Daughter Insecure About Arm Hair

Oh I feel her pain. I didn't have dark arm hair when I was a teen, but I had a lot (I still have a lot). My mom wouldn't let me do anything about it and it made matters worse for me. I ended up shaving it behind her back and we fought like crazy (and my arms itched for days!!!). I haven't ever heard of lighting products, but you might suggest she try one of those hair removal creams? At least it would be less painful than waxing. And I tend to agree with you that It's harmless if it makes her feel better about herself, although you should also remind her that it isn't necessary because she's a beautiful bright girl.

Ivebeen an esthetician for 6 years now and girls come in all the time to have their arms waxed. I wouldnt reccomend shaving them as the hair can come back more course. Waxing gives a very smooth appearance and its not too expensive depending on where you go.

Hi C.,

My daughter has had same issue. We use a cream bleach that I bought at the beauty supply store. It is made especially for arms and legs. Your daughter is a dear to have been so patient as she is 15. You could do a patch test on her skin to see if she has any reaction, but should be okay. Go for it! Def. do not shave...........that's a disaster. Waxing good too, but requires maintenance and an appointment. Good luck and you are a nice mom to take the time to care about this for your daughter.

I used to put lemon or proxide on my arms because they WERE horribly hairy! The hair was dark too, so there was no hiding it in the summer. Both lemon or poroxide will made my dark hair turn orange, which probably stood out more, but it was lighter. I think there is a product called sunin if they still make it, that is for hair lightening. If I remember correctly, you spray it on and then when the sunlight hits the hair it will lighten.

I just found this: http://www.planetrx.com/shop/detail.cfm/sku/A0409

I finally had my arm hair permanently removed...tells you how much I hated it. I would say let her live with it, but for some reason even as an adult I hated it.

I know how she feels- I have shaved my arms in the past. It doesn't make the hair thicker or darker, and it lasts for weeks unlike legs. However, if you're okay with it you could also take her to get them waxed- if you wax arms it grows back thinner and lighter, and if you continue to wax it will get lighter and thinner each time (waxing damages hair folicles, causing some hairs not to grow back). And it's not something that's really high maintainance either, most people only have to do it every few months or so (maybe monthly at the most). I think this would take care of the problem more for her and help boost her confidence, and while I think it's important for kids not to worry too much about their appearance, I think that most of us would be hypocrtical if we told her to just deal with it.

Again, with shaving, maybe it's just me but I have never had a problem with itching or rash, and I have fairly sensitive skin. And it really doesn't grow back courser (that's an old wives tail because when it first comes back it FEELS courser, because all of the hair comes back at once and the same length). But I would still say waxing is the way to go- I did it when I got married and it isn't terribly painful, but I couldn't tell you how much it costs because my mom (a cosmotologist) did it.

C., At 15 you really don't want her to put a hair color on her arms, I would just tell her we all have something we don't like about ourselves, but that's what makes us unique. I have never heard of products for lightning body hair, I didn't like mine either as a teen, and i shaved mine. J.

Your daughter is a teen! They're insecure about everything!! u can let her wax or shave