You're certainly not the first girl to be shy about talking to your mother... But it sounds like you're tired of feeling that way and ready for a solution.

Have you thought about why you find it so hard to bring these things up with her? Is it just body issues that are awkward? Is there something in particular that you're afraid she'll say or do? Could she actually be angry or hurtful? On the other hand: Are you sure you really want her involved? There's nothing wrong with taking care of your body in private.

I suggest trying to picture exactly how your mother might respond and asking yourself if it could be worse than sneaking around and feeling tense.

If you decide to try talking to her, maybe start small; perhaps mention that you'd like to get rid of your leg hair and ask if she can help. If you think she might have trouble accepting the "adult" nature of these issues, enlisting her help might make her feel more at ease than just telling her about what you've been doing.

However things turn out, you will probably be glad that you tried breaking the ice. Even just a few words can cut through an awful lot of tension.