For young girls, it starts with lip gloss

[xmas74]

27. My daughter's 11 1/2.

She has nail polish and has had it for a few years. It's mostly for play, though I hope for the added incentive of maybe getting her to stop biting her nails. (Polish doesn't look all that great on nasty nails.)

She is now allowed to wear clear lip gloss to school for the first time. (She's in middle school.) She also has clear mascara that she is allowed to wear only on special occasions. (Her lashes are almost a white-blond and very hard to see. This makes them appear slightly darker and longer without actually adding color or making her look too old for her age.)

Full make up? Absolutely not. Updo? Only if it's something simple I can do at home and she has a school dance. No salon updo will be done. She has pantyhose that she wears to church on Sunday and shoes with a low heel (no tall high heeled shoes-simple but slightly dressier is the what we look for.) And no underwire/push up bras or thong panties.

She wants to wear make up, she wants her hair done, she wants the heels and hose. I think it's just what she thinks of as a part of growing up. Right now I'll allow it in stages.