I did that too. I don’t know why, but it never occurred to me to ask my mom about it! I just got to the point where I was too self-conscious about my leg and armpit hair and swiped a razor and shaved it off. I remember not being sure if I was doing it properly, but the hair was gone and that’s what I wanted! I don’t think my mom ever mentioned it to me, but the following Christmas there was a razor and shaving cream in my stocking (my mom’s always done that - Christmas stockings come with candy, socks, underwear, deodorant, toothbrushes, bandaids…and an orange (except for my brother, who gets a salami as a joke)).
I know my sister asked my mom, and they spent time together in the bathroom shaving their legs (or something…they were in there together for a while). I recall my sister getting tampon advice too. I just eventually grabbed some, read the package and tried them out.
I say sure, too. I had a lot of hair at that age too but I didn’t get it waxed till age 13. It never really changed in texture–it was just always fairly thick. I don’t see the harm if she wants to. I never really saw it as a “rite of passage” or an “I’m getting older” moment. It just felt nicer not having all that hair.
Like most every parent, I second-guess and question everything, but I’m actually proud of the fact that my daughter seems to be comfortable asking me about virtually anything. There are plenty of times when her questions send me to research, and other times when I have to carefully phrase answers in ways that she will understand, but I love the fact that she asks, and that she trusts that I will always answer honestly and discuss. Everything is fair game, and I’m glad that she asks, and trusts me to give a proper answer.
I’d say wait until she brings it up. A lot of girls aren’t self-conscious about getting hairy legs until it gets really heavy. If she doesn’t care yet, why should you?
I think an off-the-cuff comment along the lines ‘you’re getting to the age when some girls start to think about shaving their legs/pits - if you have any questions about it, or want me to buy you something, just ask! There is a learning curve with using razors, the first time I tried it on my own I cut my knee blah blah’ might be helpful, if you haven’t gone there already.
But I would wait to buy her a razor/give her lessons until she actually asks for it.
I shaved at 10 - I swam competitively until I graduated high school, and all the girls my age were doing it for the state swim meet. I did cut myself, but I didn’t use shaving cream the first time (my fault, not my mom’s). After that, I did shave sparingly for a year or so, and was very glad I did do it from an early age - I’m quite hairy. I see no problem with it so long as she wants to herself.
But, if it does go for awhile and she doesn’t bring it up, I would nudge her in the right direction. My mom had to remind me for two years after puberty to put on deodorant every day. Kids can be pretty clueless, and you wouldn’t want her to be teased about it later on.
I bought my daughter her first razor at 10. Her two best friends (sisters) came over one day with their legs shaved, and that was all it took for her to want to do it, too. She’s 11 now and only does it every once in a while, but she starts middle school next week so I imagine she’ll start shaving more often soon.
We are all missing the key question here – when Angelina Jolie’s daughter will be allowed to shave, or IF she will be allowed to shave, given the media angst about her tomboyish looks.
I started shaving when I was 9 or 10 without asking mom. She would have said that I was too young. The thing is, it wasn’t for the boys (as she assumed), I didn’t even hang out around boys; the girls were making fun of me. Somehow it didn’t occur to me to explain this to her, which I think she would have understood.
Puberty hits on its own timetable-- the time to talk about changes and how to deal with them is when you see they’re imminent, regardless of numerical age. You can prevent her from doing whatever you want for as long as you want, but that doesn’t keep her a little girl, nor does it take away the cause or feelings of self-consciousness.
My mom gave me talks (and showed me her stash of supplies) about periods, shaving, boobs, and birth control starting around age 11. I was free to take what I needed when I wanted to. I didn’t go through puberty until I was 13. But I was prepared for it, and I think that’s why it wasn’t awkward for me.
Juh? I never consulted my parents about shaving my legs. When there was hair I did not want, I got rid of it. There was never any discussion. Hell, maybe if I’d have asked my mother, she would have said no, but it never occurred to me that I needed permission to groom as I pleased. By the time I started shaving, I was combing my own hair, showering and dressing myself, so shaving also seemed like something I didn’t need to consult anyone about. I was maybe 11 or so.
If the OP has noticed, then her daughter has definitely already noticed, and her friends will notice when school starts. I think her age is not really the point; as many posters have noted, if she wants to do it, I would let her. Kids just want to fit in. I doubt anyone will notice if she shaves her legs, but they sure will notice if she DOESN’T. She’s going to be self-conscious about hundreds of things over the next 10 years; let her have one less.
Another fun thing we discovered-electric razors seem to be fine for legs, but they can give you one hell of a rash under your arms, so you may need to start her on an electric for her legs and get her one of those safety jobs with the little wires over the blades to use under her arms when the time comes.
My daughter endured several months of irritated underarms because she didn’t want to tell me, thinking I was going to tell her she was ‘doing it wrong.’ I tried the electric under my arms and had the same problem. OUCH.
I read forums that said you could use powder and other things to reduce irritation, but none of the suggestions worked. The electric is still safer for her legs while she’s learning, but you may have to make allowances for underarms.
You know, with my hyper-sensitive skin I was warned off the cream depilatories for decades. Finally tried one a couple weeks ago, following the directions carefully.
Damn - I think it irritated my legs less than shaving!
DEFINITELY a “your mileage may vary” situation. If a girl does want to try them DO, I emphasize DO test a small area first and then wait 24 hours to make sure she won’t have a bad reaction to the chemical. They also come in different strengths and formulations. Do not leave on longer than instructed. If that length of time isn’t sufficient to remove all hair you might have to touch it up with a shaver - but it’s a lot less than a full shave would be (first time I accidentally left a half inch wide strip of fuzzy on the back of one leg - there’s a small learning with this, as with everything else.)
If the hair itself is changing in texture and she is self-conscious about it, please allow shaving. I’ve been there and it was humiliating. Her self-confidence is more important. But teach her to do it correctly.
My mother shaved my legs the first few times. This was back in the days of Gillette safety razors and mistakes were much easier to make. But the first few times she might want to have warm to hot damp towels around her legs before she applies shaving cream or soap. I think that Daisy razors are easy to use. Teach her to use plenty of lather and to go slowly.
Don’t let her go too much above the knee. That will keep her in longer skirts for a little while at least.