When is it appropriate for a teenage girl to shave?

12 or 13 is usually when girls start to shave. It doesn't ruin anybody's legs unless you nick the heck out of the legs and cause cuts that become infected, causing loss of limb or major scarring. I'd rather my daughter use a natural technique like shaving than put creams that chemically burn her hair off or put her through the pain of waxing. That's just my thought. I was 12 when my mom taught me to shave my legs. My daughter is of Italian descent so the hair on her legs is getting very dark. She's almost 11. She exposes her legs more than her underams.

When she is hairy, it is appropriate to shave.

What's the difference between the underarm area and the leg in your mind? I mean if it would ruin the leg why wouldn't ruin the underarm?

i started at 11. i think 13 is fine.

Now, dont make her keep those hairy armpits and get teased at school

If she is already shaving her arm pits, I don;t see the big deal. Are you sure she hasn't tried shaving her legs already? I know when I was younger and saw my moms razors laying in the bath tub, I got pretty tempted to try. I didn't start shaving all the time until I got into middle school because older girls in gym class can be really cruel!! My daughter isn't at the age yet, but I know how middle school girls are and if she came to me at the age of 12 and asked, I would deff be happy that she came to me and asked in the first place and let her.

I started in junior high age 11-12. By then other girls had started shaving their legs and if you didn't you were a prime target for being teased and humiliated and people would talk about how gross you were for having hairy legs. kids are cruel. I'd say around age 12 would be considered normal. If she's been asking I'm guessing lots of girls at her school are prob doing it already. The razors now are of pretty good quality. It's not as easy to cut yourself up as it used to be. Just show her how to do it right especially areas like shins, knees, and ankles.

I started at 12.

Why does it 'ruin' your legs? My legs are fine. In fact, I never had the patience for creams or the tolerance for wax so I have always shaved. I even get compliments on my legs.

I was hairy so I started at 10. Not only are you excluding her from wearing certain clothes, you're going to make her a target for ridicule for having hairy legs. I think you should let her shave.

IMO, it isn't an "age" thing it is a "when she's self conscious" thing. I am a HAIRY girl. My arms, legs, eyebrows...and now that I've got kids and my hormones changed...my face. I love my mother, but she was afraid we would be sexualized by shaving our legs or armpits and wouldn't allow us to for a LONG time past when our peers started. Believe me, it was the farthest thing from my mind. I was hot from wearing pants all the time and EMBARRASSED by having these bushes on my legs and armpits. It was bad. Please let her shave! I will allow my girls to shave as soon as they ask as long as I think they are capable of doing it safely.

My daughter started shaving when she started middle school, at age 11 because they would wear shorts for P.E. If it is important to her, I respect her decision.

I know it's not accepted in some cultures or religions until you reach a certain age, why not just put the kid in a cage if you're going to treat them like an animal. It's just hair, don't know why parents think you're handing them a box of condoms.

Sometimes I see ladies at the Gyno's office with hairy legs and it grosses me out just thinking of the other bushy mess.