6 Year Old Daughter Wants to Shave Legs

Wow, she is a little young to even be aware of this. Does she really have hairy legs or is this something that is really there? If so you may want to try one of the mild creams they have for hair removal. That would be better than a razor. I hope this helps some.

J., you've received a lot of advice, ultimately, you should make the decision with your daughter, since you know the circumstances, (whether someone is teasing her, or if she is excessively hairy, etc.)
I can offer a situation I had with my 15 year old when she was 8 as well. She came home from camp crying that a little boy made fun of her eyebrows....unibrow poor kid, and she was so hairy since birth I knew waxing was in her future, haha. Anyway, I asked her if her eyebrows really bothered her, or if it bothered her more that this boy made fun of her. I explained that there would always be some insensitive kid who would make fun of something about another kid, including her, and she shouldn't care what he thought, but if it really bothered her....I would bring her into my shop and get her eyebrows waxed (I am a nail technician). I explained that if she did it for the wrong reasons, because she was teased, she'd get them done, he'd find something else to make fun of and she would still feel bad. I told her to think about it and I would respect her decision. She came back to me and said it bothered her more that the little boy teased her about the eyebrows and since it was for the wrong reasons, she would not get her eyebrows waxed. I agreed with her, told her I was proud of her decision and when she decided it bothered her, I would get them done. She came to me 2 years later and said it bothered her, would I get them done, and I did.....I disagree with the mom who said it doesn't really affect their self esteem, I was there at that age and it does. So do what you think is right, for the right reasons.....N.

It wouldn't surprise me if she was teased at school, and noticed that you have saved your own legs. In any case she is two young to be using a razor of any kind or bleach for that matter. And make sure you put your razor away after using it because at some point when you aren't looking, she will use it.

Talk to her about it. Listen to her feelings and respect them. Let her know you understand how she is feeling and that you are sorry she feels that way but that nothing is wrong with having hair on her legs at her age as most beautiful children do. Tell her shaving at her age is out of the question and explain it will not only grow back, it will grow back thicker and it will itch a lot as it does which will make her feel even more uncomfortable. Tell her sinse she is feeling this way, instead you will take her shopping so she can find the answer to her problem....
Maybe she'll turn her tights in for knee high cotton socks...and how about cotton slacks for those hot days instead of shorts???...lead the way. Take her shopping for these items so she feels that she's doing something about her problem and that you aren't ignoring how she is feeling about it.
Work on building up her self esteem. Tell her how special she is, the way she is....how pretty she looks...and that you love her.
When she puts on tights, don't argue with her about it.

Hopefully at some point she will begin focusing on other things.

i started shaving my legs at 8 yrs old (but i'm italian and was pretty hairy...which has all seemed to fade to a "normal" person lol. i would say if she really wants to shave, since she's SOOOOO young, and you don't want to risk her getting hurt, try the veet. it's kinda like nair, but you spray/gel it on, like a cream almost, and then you use a BLADELESS razor (basically just a piece of plastic that's molded to almost a sharp edge) and you scrape off the veet and the hair comes off with it! i would say it solves her insecurity on the hairy legs, and any fear you may have of her getting hurt with shaving. good luck.

J.,

First of all, let me tell you that I am the mother of a very self-conscious 10 year old, so I have found myself dealing with issues like this for a while...I know many people have said that she must be getting teased, but at 6, I would have a hard time believing that other 6 year olds would notice such a thing. I am fair skinned with lots of dark hair and in 1st grade became very self conscious about my hairy arms. I wore long sleeves the entire year! I wasn't teased, I just noticed it on my own. Then I must have forgotten all about it. I think you should focus on positively reinforcing your daughter's inner and outer beauty and let her wear the pants/tights or whatever she wants if that makes her feel better. She'll change her mind when she gets hot enough! Six really is too young to shave and please disregard all the advice to use Nair! It could really burn a child's skin.

SIX... SIX...!!!
NO WAY !!!... The hair will grow back thickER and black and you and she, will have more trouble for the NEXT 7 years while she's still growing... and she'll only be 13! - jUST Bearly a teenager, when should 1st want to even start shaving her legs!

Its up to you to overcome her crying, boost her self esteem and tell her how pretty the hair on her legs is right now, and thats the way its supposed to be on a SIX YEAR Old!!

Ask her to see how many of the other 6 yr. olds are shaving thier legs... (None I'll Bet) She'll see how ridiculous that idea is.. Don't Do IT!!

Wow, I cant believe she is worried about that already. I just wanted to tell you my story, I dont know if it will help but I can definately relate to your daughter. I was about 9 or 10 years old when a very close friend of the family was getting married and I was at her home while she got dressed in her wedding gown. I saw her shaving her legs and I hadnt seen anyone do that before. So I asked her what she was doing and she showed me what to do. She went ahead and shaved my legs (I did have hairly legs but not dark hair, it was pretty light). Well, as you know a few weeks later the hair came in very dark. I was too scared to tell my mom that I had shaved that one time so I hid it but I couldnt always hide it like at school. During Gym the girls would call me HAIRLY LEGS and teased me terribly. Later in High School I started to shave regularly but it was very tramatic for me. I promised myself that if I had a daughter I would allow her to shave if she felt embarrassed. I dont know that there is anything medically wrong with starting earlier than other girls. I just remember the embarrassment I felt at school and it was really rough to deal with. Well, I hope this experience can help you and your daughter. Take care. D.

My answer would be NO.. This is way TOO young. This is the reason a lot of these "tweens" (can't stand that word) are over-sexed at such a tender age. Parents break under the pressure of their own children because of the crying, whining, etc. when asked to wear makeup at 12 or thongs!! And the parents give in just to shut them up. The young girls today are too sexed up and don't know how to be little girls anymore but who's responsible for this? Society, peer pressure, etc... perhaps that plays a minor part of the equation. But that's only cop-out in IMO. This responsibility starts at home and no where else. A young girl coming into "her own" needs to cherish their own purity and it's up to the parents to teach them how. I know I am getting a bit ahead but it starts with the shaving... Then next year she will want pedicure, manicures, then what is it the following year highlights, etc. Where do you draw the line? Only you know what is best. But for what it's worth, if that were me, I would tell my daughter that that day she gets her period is the day that she may shave her legs. Period (no pun intented), end of story, topic closed for dicussion. Whatever you decide it has to feel right in your heart J.. Good luck.

Hi J.
I feel bad for your daughter's feelings about her "hairy" legs.
I guess you feel they are hairy too. It's a tough call. Have you asked her what makes her want to shave her legs? Is the hair dark or light? I know if it were my daughter I wouldn't let her shave her legs at 6 but what about the Nair hair removal? I know it's similar to shaving but maybe she won't get the hair growth back as quickly and maybe it could slow it down a little. I'm not sure but if she's being teased about it then something, some how should be done about the teasing and the hair on her legs. Kids can be so mean and make other kids self esteem very low. I hope this suggestion may have helped. It's a tough call for such a young child. I think you need to talk to her about what and why she wants to shave her legs. Please let me know the out come of this situation. Good luck with your decision. D. S

Hi J.,

What memories that brought back of my own childhood!!! :-(

I know how I felt from 1st or 2nd grade on, and I can sooo feel for you daughter. I was picked on about the same thing. I was shy/quiet, and this was just one of the first of my insecurities through the years. Some kids are cruel, and can make sure to bring attention to anything "different" (especially for the quite ones).

I know alot of people are saying "tell her to tough it out" or "too bad-let her cry", but I can't imagine letting my child go on feeling the same way I did for years. And as far as "trying to boost her self esteem", I agree, but I also think that by six if she has self esteem issues, they've already begun. And to make her "cry it out" is just going to make it worse for her.

I have a boy, so I don't have to think about that specific situation. I do think six is young, but I also think if you can help her with her insecurities now, that is a great thing.

If you do let her, I'd say an electric razor first. Or if you don't let her shave in any way, then let her wear the nylons. (I wore them whenever I could, till I could finally shave, and did feel alot more comfortable with myself).

Good Luck!!
--J.

How about getting her Capris? Or even long skirts(calf length). My 9 yr old recently told me the same thing...that this summer, she will NOT be wearing any shorts as she's conscious of her hairy legs...she's a brunette, so it's more obvious. We went shopping and got some nice crops and capris, as well as some nice gypsy type skirts. This season, Gap and Children's place also have summer pants and capris in thin fabrics(poplin and linen) as well as light knit/jerseys. They can be as comfy as shorts in the summer.

K.

You've received so many responses and I hope that they've helped. The only advice I can give is that no matter what you decide to do, make sure you teach her how to use the razor (when the time is appropriate) and keep yours locked away. I took my mom's razor to my leg when I was about five or six and had a nice scar to show for it that looked much worse imo than hair on a young child. And truly when I think back to when I did it, I was so scared that it bled and bled. If she feels bad enough abut it, she will find a way to get around it. I think the important thing is to continue to show your daughter love, no matter what her choices, and if she chooses to wear tights with her shorts and then she is hot and sweats and is uncomfortable, but it makes her feel better about herself--so be it.

Perhaps you could find books, resources and/or speak to her about the fact that it is a cultural thing for American "women", and women in many countries never shave; and most children, even in America, do not. May sound a little above a six year old level, but then again, shaving used to be too. Good luck finding a solution that works for you and your daughter.

I remember being about 9 or so, and have the same feeling. I'm hairy, and no one had to bring it to my attention. It just was a personal feeling. I still to this day couldn't understand why I wasn't allowed to shave; it was embarrassing being at the pool with everyone else and try to hide my legs. One time I shaved my legs in patches hoping my mom wouldn't notice, but I looked even worse and she noticed. Finally at 13 my mom agreed for me to get waxed (that was my one and only option), so I did and it was painful. I think I started to secretly shave after that. I don't see the harm with some rules. Like shaving/nairing/waxing only in the summer time and not all the time. Making sure she learns how to do it so she doesn't cut herself. If the hair is very dark, you may be able to just bleach it (just a thought). I feel her pain, and it does impact her emotionally to have to deal with this. i would certainly not take away her tights and make her wear the shorts as suggested in one of the postings, that would be cruel.

I would believe that someone teased her and now she is sensitive to the matter. Or that she may have watched you shave your legs and now wants to copy you. I would not allow a 6-7-8-9-10-11-12 year old shave. I think when she becomes a teen is the time if the daughter requests it then. You should let her make a choice of wearing pants or shorts. Eventually she will want to wear shorts and when she sees no one making a big deal of it then she will feel better. I would try to find out who teased her about her legs but try to do it when she is doing something fun like coloring or painting. Sometimes my daughter is caught up in what she is doing that when I am asking her about information that she is sensitive about she will reveal the situation without realizing it. ask a question or two but not alot as she may catch on. My daughter use to watch her father shave and I caught her a few times trying to shave her face around 4yrs. So it could also be that she watched you shave one day and now wants to also.

Good Luck

let her wear tights.

I have a 9 year old who has dark hair on her legs, and was the same way, wanted to were pants stocking no shorts ect. I gave into her last year to shave her legs at 8, she did it a few times on her own after i had helped her a few times, it went by the waste line after she started to have to do it her self. Now regardless of the dark hair on her legs i cant get her out of shorts or skirts!

Are her legs unusally hairy for her age? I know it seems way too young for her to start this but she is obviously getting picked on for it or it wouldn't be such an issue for her. Honestly, I wouldn't exactly want my daughter to start shaving that young but if she is that passionate about it and it will boost her self esteem up and make her feel comfortable this summer I would probably start her off with some nair or something of the sort. Or even an electric razor that will not cut her at all. Good Luck.

my stepdaughter came to us after her first week in fourth grade (8 years old!) and told us her mom let her shave her legs for the first day of school. The reason i was so upset was that she's blonde blonde blonde and the hair on her legs was definitely not noticable. She used the razorless shaving and it gave her a big reaction on her legs for a day or 2 which looked worse than the hair (which IMO didn't look bad in the first place!). She didn't want to do it again.
I think that anything under 12 or 13 or so is waaay too young. However, if your daughter does have especially dark or thick hair and is really getting picked on about it and you chose to let her, that may be something to try. Supposedly using some of those razorless "shaving" products doesn't make the hair grow back in darker and thicker like razors would. but just do a test area before letting her do her whole leg to make sure she's not sensetive. Or check with her doctor for ideas.

Tell her NO! No means no. Not maybe. Not bug me until I change my mind. Not, well if your crying... NO! Bottom line. If you think it's peer pressure tell her it doesn't matter what other think and that she's beautiful just the way she is. If you have to, explain how badly she can get hurt shaving and also explain that the more you shave the heavier the hair grows back. Bottom line NO! and don't give in!

Well, this is a very personal choice. Most people will say "Oh my God ...NOOOOOO, she's too young" or some comment of that kind....BUT....you as her mother have a pulse or sense of what she needs. I had a similar problem with my neice. We are Latinas and have dark hair and of course, as young as 6, she had hair on her legs. Thankfully, she was not teased until she was 10. Upon that happening all she could talk about was shaving her legs. Her mom said NO, she was too young...etc..etc. You have to take her feelings into consideration. She is the one that has to go out and face all her friends and peers. Sit and have a heart to heart talk with her and explain the pros and cons about shaving. Once you shave you cannot stop. Explain it to her in detail and just have a girls talk so she fully understands what it would mean to shave her legs. Then both of you decide together. As mothers, I think we know when it really looks bad and when we can advise them to hold out a little longer. Before you make any decisions, think about how you felt at that age? Hairy legs are gross at any age and it is a devastation when your friends start noticing and commenting. So just get to the bottom of why she feels the way she does and come to a decision together before she decides for herself and does it without your knowledge without knowing how and might hurt herself. My neice went that route, luckily at 10, she didn't hurt herself but went and did it as it was prohibited to her. Godd luck....and remember, heart to heart talk!

Hi J.

At this point you are probably fighting a losing battle. Someone or something (TV?) got her started.I would suggest telling her houw beautiful her legs are and that she is just a bit young to shave. If this doesn't work you may just have to let her do it. Try some of the creams instead of actual shaving. they are quite harmless. You would be amazed how young these girls are doing these beauty things. I did not shave and wax eyebrows until I was in my twenties but both of my teenage daughters do it. As long as she is pretty balanced and not wanting to go overboard it will probably be ok. She might even want to give it up after she finds out how much work it is! Good Luck. G. L.

J....I don't have a daughter, but if I were in your shoes, I'd (as crazy as it might sound) offer to get her legs waxed instead. The hair will stay off a lot longer, grow back A LOT thinner, and eventually (in many years) not at all. I wish I had been able to start waxing a long time ago, but I only did the last few years. It could be the answer to your dilemma. Good luck! L.

You should tell her to stop all the crying and tell her she is speacil in her own way and that everyone looks different don't worry about how you look no matter how hariy your legs or even if you have a horrible hair cut.

From,
Lauren D

under her arms is one thing, her legs are quite another,

Even if she is VERY VERY DARK and hairy, NO,

Its far too early to start shaving, I am certain some one mentioned this to her and made her feel uncomfortable,

What i suggest is taking away all the tights, and MAKING her wear shorts WITHOUT them,

The fact that you are even considering this is surprising,

self esteme, is not linked to hairy or hairless

esteme comes from inner self worth and respect,

its learned,

you teach her she is beautiful by telling her everyday, and having the male figures in her life tell her the same,

I disagree whole heartedly, she is just a baby at 6 years old,
stick her in some shorts, and send her out to play,

CRYING or NOT.

M

I have a 10 year old daughter and started aksing this same question because I know it's comeing. I started to notice on her how hairy her legs are ( but she's blonde so I guess I have been ale to get away from this matter with her because of that for a little while longer anyways). She told me when I sat down with her and had started "the talk" about how her body is going to start going through "the change" from little girl to "bigger girl" that she doesn't really like to wear skirts, dresses, or shorts because she already has hairy legs, and we found that wearing tights with them helped. I don't think that your 6 year old should shave ( and I really wouldn't suggest Nair because even at my age it breaks my skin out and burns it), but I would allow her to wear her tights with her shorts. they have thinner tights now that really aren't that "heavy" that she could wear with her shorts. If she feels better wearing them with her shorts let her, it's not harming anything. But just remember that if you start her shaving now that she is going to have to keep shaving because it will grow back thicker and ALOT more. If you do decide to shave then I would go with an electric razor to start. If after all of the advice that you receive from mammasource you are still confused I would talk to her Doctor about it. Good Luck!!!!!!!!

Unless she is unusually hairy, or her hair is very dark, and therefore very visible against her skin, I would be inclined to say No. Can you get to the bottom of why thisis bothering her? I cannot imagine "All the other girls" are shaving their legs at 6! If it is truly noticeable, and she has a genuine reason to be uncomfortable, then Imight consider something like Veet, where there's no real razor. But if it is a "grownup" thing, then I'd let her tough it out.

Clearly this is something that causes her pain -- whether she has been teased about it or whether she has noticed it herself. It certainly seems to be something that is easily corrected. I'm not sure I understand why it is so important to wait until a certain age before addressing it. My understanding is that shaving will cause hair to grow back more is a myth.

I have a friend who grew hair very young. She told her Mom how deeply self-conscious it made her and her Mother helped her shave. It is one of her earliest memories of her Mother and it is one of the best memories. She felt her Mom really listened to her and helped her.

It would be good to find the least invasive method for helping her feel more comfortable (electric razor?) as she is so young. But I agree with Parisa -- taking away her tights and making her tough it out seems so cruel.

J., If she really does need to shave her legs, I would let her do it. I also was plagued with extremely hair legs at a young age and was traumatized by it and it would've helped a lot of my mother had been proactive and had suggested that I shave. I would actually take it a step further and ask her doctor about it - I believe that hairiness may be the result of some hormone imbalance. When I was young also I began to get hair on my face and was also traumatized by that! My sister's daughter had very heavy eyebrows and a mustache by the time she was about 11 and my sister is having her get waxed - I wished my mother had done that for me!

I have an 8 year old daughter in Third grade. Believe me, teasing about hairy legs and arms starts early! My daughter was teased by boys in first grade (and it still continues). She now refuses to wear skirts, shorts or dresses without leggings underneath because she is so self conscious about people noticing her them, even in the summer when its 80+ degrees. She does have very hairy legs and arms and is not being overly sensitive. The best advise is for you to do what YOU feel is best for your daughter! I'm not going to let her shave, but decided to use my husbands hair clippers to shorten and thin out her hair.

I would just let her wear the leggings.She will find out that they are too hot this summer. also you can try to explain to her that everyone has hair on their body and some have more than others but that is natural. Show her that her dad has hair on his legs and you can get her a fake shaver like I did for my grandaughter. Sometimes they see mommy shave and they just want to be like them. I even got my grandaughter her own shaving cream which I think she thought she was grown up like me. Good Luck A. R

Dear J.,
Somewhere your daughter heard about the importance of shaving. It could have even been from TV commercials, or some teen - that would be my guess. I would give her a razor with no blade in it. Let her soap up her legs in the bathtub and go through the motions. Most likely, she will tire of it soon, especially if you can incorporate suggestions that shaving is a drudgery. You, and your husband, can make sullen comments that having to shave (men their faces, women their legs) is something that adults do, but is not enjoyable, is boring, a waste of time - something along these lines. Encourage that kids are lucky that they do not have to perform this task until they become adults. She'll get the hint.
Also, you can right out ask her where she got this idea. Her answer will help you direct the action taken.
Good Luck, W.

Don't let her shave. Let her wear the pants and tights as she pleases. As the summer goes on and it gets hotter she'll realize it's silly to keep wearing them. Help her understand that children her age are supposed to have hairy legs, and that it's just part of growing up. Tell her how many times you have cut yourself shaving your legs, and how much it bleeds, and stings when the soap hits it. She will not want to shave any time soon. And last, but definately not least, tell her how beautiful she is, just the way she is!

My daughter was 9 when she started shaving under her arms, (Someone had made a comment to her) and it definately made a difference. I don't regret my decision because such a small thing, like shaving, built her self esteem and she was more confident afterwards.

Good luck!