Hairy arms on 9 year old

mintymoneysaver

Now that I think about it my 15 year old daughter had a very hairy back and arms when she was younger, and certainly hasn't now, so she must have grown out of it!

raven83

I am lucky I am darker yet I am not hairy, apart from on my head and I have lots on that. When I was a kid though I was and I hated it used to shave from about the age of 8, I am lucky it didn't grow back thicker it just thinned out as I got older.

kitrat

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Is she on the skinny side? The body can defend against heat loss by putting up body hair on arms. Well known in anorexics - not that I want to alarm you, but I would imagine in a child where the surface area to mass ratio is higher for a given body mass index, this would not be abnormal for body mass indexes above anything to worry about.

Yes I am a very skinny blonde and have very hairy arms! Not that I notice or really mind but I believe your theory is right.

(I'm not anorexic, just so everyone knows! Just a titch!)

krlyr

raven83 wrote: »

I am lucky I am darker yet I am not hairy, apart from on my head and I have lots on that. When I was a kid though I was and I hated it used to shave from about the age of 8, I am lucky it didn't grow back thicker it just thinned out as I got older.

It's a myth that shaved hair grows back thicker, it just grows back with a blunt tip from the shaving so looks more noticable/can seem to look thicker than a naturally grown hair that tapers at the end.

Person_one

I have pale skin and dark hair, so my arms have always looked really hairy.

Don't let her start shaving them though, its a vicious cycle as like krlyr says the hair grows back prickly and more noticeable so you feel like you have to shave again within a few days. I have eczema and sensitive skin and ended up with very irritated skin on my arms when I was about 13 and decided to shave them, the skin is more delicate than on the legs.

I know you don't want to be told that she shouldn't be worrying about hair on her arms, but, well, she shouldn't! Its perfectly normal and you shouldn't be reinforcing any idea that its a problem or unattractive. The vast majority of adult women don't remove hair from their arms and I bet you never notice.

Mupette

I have dark hair, and i have hairy arms (not like a man's)

OH claims he can't see them, i know he lies.

Anyhoo, it never bothered me at all, not during childhood or most of my adult life, until it was remarked why i didn't shave my arms :eek: why would i want to do that.... really why would i.

Legs are one thing, arms no way, i guess if no one makes an issue about it then perhaps she will forget about it

*max*

I am blonde and I have hairy arms too I suppose...Well, there are noticeable hairs there, if that's what "hairy" means? It's never bothered me, to be honest!

Just explain to her that having hair is completely natural, and not a thing to be ashamed of. Eevrybody has it. Then when she's a bit older, if she still finds it unsightly, you can talk about what options there are to remove it or make it less noticeable. Chances are, she just finds it a bit of a shock compared to her previous hairless state and it looks worse to her than it actually is. She's only 9 years old!
Don't make a big deal out of it.

Ames

I'm pale skinned and dark haired. My arms have always been hairy - I was mortified as a teenager when the lad I fancied asked why I had so much hair on them. I'm looking at them now and I can't decide if they've got lighter in colour, if they're not as hairy or if I'm just used to them and don't notice. It's only in the last couple of years I've had the guts to wear three quarter length or elbow length sleeves though.

It never seriously occurred to me to shave them though or get rid of them, I think bare arms would look a bit odd (no offense meant to people who do shave them). Although I did once in frustration try and pull them off with sellotape. I think it was about the same time as the above comment. I was very disappointed that it did naff all.

Is it possible she's starting puberty and they're getting thicker?

Dexters_Indignation

I think you need to read this post.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4089261

Most people will just not accept it...

flower_72

I had white blond and very hairy arms as a child. Now, the hair on my head is much darker but on my arms has remained white blond and is a lot less than it used to be.
I remember feeling awkward about my arms when I was younger. Now, I'm very pleased they are no longer hairy (with the added benefit of having remained very light in colour)
I was thin as a rake when growing up, I have fattened up a bit since. Maybe it is related.