What age do girls start with this faff?

I'm sure our DGDs copy their mums who are far more consious of their bodies than we ever where and the items they use are more accessable than the items we had when we where young mums.
My DGD will not go out without makeup and tanned hair free legs she spends so much time getting ready to go out and all her friends are the same,its just a sign of the times and I never comment as my mum must have dispared with me at one time I'm sure.

Aren’t epilators very painful to use? My sister-in-law’s husband bought her one and she couldn’t bear to use it because it was so painful. I wish I had never started to shave my legs at 16 as they went from downy blonde hairs to stubbly brown. I would perhaps treat her to a leg wax which when done by professionals is quick and less painful than the epilator.

There is also the course of light treatment which claims to eventually eliminate the hairs but I believe it is very expensive.

lizzypopbottle snap, think that's a blessing as I've got very fair hair, didn't even think about shaving my legs until into my 30s , then not often needed. Since the menopause I've lost all my underarm hair yipee.

It’s nice to read all the different views on this. I really don’t have a problem with whatever she chooses to do just wondered what age others started at. I do my own in Summer just don’t ask me to get my legs out in the Winter ??.

I'm lucky don't have to shave my legs, daughters are very jealous! (I'm 64) Don't have an issue with this young girl shaving her legs, it is perfectly normal.

I would love to know who decided , and when, that women shouldn't have body hair! Men would never be shamed into shaving their legs, or made to feel it's unnatural to have body hair, so who decided women should be different?

It all depends how hirsute you are. I started doing it at 13/14 because I have dark hair that grows strongly where ever hair grows. A boon for the hair on my head, less welcome on legs, underarms, and, especially face.

I do not expect DGD to have a problem, her hair is much fairer and less abundant.

I wasn't allowed to shave my spidery legs until I was 16 and they made my life hell. I was forced to wear short white socks which highlighted the inch long dark hairs beautifully and made me a subject of ridicule from boys and girls alike. When my daughter suffered the same fate, I let her remove the hairs and was relieved when my mother paid for laser treatment for the removal of it on her legs when she was 16.

I would quite definitely have shaved my legs when I was 13 if only my mother had let me! She wouldn't so I had to wait until I was eighteen and legally an adult!

Strange her objection to it, as she insisted I shaved my armpits before putting on summer dresses with no sleeves!

Talk to the girl's mother and if you and she agree help your GD decide whether she wants to shave her legs, use wax, or what.

"I like to think that the lady considered shaving her legs after my comment."

Why should she?

I think many younger men these days also shave legs (and chests) and use beauty products aimed specifically at them. I think it is a sign of the superficiality of our society and celebrity culture which places a disproportionate value on physical appearance. Youngsters are very self conscious about their changing bodies anyway, and think hair removal is the norm, including pubic hair. The porn industry has played a big part apparently in the current thinking that pubic hair is unnatural.

I’m 58 and remember clearly at just 10 years old the torment I suffered as my body started to develop. The hairiest legs you’ve ever seen on a young girl, and I was forbidden to shave them as I wasn’t old enough. I’m pleased that the youngsters today can deal with these things early if misery is the alternative. Help her out. A tube of Immac might make her very happy.
Today mind I only have to shave them once a month and even my dark upper lip is long gone.

I'll never forget my Mum's reaction to my suggestion that I might start shaving my legs. She was a bit of a (loving!) dictator but on this occasion she implored me not to and gave very graphic pictures of the possible consequences. I'm so glad I never indulged and will always be grateful as well as suffering no adverse consequences of my inaction in this sphere. Just one less job to do!

Being a person with a "hairy"problem and remembering how I felt at 13, please support her. My mother was no help and I have felt self conscious about for the past 50 years.

This is one of the reasons the Lawnmower was invented, tanith......

Why do some people post having not read the thread properly I’ve already said more than once that the decision had already been made as to how my GD would deal with things. Not my decision I was just curious about others.

I started shaving my legs at 12 back in the 1970's.

I have religiously done so ever since. I have been waxed and epilated and used depilatory lotions but always go back to shaving.

I sometimes dry shave using talc.

My daughter was a similar age when she started then she went through a can't be bothered/hippy stage and now is back to shaving again.

I can't remember when I started shaving my legs, I still do occasionally.
No idea with daughters and Gds.
But I used to shave underarms from early teens. I think Mum encouraged me in that, because she did the same.
Actually I don't think it's such a good idea as it seems to make me sweat more.

I did not shave my legs until I was thirty and wish that I had never started it, they went from furry peaches to Amazonian rain forests.
I detest this body shaming and feeling the need to remove all hair. I hope my GDs can enjoy their youth without being pressurised.

Gosh! didn't start hair removal till my 30's, and my hair is (was) dark then... either waxed or sugared till not may hairs left now use epilator for the few hairs remaining ..never shaved as hairs get bushier not less . At least that was my motto!

Shaving has absolutely no effect on hair growth. sciencenordic.com/does-shaving-make-you-hairier

As a teen I had the whitest skin, and the darkest hair imaginable, so although my legs weren’t particularly hairy, they really showed!
Fortunately my mother was happy to share her ‘Veet’ with me, so I was much relieved.
Scarcely a week went by, however, without my father preaching us a sermon on how ‘Wimmin should be as the good Lord made ‘em, not fannying about wi’ strippin’ cream!’
Now, some people feel that we shouldn’t be shamed into dealing with nature’s bounteous provision of leg and armpit hair, but many of us are only to glad to get rid of the wiry stuff.
It just goes to show - our bodies, our choice - and men can go and shove their opinions where the sun don’t shine!

That should have read ‘too glad’ - I’m pedantic about homophones!

I couldn't find a razor when I was 13 but I DID find a razor blade, which I used to shave my legs. The blade slipped in my soapy fingers, resulting in a 2 inch cut which took a couple of hours to stop bleeding! I confessed to my mum and was rewarded with my own razor, thank the Lord!!

Much to my daughter's dismay I could not be persuaded to start shaving my legs until I was in my 50's. Even now I only do it in the summer and then only once every 4-6 weeks, or if I'm going on holiday abroad. I have never had a wax (excepting eyebrows) and certainly wouldn't have a bikini wax or any some such because I just don't see the point. I lived in Germany for five years in the early 70's and as my friends there were quite comfortable with body hair I never saw it as an issue.