What age do girls start with this faff?

I started shaving my legs when I was 14 and going out dancing with boys!!! Now I don't usually bother in the winter when I'm always wearing trousers or thick tights.

I remember we were highly amused to hear the story of Ruskin being unable to consummate his marriage because he hadn't realised women had pubic hair. As art students we saw any amount of it in all shapes, colours and thicknesses. I'm not sure how some of our models would have managed with waxing, they'd have needed a trim with a hedge cutter first

If your GD is too embarrassed to show you her hairy legs can you imagine how she must feel with her friends, shaving sounds like a simple solution to me.

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.

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!!

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

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!

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

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!

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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

Why should she?

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 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.

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 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?

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.

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 ??.

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.