My 7 year old daughter wants to shave her legs so badly, but her father doesn't think she is old enough. She will be 8 in two months and has darker, thicker hair than the other kids, even some of the boys. Should I allow her as I help her shave her legs or even use a hair removal cream?
They have organic hair removal. Look for a safe alternative for waxing the hair off. Hair removal cream are toxic and strong. If she shaves it will come back thick and course, probaly a lot worse.than what it is now.
I wouldn't use a hair removal cream on a child, that stuff is really harsh.
I don't see a problem with an 8-year-old shaving if she is self-conscious about the hair. My daughter is 9 and does not shave but her hair is very light. My six-year-old on the other hand, has thick dark hair, and I can imagine she will start shaving young.
7 or 8 years old sounds so very young, but I do think that if she is really self concious about it then you should probably allow her to try. I wouldn't use the creams yet, and I think at this young of an age she is really going to have to have your help to shave without cutting herself up. And she may decide that it isn't worth the maintenance to do every day, but if she is self concious you don't want it to be something that really bothers her self esteem.
Hi K.,
I think of shaving legs along the same type of grooming as shaving underarms, wearing makeup, wearing a bra and the like. I am inclined to agree with your DH but I have to admit, I also agree with Chicken Head below: that if she is feeling self concious, some sort of solution should be pursued. Are her friends doing it so it's a peer to peer thing or is it really important for her from a hygiene perspective?
At the risk of sounding flippant.....it's questions like this that make me grateful mine is all boy. :-) Best of luck to you!! S.
Personally I can't imagine an 7 or 8 yr child needing to remove hair on their legs. I began shaving my legs the summer before Jr HS (7th grade). I had very dark very thick hair also. That is my opinion the summer before Middle/Jr High School has been my time for all of my 4 girlz and for my Grangirl who is basically my daughter (she has been with us since 2 mts) she has always used depilatories.
I don't think I would have anything negative to say should you make the decision to remove her leg hair. just keep in mind once she begins it's something she will have to keep up and I can see this interfering with her, 'playtime' as a youngster.
Good Luck whatever you decide!
Yes, you should allow her to use something to get rid of the hair. I started shaving my arms & legs when I was 12, because my hair was so thick & dark, it was embarrassing! Though my hair is thinner and lighter now at age 43, I still shave them both.
