't a battle I was willing to have. Best of luck to everyone on this issue. It's different for everyone, and it is pretty much the first sign of our babies growing up.

Jennifer - posted on 02/10/2010

12 in our house. I think it's that way for my daughter just because it was that way for me. She didn't have any interest until then honestly, so it worked well for us.

Karen - posted on 02/09/2010

If she is very hairy, I would let her. You teach her how so she doesnt get hurt. My girls were 11, I thought that was young but they were both hairy. They mature alot earlier than we ever did.

Jules - posted on 02/04/2010

My daughter also wanted to shave her legs - at the age of 10. She was living with her dad at the time and he flat out refused to buy her razors etc on the rule that she was too young. I felt she was too young also. As it happened, she slept over at a girlfriend's house and shaved her legs there. She was very sheepish when we busted her with a shaving cut on her toe! It did make me think though. I wondered why she wanted to shave her legs, so I asked her - she felt that they were hairy and that everyone was staring at them. So, for her it was self-image. That made me think some more - how important was my concern for her not to shave her legs vs her own body/self-image within her peer group. I sat down with her and we talked about body image firstly but also about all the available options for hair removal. We've done the same thing with periods and pads vs tampons and so on.

Natalie - posted on 02/02/2010

Well that is the only thing my girl succombed to at middle school was shaving, I started letting her last year at age 11. That was the only peer pressure she bugged me about. Let's face it is just hair and it grows back. She usually only shaves onece a week during winter and summer as needed depending on what is going on.

Kristie - posted on 02/02/2010

I also was only allowed to shave after I reached a certain age. I had quite a bit of underarm and leg hair before I got to that age and was subject to horrible teasing from other children. Childhood is difficult enough without having to suffer through something like this just because your parents think you should reach some arbitrary number on a calender. If the child is old enough to understand that such things should be done in your society, then i believe she is old enough to shave,

Tracey - posted on 02/02/2010

The right time to start shaving is when trhe hair is visible / thick enough to be noticable by others or when the girl becomes embarassed by it..

Robbin - posted on 02/01/2010

Well ladies my daughter is 8 and I have had to already shave under her arms. Her legs are not a issue yet. It that young for shaving under the arms???

Rosa - posted on 02/01/2010

I noticed my daughter having hair under her arms at 11 years old, so I let her also shave her legs. I would say that if you start seeing more hair then normal then thats when you should let them.

ANNELISE - posted on 01/31/2010

THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION MY 12 YEAR OLD ASK ME AND HER FATHER TO SHAVE SINCE LAST YEAR HER FATHER CAUGHT HER SHAVING AND PUNISHED HER FOR NOT ASKING FIRST SO FINALLY SHE GOT PERMISION TO SHAVE IM GLAD BECAUSE SHE IS VERY HAIRY LIKE ME AND I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SHAVE UNTIL I WAS 14 SO I DID NOT LIKE WEARING SKIRTS AND DRESSES AND KNOW IS KIND OF HARD FOR ME TO WEARE ONE I WAS JUST NOT USE TO IT.

Kelly - posted on 01/31/2010

With everything I have read about your daughter I would say let her shave, she is in a bra and having her womanly monthly visitor so she should be considered old enough. My daughter started shaving at age ten almost 11 and it is embarrassing for girls when they want to wear shorts or a dress and they have hairy legs.

Diane - posted on 01/31/2010

I think its different with each child. I let my oldest daughter start shaving about 2 years ago. So she was about 10. My 9 year old daughter shaves occasionally. Like I said it depends on their body and how hairy they are. My oldest wasn't really that hairy until 10 and I showed her exactly how to shave. Then I showed her sister how to do it too. But I only let them shave to the knee!! I just don't want my girls to be uncomfortable in their own skins and I don't want them to be embarrassed.

Emily - posted on 01/31/2010

i think it depends on the grade they are in and not so much the age. i started shaving when i was in the 5th grade around 11 years old. i have a child who is 10 and autistic and VERY hairy, i was afraid to let her anywhere near a razor so i bought smooth aways for her it seemed to be a nice compromise. i have always had a sort of phillosophy about certain things. and i am sorry but i dont see how you will be able to stop her if she wants to do it so i would suggest teaching her how to properly. its like with toddlers and electronics...they are gonna mess with them anyway you cant always be watching so teach them how before your expensive equipment gets broken. she has already tried it and i wouldnt want to see any kind of sneaky defiant behavior begin so i would suggest that you have the talk with her about her periods and sex and everything and make a womans day out of it everything from shaving to pads to boys. try a beauty day for you and her and a nice lunch where she is open to ask you questions and everything. that way she will learn to talk to you when she has questions instead of learning things from her friends, so i am sorry to say mom your little girl is growing up, teach her proper razor usage now b4 she slices her legs to shreads.

Stacey - posted on 01/30/2010

When my daughter became self-conscious about the hair on her legs she was almost 11. I took her out and helped her pick out a razor and shave gel. I taught her how to shave and she has been doing it ever since. I also used this as a good time to talk about growing up and taking care of her body, since she was the one that pointed out the changes (longer, darker hair on her legs) it made it an easy gateway into talking about changes her body would go through.

Kimberly - posted on 01/30/2010

My daughter who is blond and 13 just starting shaving this year. Her hair was light enough you really didn't notice it. Although other kids can be very cruel. My dauther asked me when she was 11. So.. I bought her the shaver and instructed her to let me know when she was really ready so.. I could help her & show her how to shave correctly. I also instructed her to really, really think about why she wanted to shave? Was it her idea? Was it pressure from her friends? Not to mentioned it's a pain in the butt. Any, She slept on it... and then told me she wanted to wait awhile longer. yea! Anyway she made it to her 12th Birthday. (again she is blond) Does your daughter have dark hair? I really think kids try and grow up to quick.. Good luck, I think a good age is 12.

Stephanie - posted on 01/30/2010

my daughter started shaving at 11. kids r maturing faster these days.she has had her first period already. i know i didnt start shaving til i was 12 and didnt start my period until i was 12.

Melanie - posted on 01/29/2010

Never is a good time 2 start shaving ever........WAX.................My girls 16 12 & 9 The youngest is 6 so not yet 4 her lol have all been taken in & been waxed underarms legs (16 yr old bikini line) it is something that they will thank u 4 later in life & the cost is not as much as u think if u compare it 2 bying razor's every other week, we all go in around every 5 to 6 weeks so I think our beauty therpiest does a group deal (but even when there was 1 it was cheap) my 16 year old has barley any hair under her arms on her legs etc & is so grateful 2 me 4 starting her off & never letting her shave as she looks at her friends whom have the thick black corse hair (oh & if u look at us we are all dark olive skin black hair) & she does not have this which made it easy 2 start the younger girls as they saw the benifits of waxing & like myself will have low 2 no maintenance in this departmant when older which I am thankful 4 my mother teaching me ! So I say WAX WAX WAX.................:)

Anita - posted on 01/29/2010

I let my daughter start shaving after she did the same as yours, took it upon herself to do it. She was 11 years old then and was going to be starting into middle school and as we all know, we have to wear gym suits, so I just let her continue. I really don't see the harm as long as they are taught how. We all know from time to time there can be a nick or two but we live through it.

I wish you the best of luck in this situation, all choices about our children is hard, just remember your child may not be ready, but if she is I see no harm in it.

Sandy - posted on 01/28/2010

I 100% agree with Amy. Middle school girls can be cruel and if it's something that my daughter is self conscious about, then, as Amy put it, it's a no-brainer. My daughter is 11 and I let her start shaving at the beginning of the 6th grade, since this was the first time that she would be dressing out for gym.

Amy - posted on 01/28/2010

My daughter is 10 she has been shaving since her 10th birthday. Her legs were VERY hairy and it was causing her some embarrassment. Raising my daughter to feel good about herself and have a strong sense of self-worth is very important to me and if letting her shave empowers her then I was all for it. It is hard enough to grow up today and many times kids will tease over perceived imperfections so if I could prevent her getting picked on over this issue, well... it was a no-brainer.

Jane - posted on 01/28/2010

You've made the right decision by saying yes. My mum told me no, so I went behind her back and cut my shin all the way from bottom to top. You'd have thought the bathroom was a slaughter house. hehe. I have a 15 yo son with no facial hair yet, and a 12 1/2 yo son, who will need to shave soon. It looks like he has a caterpillar on his lip. His school has a clean shave policy so looks like we'll be buying razors soon. *cry, he's still my baby!!!

Cressi - posted on 01/28/2010

My daughter has matured early. Her legs had become very hairy and she was getting really sef-concious like - refusing to wear shorts and skirts. my therory is that if it is effecting her self esteem it is not too early. my daughter is 11 and is shaving.