Parents Who Approve of Wax Jobs for 8-Year-Olds

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

24 Mar 2009 11:44 PM

Forget about your teenage daughter; would you allow your 8-year-old to get a bikini wax? I cannot fathom a mother out there who would give her blessing to such an atrocity. Yet, after reading my previous blog, a friend of mine informed me of a "Today" show piece where a Philadelphia aesthetician was asked by a seemingly sane adult female to book a bikini wax appointment for her 8-year-old daughter. According to the aesthetician, the request wasn't due to the girl's early development of hair. Rather, it was about the mother's obsession with wanting her daughter to be a supermodel.

Take a moment to let that absorb: A mother asking a stranger to inflict pain on her young daughter, all in the name of vanity. And you thought letting your child watch an extra hour of TV was bad.

Sadly, the aforementioned mother's type of thinking is not uncommon, according to the "Today" show piece. Studies show that an increasing amount of mothers around the U.S. are taking their young daughters (between the ages of 8 and 12, sometimes younger) to salons to get body hair removed. Tweens getting wax jobs (from eyebrows to the bikini line) is the "new normal," according to salon owners. The International Spa Association also notes that the number of kids 12 and under coming in for waxing services has increased dramatically over the past three years.

So what are the reasons behind the growing trend? Spa owners say some kids have a lot of hair, and to avoid feeling self-conscious about a unibrow or a mustache they get waxed. As for bikini lines, one aesthetician told the "Today" show that she performed the painful procedure on a 10-year-old with dark hair because the girl couldn't go to camp without getting teased.

According to salon owners, the other group of girls, who receive regular wax jobs are the offspring of overbearing mothers who pressure their daughters to look "perfect."

I'm sure we all know a few of those, and I would imagine seeing ads for tween waxing only fans the flames of perfectionist moms.

Wanda's European Skin Care Center, located in New York City boasts on its website that children 8 years and older can get discounted waxing for "virgin" hair: "Virgin hair can be waxed so successfully that growth can be permanently stopped in just 2 to 6 sessions. Save your child a lifetime of waxing ... and put the money in the bank for her college education instead!"

Before parents, who allow their tweens to get wax jobs, rail me on me, I should note that health experts maintain that there isn't any known increase in medical complications when young girls get waxed. Though, it's not certain if those "complications" are purely physical in nature or the doctors have taken into consideration the psychological impact on young girls, who have their hair yanked out of them at such a young age, against their will.

Would you allow your 8-year-old to get a bikini wax?

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Samual (11722) 25 Mar 2009 05:25 AM

If a child is quite hairy and they are bothered about it, I can understand allowing them to remove hair earlier than most would, like leg, armpit and eyebrows, but I don't see a need for such a young person to have their bikini line waxed even if they have developed hair down there, unless you buy your daughter an inappropriate swimming costume no one is going to see it. I think there should be an age limit for things like this, if you are younger than the limit but are overly hairy, you can always have laser hair removal at hospital, which in the UK is done for free, or if your body has entered puberty too early, you can be given medications to halt it until a later age.

Andrea Hermitt (5507) 25 Mar 2009 10:45 AM

have these people ever heard of Nair?... even the hairiest children should not have to undergo a painful hair removal procedure. Even still anything under 13 is far too young, and under 16 is questionable.

ruthann8 (6378) 25 Mar 2009 02:41 PM

I tried Nair once and it was soooo harsh on my skin. Who knows what I will think when my daughter is a teenager but I would say up until the age of 15 you could try and find suits that cover. I don't think I would mind at all if she was 16+ and had a reason to.

When I was in school we had a swimming for PE with standard suits that were provided for us, color coded by size. Everybody then new you were wearing the "fat suit" and if you were hairy! It was always the most embarrassing thing and yes kids were teased. If needed I would help my daughter out, whether it be Nair, wax, shave, etc.

Starrlight (5255) 25 Mar 2009 03:50 PM

When I read the title to this article I was sure it would be talking about that stupid show I've only seen commercials for (and only because it was during another show I watch on TLC) - Toddlers and Tiara's. I was sure it was one of those 'stage mom's' who would put their child through that. I agree that if a child is hairy you can cover it up at that age - even if they had to wear a swimsuit at school the parent could work out something with the gym teacher. Or at the most the child can learn to shave. I couldn't imagine having to go to a stranger at 8 years old and having something like that done - it would have been very embarrassing.

Samual (11722) 26 Mar 2009 12:33 AM

Starrlight, you shouldn't shave that area, it can very easily lead to abscesses which requite hospital attention.

Michele Cheplic (37339) 26 Mar 2009 10:34 AM

I had a bad experience with Nair on my legs. My BFF and I used it at age 14 and I vowed NEVER again. Though, I would reconsider if it came down to Nair or a Brazilian.

Michele Cheplic (37339) 26 Mar 2009 10:35 AM

Starrlight, that "Toddlers and Tiaras" show is insane and if I were one of those mothers I would never allow cameras to document my beahvior and broadcast for the world to see. I feel so sorry for those little girls!