9 of 13

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

grows in, and that she should use shaving cream to prevent razor burn.

Rule #2 of teaching your teen girl to shave: Encourage your daughter to practice shaving. Tell her that she may only want to start by shaving the bottom half of her legs, or her underarm area. Explain to her that the more that she practices, the more comfortable she will become with shaving. Expect that she may try to shave her whole body in one day, anyway, in which case, she may become extremely frustrated. Assure her that, in time, she will get the hang of it.

Rule #3 of teaching your teen girl to shave: Let go. She may not do it right. She might get in grown hairs. She probably will get razor burn, at least once, like every other woman who has ever picked up a razor. Chances are she will knick herself in the process of trying to remove unwanted hair, which leads to the most important rule of all...

Rule #4 of teaching your teen girl to shave: Be ready to help her if she gets hurt. I can still remember the first time that I shaved my legs. My mother didn't think I should, "it'll grow in thicker", she warned me. When I told her that I was still going to do it, she threw her hands up in the air, and said do what you want, you're going to do it anyway.
Of course, she was right and I did. Because she didn't provide me with any tools, I used a disposable razor on dry skin thinking to myself, "if I can see the hair, it will be easier to shave." Ten minutes later my white-as-lily legs were as red as a fire engine. "My legs are on fire", I shouted to my mother. Her response was "I told you so."
Eventually, I did learn how to shave my legs, but not from my mother. Whether she was insecure about how to handle my growing up; or whether she just didn't want to be bothered with taking the time to tell me about shaving, is still, to this day, unclear to me. The message that I heard from her that day was that she would not be available to help me transition from a girl to a woman. I sensed her desire to remain in complete control, and I became painfully aware, both literally and figuratively, that she would thwart my every effort to establish Independence.
Your teen daughter's desire to shave may seem, on the surface, to be just about her desire to remove unwanted hair, but be advised this is just the first of many steps she will take to transform herself from dependent daughter to independent woman. Worry less about scars on her legs and more about scars on her psyche. Do you best to use this teaching moment to get closer to your daughter. Show your support of her exercising her independence by offering her your unconditional love, along with the razor and shaving cream.

Learn more about this author, Laurie Feldman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about Tips on teaching your teen girl to shave?
We want to hear your view. Write now!