Ten Year Old Waxing

Hair doesn't grow back thicker with shaving. That is a myth.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hair-removal/AN00638

Hi N.,

Shaving won't cause the hair to grow back thicker. You have a certain amount of hair folicles and that's all you'll get. I would say let her shave- she'll be doing it soon enough for the rest of her life may as well start now.

Hair will not grow back any quicker or thicker, that is an old wives tale. It appears to do so because the new growth is uncomfortable and we pay more attention to it more often once we start shaving. I would NOT allow your daughter to wax (Dear God that would be crazy pain!) or to use any chemical on her skin to remove hair. If you agree that the hair must go, show her how to safely use a razor. The chemicals could badly scar her or she could be allergic to them as well. There are also lotions that will help to minimize the growth of hair or at least soften it after you shave..Jergen's, Suave...check those out first.

Hi N.,
I don't know off the top of my head what hair removal creams work best. But I can tell you (as a former hairstylist) that shaving does not make your hair thicker. What actually happens when you shave is the hair will come back all the same length which makes the hair appear thicker. This goes for shaving legs, armpits or even men that shave their face. Waxing can be a time consuming/sticky process but it has it's pros and cons. After you wax the hair takes longer to grow back which is good. But it has to be a certain length before you can wax it again for the wax to be able to remove the hair. The same applies for waxing eyebrows, if the hair is too short it simply won't come out and then you end up tweezing. I prefer shaving because it's quick and effective. Using conditioner or shaving cream and a razor that is at least double or triple bladed is best as it prevents razor burn. I hope you get good feedback on the hair removal creams to help you with your decision. Hope I was of some help! Good luck!

Encourage her to limit her exposure to dangerous chemicals. Allow her to shave because the Neet and other dilapidaries are toxic. The chemicals she puts on her body are quickly absorbed into the skin.

My mother taught me to shave at 10 years old. It was fine and I experienced nothing more than a few minor cuts. My hair didn't get thicker or grow faster.

I haven't tried the creams since many years back when I used neet and it was horrible. You still have to shave before you use it. Also regarding the shaving, I recently saw on the show "The Doctors" that it is a myth that if you shave the hair grows in thicker. You may to let her just shave to the knee and let her try that. Go into it gradually. Haven't had to deal with this as I have a boy!
Good luck.

My daughter also have VERY hairy legs when she was a child. She started shaving her legs in 4th grade and has never waxed or used chemicals. We started off slow....letting her get used to shaving by going to her knees only. When she was ready, she then did the remainder. Make it fun for her....pick out a cute razor and some shaving cream. Help her the first time.

It has been ten years and my daughter is an ocean rescue lifegaurd and her legs look good!! :-)

Hi N.,
My daughter will be 10 in August and she has been hounding me to help her do something about her hairy legs for months. I just couldn't bring myself to let her start shaving... yikes! When the weather warmed up and she refused to wear shorts I finally broke down. I was also nervous about the hair removal creams because of the potential chemical burns. Two weekends ago I stumbled across Smooth Away at BJ's and bought it for $7.99. It is esentially a *smooth* piece of sand paper that you gently rub in circular motions across the area to remove the hair. It worked WONDERFULLY! It takes quite a bit of time because you need to pass over the same area multiple times, but it worked very well on her soft (but long) leg hair. There was no pain whatsoever, and two weeks later her legs still look great. It's definitely growing back slower than when I shave mine. She loved being pampered by her mommy, and I even removed the hair from her feet and toes. (She has Spanish blood, so her hair is quite dark). It was so easy and gentle I then used it on my 7 year old. Caution: there are very mixed reviews on this product if you do some research. I don't know why some people complained of painful skin reactions... unless they were using the product incorrectly. I don't know... just be careful.
I personally had no problem with it and my girls are thrilled! =)

P.S. Tried using it on my fiance's back... no luck. =)

Nair has a roll on wax that is very simple to use. Good luck. R.

I say let her go for it. Waxing of shaving does not make the hair grow more, it just makes the hair grow in darker and stiffer. If she wants to wax then let her try it. She can't burn herself with the Veet Salon wax strips. It will hurt. If she can put up with the pain then great, if not then teach her to shave. Also, I would stay away from the creams that remove hair b/c I know a lot of people (including me) that have gotten chemical burns. Good luck.

Hi N.,

My daughter is now 11, but started "Veet"-ing her legs at age 10. It is easy. sometimes smelly, but works great. I would definitely recommed it. It can be emotionally damaging to a child to be teased about body hair. They are very self-conscious at this age and do not want to be singled out for any reason. My daughter's hair was very black and her skin was very white, so it showed. I was very worried about the razor, too, so we tried the Veet and it worked great. She feels very grown up and lets face it, she is growing up and becoming a young lady. Good luck, but i say "go for it!" L.

shaving doesnt make the hair grow in more. let her shave waxing hurts those creams can cause severe chemical burns (happened to my friend) stick to easy old shaving

I agree that 'shaving will make it grow more' is a myth. I have shaved since I was 12 and am now in my 50s and my legs have the same amount of thin, fine hair. I like shaving in the shower, that way I don't have to use any shaving cream.

I think waxing hurts. Depillatory creams are full of toxins that will be absorbed into the skin. If she does use depillatory creams, make sure it is in a well ventilated area as breathing in those fumes is not good for you either.

that is very young to start, but I totally empathize with her. Neat has a great product for sensitive skin. It lasts long and leave legs soft and smooth.

If the hair isn't very dark, which is typically the case, consider advising her to not shave. I have met several women that never started shaving, and they have soft hardly noticeable hair on their legs. After meeting other women that never shaved, I wish at 41 I had never started. It's not required, and sure it time consuming. I think of all the time I could have back,had I never started removing hair from my legs. It's seems it's really more of a peer/society pressure thing. I plan to discourage my daughter from it. She's four, and I've already started.

Good luck with helping your daughter make a decision.

I've used several of the depilatories on the market and don't really recommend any of them. I have somewhat sensitive skin. Nair seems to be the harshest, as it left me with chemical burns when used as directed. Veet wasn't as bad but also did not really remove all of the hair and left spots where I ended up shaving because the hair was still there after two applications. These creams are quite a bit different than waxing. Waxing involves hot wax and strips of fabric to pull the hair out from below he surface, whereas the depilatories work by dissolving the hair just at the surface or possibly slightly below. Shaving also cuts the hair at the surface of the skin, and doesn't last as long as waxing.

Contrary to popular belief, shaving does not cause hair to grow back faster, darker, or thicker.

You and others might find this article (by a licensed doctor) interesting and enlightening:
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/E/9273/35323/534333....

Perhaps let your daughter try various ways of removing the hair, and see what method works best for her. If she has sensitive skin, avoid the depilatories altogether as they can be painful (stinging and burning) t those of us with sensitive skin. Start her out with a disposable women's razor if she shaves and make sure she uses shaving cream (to prevent nicks or cuts).