Many tweens and teens want to shave, and there are no health reasons for them to wait. It's reasonable to allow them to shave when they think they're ready to do so. On the other hand, some tweens and teens will not be interested in shaving at all, and that is fine.
“There is no right or certain age to start shaving,” said Rashell Orey, a licensed master social worker at Banner Health. “Some may be eager to start very early, while for others, this could be a scary thought. It's a conversation that you'll need to discuss with them.”
The correct age to start hair removal for boys is 12 years and above and for girls 11 to 14 years (when puberty is achieved). She adds that instead of waxing or superficial shaving with a razor, a parent should consider laser hair reduction.
Testicular and penile growth are usually the first signs of puberty in males, although occasionally pubic and underarm hair can appear first. Most boys start puberty between age 12-16, but puberty is not considered early in a boy unless he is under 9 years of age.
It provides protection against friction that can cause skin irritation in this sensitive area. It helps reduce the amount of sweat produced around the vagina. It helps block your vagina from the following bacteria and infections: Sexually transmitted infections.
Pubic hair removal is common — approximately 80 percent of women ages 18 to 65 report they remove some or all of their pubic hair.
Answer from OB-GYN Jennifer Griffin Miller, MD:
From the gynecologist's perspective, shaving regularly to eliminate pubic hair has drawbacks. Razors harbor bacteria and cause some abrasion of the skin; especially in a moist environment. This creates a setup for a bacterial skin infection.
You can shave it. Just be sure to use shaving cream and a sharp razor. The good news about shaving is that it doesn't actually make hair thicker or darker, it just looks that way. If you want to avoid the stubbly look you can get from shaving, you can use depilatories or wax.
In Stage 2, physical changes begin. Between the ages of 8 and 13, girls typically experience: Their breasts begin to bud, and their areolas (pigmented area around the nipple) enlarge. Scant pubic hair appears.
Pubic hair – Once her pubic hair starts growing, you can expect her period to develop in one to two years.
To keep the pubic area smooth and hairless, you'll need to shave regularly, even daily. Consider if this is worth the trouble; it may become tedious after four or five weeks.
Pubic Hair Trends
According to the researchers, when asked if they removed their pubic hair, 80% of women and 39% of men removed their pubic hair near the time of the survey. Also, 3% of women and 21% of men had never removed their pubic hair.
Hormonal basis
It is normal for production of these hormones to increase (something we call adrenarche) and for pubic hair to appear after age 8 in girls or 9 in boys. The reason why this increase occurs earlier in some children is not known.
That depends on how fast your beard grows and how dark it is. For some guys, shaving once every few weeks is fine at first. Other guys shave maybe once every three or four days. As you get older and your beard gets heavier, you'll feel the need to shave a little more often.
When shaving, short gentle strokes are best. The razor should glide over the skin. Encourage your tween to shave in the direction of the hair growth, to prevent nicks and cuts. Once he's more confident with the razor, he can shave against the hair growth for a closer shave.
Pubic Hair Stage 1: This is the stage before puberty starts. There are no pubic hairs at this time. Pubic Hair Stage 2: There is long, soft, colorless hair near the labia majora (outer labia). Pubic Hair Stage 3: More pubic hairs start to grow.
It is more hygienic not to shave it (although depilation does make pubic lice homeless). In removing their pubic hair, most women will get cuts or ingrown hairs, and some will develop inflammation of the hair follicles or hyperpigmentation.
There's no set time for girls to begin shaving. You can start shaving when you feel you have enough hair growth on your legs and/or armpits to shave it off.
Irritation: Removing pubic hair by waxing or shaving can cause skin irritation, razor burns, or ingrown hairs, which can be uncomfortable or painful. Infection: Shaving or waxing can create small cuts or openings in the skin that can increase the risk of infection, especially if the area is not kept clean.
Some teens don't do anything with their pubic hair, leaving it to grow naturally. Some girls remove hair when they'll be wearing a bathing suit, and some remove hair regularly as part of their beauty routine. No health benefits are linked to removing pubic hair, so choose what feels right for you.
One benefit of shaving pubic hair is that the incidence of pubic lice has decreased, say researchers. However pubic hair removal can also have some pretty negative repercussions. Firstly, because pubic hair is coarse, the regrowth after shaving it off can aggravate the skin.
“It is good practice to apply a shaving gel or cream to the skin before shaving to minimize friction and reduce the potential for irritation,” Dr. Garshick explains. She and Dr. Marcus recommend Aveeno Positively Smooth Shave Gel and Vanicream Shave Cream.