Girls generally begin puberty between the ages of 8 and 13, with Black and Hispanic girls tending to start earlier than white girls (age 7½ instead of 8) . The first physical change of puberty in most girls is breast development, which starts with small, firm, tender lumps (called buds) under one or both nipples. Coarser hair will begin to grow in the genital area, under the arms, and on the legs. In some girls (about 15%), pubic hair may be the first sign of puberty, showing up before breast budding starts. Girls will typically experience a growth spurt of about 2¾ inches per year during puberty. Pubic hair is usually scant and appears in Stage 2 of puberty, which occurs between ages 8 and 13.