Adolescent shaving

[taffinnorfol]

Does early shaving really cause tough stubble?
My 13 year old son has dark hair on his top lip and so the less mature kids at his school take the rise out of him. I suggest that he simply shaves, lightly, but my wife is convinced that he'll have "Desparate Dan" stubble within months if he does! What's the truth????! I have also told him that they're simply jealous that he's so much more advanced than they are!!!

[saxy_jag]

My two were still fairly fresh-faced when they began shaving at around sixteen. I don't recall there being much in the way of stubble at all for another couple of years, and then it was only light - although they're both fair-haired.

I think your wife's idea may come from the experience of leg-shaving, which can encourage hair to grow back thicker - more noticeable if you're dark.

If it's really embarrassing him and he doesn't want to shave, you could suggest he uses some kind of depilatory cream formulated for facial hair. No-one need know and if he leaves the tube in the bathroom then visitors will think it's his mum's anyway.

[natalie_1982]

I don't know about the desperate dan stubble but kids can be cruel and I wouldn't want it to become something of an issue for him, so I would definitely suggest that he start shaving. As you point out, I would think it is mostly because the other kids are jealous, but kids are picked on for being different so I don't think lessening the chances of that are necessarily a bad thing!
He's going to have to start shaving in the next few years anyway, and girls don't have the choice of putting puberty off by simply ignoring it! LOL

[natalie_1982]

P.S. I noticed this week in Boots that they sell a hair removal cream for men now, I didn't read whether it was for face or body (if for body don't use on face, I;ve done this and burnt my lip! .....ahem.... not that I need to disguise my five o'clock shadow at all...lol).

You can certainly buy lightening / bleaching products if he / your wife are dead set against him shaving.

[patsyann]

My Grandson had the same problem at age 13.He was being called Hitler.He started to shave and problem solved.It made no difference to the stubble that he started so young.He is now 18 and grows designer stubble on his chin.LOL

[Panic Button]

Does she suggest he never shaves?

Stop cutting the grass, and when she asks why, tell her it encourages it to grow too much.

[Panic Button]

I had similar problems with 'er indoors when my son grew fluff on his face.

It has nothing to do with them worrying about Desparate Dan stubble.

They don't want their little boys to shave because they don't want them to grow up.

[taffinnorfol]

Many thanks everyone - great answers. I think my view is still to get him to shave it off and avoid the hassle. If he turns out like "Grizzly Adams", I can blame you all!!!

[Paul22118]

Forget stubble and certainly forget cream. Buy him a new three headed re-chargeable electric razor like a Phillishave. He can then develop 'normally'. No hair, no stubble and no cream rashes. Sets him up for the very near future. Can be used for over a week without re-charging.
He's growing up for goodness sake. Other kids - bo*****s to them. Get his mental attitude strong.

[taffinnorfol]

Thank you! Interestingly I have just bought him the very thing (Philishave lookilikie!). Great minds think alike.
The mental thing is very important as you say. Some morons grind him down by calling him Borat and whilst he's a stout personality, a shave is better than a smack in the mush I guess!!!!

[Yorks lad]

Yep i agree get him a shaver.

I started shaving at a very early age and although i now have a very stubble covered chin i dont think it came from shaving at an early stage.

The last thing you should do is get him to use creams and stuff if his mates found out his life would not be worth living.

[taffinnorfol]

Thank you! His face is now as smooth as a baby's bottom. We'll see if that shuts up the idiots! Thanks for all the very wise advice.

[Panic Button]

They are probably secretly jealous because he is growing up faster than them.