I have hairy arms. I hate it! I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to ask my mom if I can shave them because I know she will say no. She doesn’t even let me shave my legs!

Hey girl, it can be hard sometimes when you feel like you look different or "wrong." Truth is, there's nothing wrong with you. You may think all eyes are on your arms, but trust me, chances are people don’t even notice. What you’ve got to do, girlie, is build confidence, and I’ve got a couple ideas to help you do it.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, am I even pretty at all? Believe me, everyone has those moments when they’re staring at their reflection and they narrow in on little things. Counter those negative thoughts with two positive compliments on your appearance. So your arms may seem hairy—but they’re not! On top of that you’ve got amazing eyes and stunning style. People will be far too busy focusing on your great traits to notice those little “imperfections." So, find new ways to love yourself and you'll exude confidence. You’ll feel much better at the end of the day.

Kids at school can be brutal sometimes, and it can seem like they pick everyone's appearance apart. What you need to do is step back and take a deep breath. Don’t let mean words bother you because a) chances are the people at school are focusing on bigger things (personality, for example) and b) any kid who does tease you for something as miniscule as that isn’t worth having as a friend or listening to—they’re just being immature and trying to make up for their own self-esteem issues. Everyone has their own insecurities, and trust me, you’ll be surprised how little attention other people pay to them. It’s all about the big picture and seeing people for who they are inside.

If you're REALLY upset about your arm hair appearance, I would talk to your mom about it. If it's hard to chat in person, write your mom a note about it. Explain why you want to shave and offer explanations for each counter argument she might have. She thinks you'll cut yourself? Tell her you can lather up and do a practice run right in front of her first. If she's still not cool with you shaving, offer an alternative, such as bleaching your hair or using Nair.

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3/21/2010 7:00:00 AM