My boyfriend asked me this this morning because he has a pre-teen daughter and knows it will be coming up soon...I honestly can't remember how old I was, but it was probably between 11 and 12? Is that 'normal'? I figure a consensus of the women here would give me a pretty good idea.
Girls - At what age did you start shaving your legs?
09/03/2010
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My family has a tradition - you're allowed to shave your legs when you get your period. It's a pretty good rule of thumb, since our girls start around 12/13, and it's part of the Rite of Womanhood.
09/03/2010
I started shaving at 13 or 14, not long after I first menstruated.
09/03/2010
I started shaving at 11. I didn't menstruate until pretty late in life (around 17!) so, I would have been sad to have to wait that long. As it was, I was already getting picked on around 10 because my friends were shaving their legs, and I was the only fuzzy one in class.
09/03/2010
I started shaving (without my parents' permission) when I was about 9 or 10 years old because, while the hair on my legs was fine and silky and not exactly thick, it was still quite visible because it was brown and somewhat long for body hair. I was extremely self-conscious wearing shorts, so I sneaked my dad's disposable razor when my parents refused to let me shave my shins. I had no idea what I was doing and wound up doing quite a patchy job and cut myself quite painfully several times bad enough to leave scars. I wish my parents would have taken into consideration how self-conscious I was and that they would have offered me some guidance on how to properly shave or to offer some type of alternative to shaving with that type of razor (such as an electric razor, depilatory, etc.).
09/03/2010
I started shaving my legs when I was 11 or 12 , I think, before I got my period for the first time. I stopped shaving my legs in January 2010, and I hope never to go back!
09/03/2010
I started shaving around 11 or 12, my younger sister as well. I say if you don't feel comfortable with them shaving normally, buy her an electric razor that way she has no way of cutting herself
09/03/2010
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That's what he's afraid of! She just turned 11 but teenage girls can be so mean, he doesn't want it to be a social issue.
Originally posted by
Red Vinyl Kitty
I started shaving at 11. I didn't menstruate until pretty late in life (around 17!) so, I would have been sad to have to wait that long. As it was, I was already getting picked on around 10 because my friends were shaving their legs, and I was
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I started shaving at 11. I didn't menstruate until pretty late in life (around 17!) so, I would have been sad to have to wait that long. As it was, I was already getting picked on around 10 because my friends were shaving their legs, and I was the only fuzzy one in class.
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09/03/2010
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That's what I started out with. It was a Lady Remington that my mom had received as a bridal shower gift and never taken out of the box and it had been in the basement for over a decade.
Originally posted by
twistedheartsx
I started shaving around 11 or 12, my younger sister as well. I say if you don't feel comfortable with them shaving normally, buy her an electric razor that way she has no way of cutting herself
09/03/2010
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I can totally understand that. Yeah, kids are SO mean at that age.
Originally posted by
Tori Rebel
That's what he's afraid of! She just turned 11 but teenage girls can be so mean, he doesn't want it to be a social issue.
09/03/2010
Thank you all for your input. I think she'll get her period on the late side because she's really not developed at all, in addition to what her genetics lead us to believe. I think it's adorable that my boyfriend was worried about it and now I can tell him that in the next year or so would be 'normal'.
09/03/2010
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Especially the girls!
Originally posted by
Red Vinyl Kitty
I can totally understand that. Yeah, kids are SO mean at that age.
09/03/2010
I was 11. I didn't really need to since I didn't have dark hair, but all the other girls were shaving and I wanted to have perfectly smooth legs too.
09/03/2010
PLEASE go with 11 or 12. My mother was quite strict and I was told I wasn't allowed to shave my legs (or underarms for that matter) until I was 14. However, I began secretly shaving them at 13 and constantly wearing pants and t-shirts to school just to hide this fact. I can still remember being completely belittled in gym by all the girls who did shave. To this day, my mother never knew that was the reason I was failing gym (I never wanted to "dress out" for fear of being made fun of).
09/05/2010
I've actually been thinking about this lately. My daughter is 9 and I noticed lately that her hair is pretty prominent on her legs. I didn't start shaving until I was 12..and even then I did it behind my mother's back because she forbid me from doing it.
I don't know when the norm is.. she hasn't said anything about wanting to, so I guess maybe I'll wait and follow her lead?
I don't know when the norm is.. she hasn't said anything about wanting to, so I guess maybe I'll wait and follow her lead?
09/05/2010
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That's what my boyfriend has decided to do...when she asks, it's a go. He was just concerned about when the other girls might start, and if it were too early if she brings it up soon.
Originally posted by
Alicia
I've actually been thinking about this lately. My daughter is 9 and I noticed lately that her hair is pretty prominent on her legs. I didn't start shaving until I was 12..and even then I did it behind my mother's back because she forbid
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more
I've actually been thinking about this lately. My daughter is 9 and I noticed lately that her hair is pretty prominent on her legs. I didn't start shaving until I was 12..and even then I did it behind my mother's back because she forbid me from doing it.
I don't know when the norm is.. she hasn't said anything about wanting to, so I guess maybe I'll wait and follow her lead? less
I don't know when the norm is.. she hasn't said anything about wanting to, so I guess maybe I'll wait and follow her lead? less
09/05/2010
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Yeah! Another late (period) starter.
Originally posted by
Red Vinyl Kitty
I started shaving at 11. I didn't menstruate until pretty late in life (around 17!) so, I would have been sad to have to wait that long. As it was, I was already getting picked on around 10 because my friends were shaving their legs, and I was
...
more
I started shaving at 11. I didn't menstruate until pretty late in life (around 17!) so, I would have been sad to have to wait that long. As it was, I was already getting picked on around 10 because my friends were shaving their legs, and I was the only fuzzy one in class.
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09/05/2010
I was 11. My mother didn't want me to start but I was doing it behind her back for a while, so she finally gave up and let me.
One thing she told me though, was that if I didn't start shaving my thighs I might never have to. And that proved to be true. To this day, I only have to shave from a bit above then knee to the ankles.
One thing she told me though, was that if I didn't start shaving my thighs I might never have to. And that proved to be true. To this day, I only have to shave from a bit above then knee to the ankles.
09/05/2010
I have extremely fine, sparse hair on my legs that isn't visible unless you are REALLY looking for it, so I skip shaving for anything that goes below my knees. Shorter shorts and skirts, though, I will shave for, if only for the peace of mind. I also like that "freshly shaven" feeling. I guess the first time I shaved, I did it on a whim because I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. I used a disposable shaver and cream that was handed out as part of the personal care pack they used to give out on airplanes (oh, the good old days when they didn't care if you had something sharp or stabby). I think I was 12 or 13? It really does vary according to the person and the behavior of their hair.
09/05/2010
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I think I was 11 or 12 when I started shaving my legs. I started my period when I was 12, and I think that's probably a good estimate of when "normal" girls start shaving.
Originally posted by
Tori Rebel
My boyfriend asked me this this morning because he has a pre-teen daughter and knows it will be coming up soon...I honestly can't remember how old I was, but it was probably between 11 and 12? Is that 'normal'? I figure a consensus of
...
more
My boyfriend asked me this this morning because he has a pre-teen daughter and knows it will be coming up soon...I honestly can't remember how old I was, but it was probably between 11 and 12? Is that 'normal'? I figure a consensus of the women here would give me a pretty good idea.
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09/05/2010
I started around 14 but gave it up permanently about a year later. I just hated the way it felt and looked, I always got razor burn and honestly couldn't be arsed with it.
09/05/2010
I was 11 when I started, about a year before I got my first period.
09/05/2010
I was 10, about to turn 11 though. I started shaving sometime during the summer before I started the 6th grade, because some girls had started shaving in 5th grade and I figured even more would start before middle school. I was right.
09/06/2010
I think I was 11 when I started. I can't really remember it though!
09/06/2010
I think 14, along with plucking my eyebrows. I just never saw the point at first, until my step mom said some pretty mean things about how if I didn't, I'd be ugly, no one would want me around, etc.
09/06/2010
I think I was 13 or so. I really didn't want to, but I played ice hockey and I started getting really self-conscious of my legs in the locker room. I didn't mind them being a bit hairy, but it always felt like everyone else did. I actually used Nair back then, now I use my electric razor.
09/06/2010
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Hmmm..good question!
Originally posted by
Tori Rebel
My boyfriend asked me this this morning because he has a pre-teen daughter and knows it will be coming up soon...I honestly can't remember how old I was, but it was probably between 11 and 12? Is that 'normal'? I figure a consensus of
...
more
My boyfriend asked me this this morning because he has a pre-teen daughter and knows it will be coming up soon...I honestly can't remember how old I was, but it was probably between 11 and 12? Is that 'normal'? I figure a consensus of the women here would give me a pretty good idea.
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Maybe Jr. High? Like age 13? I was in a dance troop for years and this was kind of a requirement among many things. I didn't start shaving every time I shaved time highschool, probably sophomore year, but I'm not sure.
09/06/2010
Started: 11
Stopped: 19
I was really eager to start around age 10, and like many my mom tried to hold it off as long as she could, but she eventually caved. Funny that after a couple years shaving became an endless cycle of prickly stubble and irritated bumps. I eventually decided eight years of shaving was enough for me. Hooray for dirty hippiedom
Stopped: 19
I was really eager to start around age 10, and like many my mom tried to hold it off as long as she could, but she eventually caved. Funny that after a couple years shaving became an endless cycle of prickly stubble and irritated bumps. I eventually decided eight years of shaving was enough for me. Hooray for dirty hippiedom
09/06/2010
I was 9 when I started shaving just around the ankles, and then 16 when I shaved my whole legs
09/06/2010
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Well that's messed up! All women are beautiful, body hair and all. It's unfortunate that you had to hear that at such an impressionable age.
Originally posted by
Envy
I think 14, along with plucking my eyebrows. I just never saw the point at first, until my step mom said some pretty mean things about how if I didn't, I'd be ugly, no one would want me around, etc.
09/06/2010
Total posts: 59
Unique posters: 46
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