Hi Ugly Urges Honest Talk on 9-Year-Old's Moustache, Framing Hair Removal as Optional
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 28
Hi Ugly Urges Honest Talk on 9-Year-Old's Moustache, Framing Hair Removal as Optional
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 28
A 9-year-old girl's concern about her visible moustache prompted Hi Ugly to advise her mother to acknowledge it honestly, reassure her that facial hair is normal, and avoid treating it as a defect.
The column says the girl's anxiety reflects wider social pressure: surveys cited suggest 76% of women remove facial hair and 88% worry about it, even though nearly all women have some facial hair and about half develop darker hairs.
Hi Ugly recommends discussing hair removal only if the child raises it, presenting waxing or bleaching as options rather than necessities and explaining downsides such as irritation, pain, cost and long-term upkeep.
Psychiatrist Tamir Aldad said an outright ban can increase shame or fixation, while the most protective approach is to stress that nothing is wrong with her appearance; he also suggested checking with a pediatrician for possible hormonal issues.
The broader message is that choices about female facial hair are shaped by sexism, racism, ableism and commercial beauty standards, so the goal is informed agency rather than a simple body-positivity slogan.
How can parents distinguish a child's grooming choice from a desperate plea for social acceptance?
As body hair acceptance grows, are parents reinforcing a problem that is already beginning to fade away?