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AIBU?

makeover photo parties for girls aged 6?

35 replies

Fififofum · 30/05/2016 13:04

dd has had invite to a party where the basic premise is they have a makeover, and have loads of pictures taken. My understanding is that they come home with some of the pictures 'airbrushed and retouched'Hmm. Birthday child will be 6. Why are people in such a hurry for their kids to grow up? Plenty of time for them to be taking selfies etc and worrying about their appearance. Also have the obvious concern of where will all the pictures of the children be going?? Dd is not going as I don't think it's appropriate, just wanted to rant and see if I'm alone in my dismayShock

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Floggingmolly · 30/05/2016 13:09

Who told you the photos are airbrushed and re-touched?

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SavoyCabbage · 30/05/2016 13:15

I suppose it depends on the details. Our last school disco had a photo booth like people used to have at weddings but the stuff was funny. Those giant sunlasses and funny wigs. The kids really enjoyed it.

My dd would hate having make up put on and having her photo taken. And I wouldn't want her to go even if she wouldn't hate it. It's weird.

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MoggyP · 30/05/2016 13:21

I'm not wild about 'pamper' parties before secondary age.

And IME they're rare before preteen age.

Yes, I think it's rather icky for 6yos. But I wouldn't have prevented DD from going to one. Though I would wonder if it would really occupy them for the whole duration of a party at that age. If there's a lot of sitting around whilst others have a go, that could quickly become dull.

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WorraLiberty · 30/05/2016 13:22

Photos are a very big part of everyday life now.

Most kids are being plastered across sites like Instagram and Facebook by their parents (mostly their mothers) before they've even left the womb, and will have had countless selfies taken with family.

Kids tend to want to copy adults and have done since the beginning of time, so I think we'll see a lot more of these types of parties in the future.

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LadyMonicaBaddingham · 30/05/2016 13:26

This just makes me feel very sad... Little girls just don't seem to get to be children anymore!

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scrivette · 30/05/2016 13:28

My 8 year old niece had one too, the girls were plastered in bright red lipstick and looked so much older in the photos, I am not keen on them.

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shamelessmailhack · 30/05/2016 13:32

It's a bit tacky yes. But then again my friends and I used to plaster ourselves in cheap play make up and take photos. This is just a more upmarket version of that. And I assume they don't have the crap disposable cameras.

Airbrushing seems to be pretty standard now. They even do it for nursery photos.

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TurquoiseMoon · 30/05/2016 13:36

Sounds awful... I think it would be fine for Yr 6+

Does your DD want to go? Confused

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Fififofum · 30/05/2016 13:45

It's says on website that that pics are retouched etc. I told dd that she couldn't go as we have plans (now making fun plans) and she was ok. I told her that she would have had a makeover and pics taken and she pulled a face! I think it's different when it's a stranger taking pictures to when myself or family do.

Dd loves dressing up etc and loves playing with my lipstick but think this is a different sort of thing.

I do think age 6 is just too young. My dd would not even know this sort of thing existed. She just wants musical chairs!Grin

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eyebrowsonfleek · 30/05/2016 13:51

You need to find out more details before judging.
Makeover might mean face paints and temporary tattoo rather than Bratz style makeup. By 6 most girls will have tried nail varnish and lip gloss which might be their definition of makeup.
Retouching might mean a soft focus filter ( like on Instagram).
Photoshop might mean making her look like she's on the cover of a magazine.

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Kennington · 30/05/2016 13:54

Sounds awful. I would stay well away.

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VestalVirgin · 30/05/2016 14:02

Kids tend to want to copy adults and have done since the beginning of time, so I think we'll see a lot more of these types of parties in the future.

Oh, sure.

Just, I question that this obsession with appearance is healthy for adults.
Children will always copy adults, but parents have some degree of control over what kind of adults their children copy.

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WorraLiberty · 30/05/2016 14:18

I agree Vestal

If my Facebook feed is anything to go by, kids can't seem to do anything without having a camera thrust in their face.

It does make me wonder if it's not all going to be a massive contribution to how they feel about their image in the future.

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JacquesHammer · 30/05/2016 14:22

My daughter went to a 9th party.

They had nail varnish and glitter tattoes then a load of photos taken with various silly props. They weren't photoshopped/airbrushed (other then some images being black and white).

I think I would find out the level of the "pampering" before making a decision

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Flumpsnlumpsnstuff · 30/05/2016 14:23

I did a pamper party (at Dd2 request) when she turned 9. Before you all shoot me she is obsessed with fashion design so we trawled round charity shops for dresses and accessories. There was 8 girls total 1boy who loves a good pamper, they had clip in colour extensions, nails painted and face glitter/transfers. I used my computer as a photo booth and they all took home an outfit and pics as a gift. It cost me a fraction of a normal party and still gets called the 'best birthday ever'
They did all look like little girls playing and there was no airbrushing

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yorkshapudding · 30/05/2016 14:35

My DN had one of these parties (she's only 7) and when I saw the photos on FB I felt really uncomfortable. All these tiny wee girls with their faces caked in make up, wearing high heels, posing and pouting for the camera. Now DN won't go to a party or even a family meal without make up on. It makes me so sad.

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Bluetrews25 · 30/05/2016 14:40

And will there be pressure on those who do go to purchase a load of expensive photos? Like all these people who 'win' a 'free' makeover and photoshoot, then along comes the high pressure sales?
This is at best sickeningly awful, and at worst a scam.

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cardibach · 30/05/2016 14:44

I don't like pamper parties for little ones at all - why are we suggesting that putting on make up is the best fun a person can have?
However I'm confused by this: Also have the obvious concern of where will all the pictures of the children be going?? It really isn't an obvious concern to me. What is the concern? Not paedophiles, surely?

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JacquesHammer · 30/05/2016 14:44

Bluetrew - I can't comment for other places but our girls got 2 photos each then a chance to buy others (literally we got a link, no pressure). I paid £9.99 for 75 pics via download.

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Welshmaenad · 30/05/2016 14:50

The airbrushing etc would fuck me off, but DD recently went to a 'pamper party' for a butch birthday and whilst I was dubious it was actually nice, not so much makeup but face masks and having their hair done in all fancy plaits etc. Since I am completely devoid of the girl gene and can't even French plait, she thought this was amazing Grin

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Welshmaenad · 30/05/2016 14:52

Butch? Ninth!!!

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Fififofum · 30/05/2016 14:54

Yes jacques and flumps - those parties were for 9 yr olds. Photo booths etc sound ok. This is a 6th birthday so there will be 5 and 6 yr olds. I just think it's a bit young.

My concern re the pictures would be the fact that a load of pics that I hadn't seen taken would be in the hands of someone I don't know. I'm a little uncomfortable with that.

Everyone is different, I'm not a 'panicky parent' or anything I just feel that I would like my child to be a child as long as possibleSmile

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Nannawifeofbaldr · 30/05/2016 14:59

My DD has been 'unavailable' to attend any of the pamper parties she's been invited. Small girls don't need to play with make up IMO.

I am aware that I'm out of step with other mothers on this but frankly don't care. DD isn't even allowed to paint her nails.

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Twowrongsdontmakearight · 30/05/2016 15:01

DD has had several; one where they put their feet in with the little fish and had glittery eye make up and nail varnish. She's chosen pamper parties at home too with hair styling and peel off face masks. She also had a makeover, photo (not retouched) and singing party. She has always loved things like that.

On the other hand she's also had Go Ape and Luge parties too. Some friends didn't want to do the active ones whereas they all seem happy to be pampered.

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KoalaDownUnder · 30/05/2016 15:02

I think it's utterly pathetic.

Why on earth would you want to promote a makeover as fun, at that age? Making yourself look 'prettier' and posing for a camera, instead of actual games, or dancing, or craft? Boys get parties that involve doing stuff, like laser tag, and girls get...this?

Seriously. Hmm

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