I don't see any problems with an all-of-the-above approach:

1) Work to build her self-esteem overall and she can make an informed decision about whether she wants to shave her legs for *her* and not for anyone else.

2) Let her shave -- it's hair, it grows back, and it's her body to decide about -- just make sure she does it safely. I have still managed to cut the hell out of myself with a safety razor so I like the idea of a safer method. If she doesn't like it she can let it grow back.

3) If she is being bullied at school -- take it up with the teacher and the administration. If it's by her friends -- take it up with their parents. My bet is they will be horrified about their kids' behavior. Bullying about appearance is never acceptable and you should go to bat for your daughter. If she chooses to do something about her leg hair, that's an easy fix -- but what if she had ears that stuck out perpendicular to her head, or a giant lumpy nose, or a birth defect, or anything else? The bullying has to stop.

Anonymous wrote:As another person with lots of thick dark hair EVERYWHERE, let her shave. The bleach is smelly, hard to apply and wait for it to finish, and costly. Just let the girl shave.

I'm so glad so many of you want to make all kinds of political statements on the back of a young girl, but speaking from experience, there's nothing empowering about looking like a gorilla.

+1

I am really torn on this. It is an easy fix, I guess, but there are some things that are not so easy: like, I got teased for my last name, my HUGE nose and my early breasts. I couldn't change any of these, so I had to grow some resilience early on.

It seems like shaving a 7 year old's legs doesn't really solve the problem and just teaches the meanies that if they pick on something long enough, someone will change. But in my experience, they just shift the focus.

Kid in my son's class was teased mercilessly for his long hair. (My son has long hair but never gets teased). Kid cut his hair, and they started teasing him for being a "crybaby" (which he is not, but kids, you know.) I think if kids find an easy target, they will keep picking at that scab.

I would just wait out the winter and see what happens.

I have very hairy legs, I got teased a lot about it starting around age 9 and even though I didn't WANT TO shave I gave into the pressure, started doing it, did it for about 20 years and hated it the entire time. I wish very very much my mother had just stood up for me when I first told her about it. I wish the bullies had gotten a lesson and punishment instead of me. I am trying to stop shaving because I really believe body hair is natural and everyone should be truly free to decide whether they want to get rid of it or not. Not bullied and pressured into shaving.

So yes I do believe letting a 7 year old shave instead of addressing the issue at school sends the absolute wrong message. What a mother should say is "Everyone has body hair. Some have more and some have less and both is just fine. Anyone who teases you about this or anything else needs to be taught a lesson and punished." Bullying needs to stop. Not body hair on little kids legs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have hairy legs and can get by with shaving every few months, but both DDs do. We tried shaving once, but the stubble grew back within a few days. I g0t them a sugar waxing kit. They can do it themselves and it's a lot more gentle than regular waxing. They both say the pain in minimal and lasts MUCH longer than shaving.

I like this idea. What's the name of the waxing kit you use?

i am an adult...and i had a HORRIBLE allergic reaction to sugar wax (and i don't even have sensitive skin).

I'm an adult and I've never had an allergic reaction to sugar wax (and I do have sensitive skin).