What age should girls shave their legs? About This Page:

[B.M.]

The deodorant thread made me think of something I've been wondering about w/ my daughter......... Shaving legs! She already has really dark hair on her legs and she is only 8 (will be 9 next month). There is NO WAY I'm thinking about letting her do this right now or soon, BUT- I originally thought it would be more like a middle school thing, but her hair is REALLY dark, so how long am I suppose to let her run around in shorts and skirts with those hairy legs?? Again, I'm not even suggesting doing it just yet............. but, I am starting to think she may need to start before middle school since that is several years away. What is the rule of thumb or what is your experience with this???

[Ceara's mawmaw]

Our family rule for my mom then my mom to me and then me to my girls was when they started having their "time of the month" then we would also start that part of the grooming process. Not that way for everyone....just our families practice....

[minushka72]

I was in 7th grade which was the start of Jr. High. Age 12 which was also the start of my monthly time.

[Tink and co.]

My girls use Veet instead of shaving and started in 5th or 6th grade (9 or 10). They were just too hairy! (They would love that I'm sharing this with everyone! ) We experimented with different brands, some will cause a rash, etc. They use the cream every couple of weeks or once a month in the summer. I had some wicked shaving accidents in middle school (still have scars) so I was leary of buying razors, especially at that young age. I have a friend who's an aesthetician (sp?), and she recommends waiting as long as possible to shave.

[wheatenwalker]

When they need it and the girl knows they need it

[dluvsdisney]

Our DD started shaving her legs in 5th grade. I was surprised how well she did with it- very few nicks. There's no way she would've waited until 7th grade.

[Colexis Mom]

I think I was around 13. I expect the same for my DD at this point (she's 10.5 and doesn't shave yet)!

[MMMD]

My daughter is about to turn 11 in a few weeks and she's been shaving her legs for about 6 months now. I thought she was very young but she's starting puberty and her legs were very hairy.

[GoofyMom]

I'm of the same opinion as Sheila - it's time to start when she becomes self-conscious about it. My DD started long before I knew she did because she's almost a year younger than most of the girls in her class, so it became an issue earlier than I thought it should. She's very fair-haired so it really wasn't necessary, but it's such a peer-pressure, right-of-passage girlie thing.... at least it was about 10 years ago.

[Teresa]

We allowed our girls to start shaving when they decided they needed to. Some of the girls in my 11 yr. old's 6th grade class aren't allowed to shave yet - and get teased about it. I decided I would prefer my kids shave and feel good about themselves.
I thought Lauren was late in shaving, and said something to her - and she informed me Kathryn had shown her how to shave her legs when she was 8, and has been doing it ever since!!!

[Tawnya]

I started shaving young I was in 5th grade, however the reason I started so youg was I had already started my monthly time and I was very hairy ( its an italian thing). I agree that it varys from girl to girl if she is self concious about it, its probablly time to start and I love the idea of using veet or nair for young girls that way they can shave without the risk of hurting themselfs.

[eff051102]

Well I will be 38 this year and I can say that peer pressure was alive and well
when I was in school so I started around 5th grade. I had fair hair and you really
couldn't tell that I had leg hair but I thought you could. I snuck into my parents
bathroom and shaved my legs with my DDads razor one summer day. I cut myself
so bad that I still have the scars. My DM always told me no when I asked to shave
and would also tell me that once I shaved, I would ALWAYS have to shave. She
was right!

I will let my DD tell me when she wants to shave. I don't want her to sneak in and
hurt herself like I did.

[DawnK]

My dd begged me for a year before I finally gave in. she is 13 and has been shaving for 1 1/2 yrs. She's better at it than me!!

[Tigger71]

My DD has been begging to do this for about 6mths now (she is almost 11). We keep telling her she will need to continue doing it 'forever' but all her friends are starting...We will see what peer pressure does but I think it's "NO" for a while yet - I was 14 myself!!!

[chezp]

Wow, reading this I feel very lucky. I didn't start shaving my legs until I was about 11 or 12.