Calgary salons are seeing an emerging trend, with an increasing number of pre-teen girls coming through the doors for waxing.

Several Calgary salons are seeing girls as young as nine or 10 are having their hair removed.

“We’re seeing more and more girls of 12 years,” said Wendy Neufeld, owner of Merle Norman, Quarry Park.

Guia Ernst began taking her 12-year-old daughter for eyebrow waxes last year.

“If it makes the child feel better about themselves and gives them more confidence, then I don’t see anything wrong with it,” said Ernst.

We see a lot of moms who are just afraid. They see their daughter getting a little furrier and they want them to look presentable” — Wendy Neufeld, Owner of Merle Norman, Quarry Park

According to Mike Chammoury, owner of Edges Salon & Spa, it can be beneficial for girls to begin hair removal while they’re young.

“The younger, the better,” said Chammoury.

He said girls can begin laser hair removal as young as eight because the follicles are smaller and easier to remove.

But Chammoury is adamant that the purpose of removing hair at a young age is for confidence and taking care of one’s self.

“Removing hair for young girls is not encouraging anything to do with sexuality,” he said.

But, not everyone agrees with pre-teen waxing. Child psychologist, Murray Molohon warned that waxing could affect young girls’ self-esteem later in life.

“If it’s an over-emphasis on image and less emphasis on who the person is, then it’s probably going to have life-long effects,” he said.