8-Yr Old Daughter Has Hairy Issue

Hello
I have similar issues with my daughter except she's 10 and about a year ago she asked me if I can get rid of her hair so rather than using Nair which can be a little harsh I used Veet. It was wonderful they have the "razor" with no blade to remove the cream and that got her used to using the razor. Try that it will spare her from how cruel kids can be. My thoughts were, why put her through that if it can be prevented. Good Luck. Viv

My daughter had the same problem when she was young, because she inherited the olive complexion like my side of the family. I had to show her how to use "shaving cream"/soap to lather her legs really well and then I assisted with using a razor. I couldn't see her going to school and subjecting her to the teasing/ridicule, because let's face "Children do say the darnest thing."

I think i was in the 6th grade so about 11 when my mom told me to start shaving. She would not let me use a regular razor, she gave me her electric razor to use until i was old enough to use a real razor. Since she is only 8 and probably won't be able to use a real razor for a couple years or so i would invest in a electric razor for her so that she can do it herself, they are very easy to use and she will not cut herself. I'm sure you can probably find a pretty girly one for a descent price. I just done a quick search on Walmart and Target and there are a few that are only $20 that should work perfect since she probably won't have to shave as often as we do. Hope this helps.

I know how you feel and it is hard. My daughter has been teased about her hair since she was5. I wouldn't use nair or hair removeal products like that because of the chemicals. what I did with my daughter was I bought her an electric razor and showed her how to use it. there aren't the risks of cuts and there are no chemicals. At 11 I taught her how to shave and she does that now. My daufghter also started getting her eyebrows waxed at 9. I told her how bad it hurt and I left the choice up to me. She now bugs me about getting it done again.

Hi A.,

My vote is to remove the hair. Kids can be so cruel. If your daughter is shy or hard pressed to think of ways to defend herself verbally, the hairy leg situation has the potential to cause her a lot of hurt over the years. Can you imagine being known as "the hairy legged girl"? Or any number of other mean names?

Have you looked into using an electric shaver? From what I understand it is much more difficult to actually cut yourself with an electric shaver. Plus, it sounds like it might be a good investment for the future!

In a perfect world, this wouldn't even be an issue. All parents would teach their kids tolerance and help them to understand that everyone is different. Sheesh!

Best of luck.

~N.

Hi A.:

My niece had the same exact issue when she was 9 (she's almost 11 now). She had some kids who were teasing her about her hairy legs and she became very self concious about it. My sister decided to let her use veet (like nair), and now she is much happier. A lot of people say they're too young to be shaving their legs, but we all know how mean kids can be to each other and what teasing can do to a child.

I think if it's interfering with your daughters life and affecting her feelings that much, then there's nothing wrong with removing the hair. My only other suggestion would be to try the hair removal stuff on a small area first. I tried to use that veet one time and my legs got very irritated from it, like I had razor burn all over them. Just make sure she doesn't have a reaction to it. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Don't use any products or shave your daughter. She is who she is and she is way to young to start thinking of changing herself. I am a red head and was teased all through school. Dyeing my hair was never an option for me from my parents. If anything it will make her stronger in the long run. Tell her that the teasers have nothing better to do with their time than focus it on her. If she changes herself because of what these bullies do to her now, what is that going to tell them in the future??? To do it again because it worked. Just reassure her that she is beautiful and there is no need to change. Hope this helps.

A.,

The majority of Moms are recommending the electric razor for your daughter. I just want to throw in my two cents that if you decide to let her shave her legs, make it an opportunity to bond with her. Purchase the razor or product together, read the instructions together and offer to assist her the first time. Remind her that when she starts shaving, she will probably be shaving on a regular basis and will need to make time for it. Some kids do not want to spend time in the bathroom. Educate her on all her options and use this as a way to build trust with open communication. With something as simple as shaving, you may be laying the ground work for bigger and tougher issues.

Good Luck!
E.

Hi A.. I was 9 when I started shaving. My mom gave me an electric shaver. No cuts, and no more tease the hairy girl. Kids can be brutal, and if you've ever experienced it, you know how hard it is. You don't forget. I'd opt to let her shave. electric won't hurt, and her self esteem won't be taxed.

I started puberty rather early for girls during my childhood, and suffered with the hairy leg thing - Im half Irish, half Spanish so I have this white white skin and nearly black body hair. I didn't have an unusual amount of hair, but it made me self concious and I was teased a few times about it. Using a straight razor is a bad idea for a young girl as is other hair removal products which have tons of stinky chemicals that irritate the skin of many people. My mother and I went out and got an electric razor: she shaved my legs for me the first time so that I got the idea, and after that, I did it myself when the leg hair was visible again. Your daughter will find that her leg hair will grow in much more slowly than that of an adult, so she won't have to shave very often. Explain to her that this is just one of those things that, as a woman, you will need to do for the rest of her life (like wearing a bra, using deoderant, and starting her period). You will find that, once she is able to take care of the issue herself, it will become much much less an issue.

I would say that if you truly feel that she needs to start shaving then do as little as possible. What I mean by that is use something like nair. That way she won't have the coarsest blackest hair in the world before she graduates high school. I say that because I'm sure most of us can remember pre-shaving hair (for me, blond and fine) and post-shaving hair (coarse and black). The only part of me that has stayed blonde and fine are my thighs and knees, the areas where I've always used nair.

Also, this way, you can control how much she removes and how often. She may only really need it once a month, but if she learns how to use a razor, she may shave a couple times a week and possibly injure herself. This way, you have a little more supervision over her and she doesn't have to grow up so fast, know what I mean?

Take care,
M.

Dear A.,

Well, you had better go online and try to get some idea of what to do there as well as what the other mommies have to say. This is the United States and hair on the legs and arm pits isn't the 'in' thing.
If you lived in Europe, that would not be a problem.

It would be a good idea to keep your daughter feeling comfortable about herself - talk with her about how you two should solve this problem together.

Good Luck, no, you probably won't cut her, and anyway you can teach her how to shave, then you be near by to help and support.

C. N.

I like the two responses so far. I had hairy legs when I was younger, my Mom wouldn't help me because she thought I was too young. I decided to shave them myself. Fortunately I didn't cut myself the first times, probably because I was so scared! I would have liked my Moms support though and Nair or an electric razor would have worked better.

Added later:
I just saw Kristin's response and agree about the Nair. Let alone the chemicals I just remembered skin allergies can be an issue (silly me as I'm very prone to this) Take care!

I hated my hairy legs when I was little too. My mom told me I was too young but I talked my Dad into letting me in 5th grade. I don't know how getting teased is going to help a kid be stronger. And from what I've read no razor or cream like nair will change the way a hair grows in. Shaving just seems like it makes your hair thicker, only because of the flat head of the hair. I would go electric razor.

i'm part latin as well. if she's really insecure about it, teach her to shave or use the hair remover. let her do it herself. then she can be the judge to keep doing or not. it's inevitable that she'll be doing it as a teen, so i don't think it would hurt to start early. and it's a myth that the hair will grow back thicker. it may be a little stubly, but she's got black hair now, it'll always be black.

My daughter (also 8) has very hairy legs (and is also 1/2 latin), I gave her an electric razor and so far she's been happy with it and hasn't cut herself.

Hello,

I heard about this product, that is a hairless shaver...Have you heard of this? It sort of works like this:
It's a gel that goes onto the legs (where the hair is) and you let it set for as long as the box says. Then, you use a razor-less razor to get rid of the hair. I've never used it, but it sounds great, and painless. Less painful than Nair.
Good luck.

If it were my daughter, I would let her shave with an electric razor.

8 is pretty young, but I remember being embarrassed about it too when I was young. Shaving doesn't sound right and Nair is nasty stuff. Maybe there are more natural creams than Nair? I googled "natural hair removal lotion" and I got one that might be ok: http://www.skinenergizer.com/hair-removal/ I don't know anything about it, but there could be some great alternatives out there. And yes, an electric razor would be good like the others said. That is what I use because I have such sensitive skin.

Being a kid is hard enough today. I say whatever makes her feel better, do it. What's the big deal anyway? It's just a little hair removal. As women, it's something we do all our lives! Remove unwanted hair that is. :-)

My daughter was 10 when I finally purchased an electric razor for her. She also was complaining that her legs were more hairy than all of the other girls. Electric razors are not that expensive ($20-40) and you won't have to worry about her cutting herself. Kids can be mean and at this age, it's so easy for them to develop a complex about their bodies. I say try and find a safe method as long as you feel ok about it.

Hi A.,

I would not use a hair removal lotion, too strong for her delicate skin. How about an electric razor t start? I let me daughter do it on her 10th birhday. Made it a whole big deal, wrapped a razor and shaving cream and gave it to her for her birthday. She literally squealled with delight. Kids are mean and I can only imagine how she feels about herself. Kids grow up faster than we did...

I say, go for it. Whatever you can do t make her feel good about herself is a very, very good thing. (tho dad may have a little trouble with it, he'll come around when he sees ow happy she is!

gGood luck to you and your "fuzzy little angel. Oh, and if she's got hair, she's got hormones which equals deoderant. People findit difficult to accept that their child is old enough, but spending 6 years in varous classrooms let me tell you ,,, they are most definately READY! Best of luck.

V. T.