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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not let my 11yr old DS2 have blonde highlights?

76 replies

Tortoise · 23/03/2011 12:49

He told me to start this thread as he obviously thinks IABU!
So, blonde highlights for an 11yr old boy, yes or no?
(Of course some of his friends do which makes me even more unreasonable in his eyes!)

OP posts:
strandedpolarbear · 23/03/2011 17:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 23/03/2011 17:29

I think you are more likely to develop an allergy to hair colour if you start young. I'd research that before giving a firm answer.

Assuming that your ds is at secondary and having discounted the allergy thing, I'd probably say yes. And helpfully however dp would say no so my post doesn't really contribute to your tally Grin

BeattieBow · 23/03/2011 17:30

my dh wouldn't be happy about my ds dying his hair! He'd be happy with my dds dying theirs though. Double standards!

Original poster
Tortoise · 23/03/2011 17:33

Not secondary school until september. He wants his ear pierced in the summer holidays!

OP posts:
Aims80 · 23/03/2011 17:51

Ha, god don't let him get his ear pierced with one of those dreadful diamond stylee things. I'd say no to the highlights myself.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 23/03/2011 18:09

Find it a bit sad that most of this thread is about whether you'd pay for it or not, at 11 there isnt much scope for earning money, they dont really get the chance here until they leave school!Grooming is quite essential for kids these days, certainly by the time they get to secondary. I wont let mine have their hair done in Primary, as they dont allow 'hair dye or radical styling' and I conform to this to support the school, but once the summer hols hit they can do what they like to their hair, permanant dye isnt really permanant, hair grows!

BabyDubsEverywhere · 23/03/2011 18:14

jees! the spelling Blush

emkana · 23/03/2011 18:15

Absolutely no way, far too young IMO. Wouldn't allow it until about age 14.

BitOfFun · 23/03/2011 18:18

I wouldn't allow a boy or girl to have chemical treatments until they were much older. 14 or 15, probably.

LessNarkyPuffin · 23/03/2011 18:23

My lovely hairdresser has stopped dying her hair blonde because of the damage it was doing. I wouldn't let a child have a lightening treatment or permanant colour.

Children having highlights etc always seems really sad to me. It's treating them like little adults before they've even hit their teens.

Crawling · 23/03/2011 18:25

What's the vote count like op?

Original poster
Tortoise · 23/03/2011 18:41

I make it about 19 yes and 22 no! Some of them are if he pays himself etc.

OP posts:
ChippingInMistressSteamMop · 27/03/2011 00:10

Tortoise - what have you decided? I've been paying more attention since your thread :) At our junior school a few of the boys have had this done - frankly it is very 80's - but I guess as they weren't around then it's all 'new' to them.

I also decided (not that anyone else gives a damn I'm sure! LOL) but my reasoning for Yes for a boy and No for a girl was based on two things - boys tend to have shorter hair and if they hate it, it's not a big deal to have a number 2 - not so many girls would do this so they'd be stuck with it for a lot longer and secondly, because for boys it seems like more of a 'fashipn' thing, whereas for girls it seems more like a 'I need to be prettier' thing - so I think it would come down to WHY they wanted it....

...thankfullly, right now, it's your problem not mine Grin

FabbyChic · 27/03/2011 00:23

I certainly wouldn't let him get his ear pierced that's just chavvy.

MCos · 27/03/2011 00:29

mmm, had to think about this. DD1 is 9.
I think I would be OK to do it during summer holidays. See how it works out, and then to pay for it himself if he wants to maintain it. 'Pay for it yourself' is good incentive to encourage them to think about where they want to spend their money, their 'look' or something to play with (such as new DS/PS3 game, whatever).
I also think this look is more for secondary school, but if this is in Sept already, then expementing during summer would work timing wise.

worraliberty · 27/03/2011 00:41

I think I've seen it all now

What on earth did parents (and children) do without Mumsnet? Hmm

He's your child..you get to choose, not a load of faceless strangers on the internet.

TheLadyEvenstar · 27/03/2011 00:47

DS1 was "allowed" a mohawk and in yr6 he was allowed blond highlights.

I love it when he wants to express himself.

TheLadyEvenstar · 27/03/2011 00:49

And DS1 also had his ear pierced in the summer of his 11th birthday.

maighdlin · 27/03/2011 02:18

gah! no!!! for the sake of humanity

GwendolineMaryLacey · 27/03/2011 02:25

Bung him some Sun In and tell him to knock himself out (which he will with that stuff :o). £2.95 and the best laugh you've had all year, bargain!

onceamai · 27/03/2011 04:50

Is this thread a wind-up. I'm in shock if not. No of course he shouldn't have blond highlights at 11, no of course he shouldn't have a mohawk and no he certainly should not get an ear pierced.

Mine would have been excluded for any of the above at primary or secondary.

Jude89 · 27/03/2011 11:00

My Brother bleached his hair when he was 16 (as his big rebellion of the summer after his GCSEs) He looked like he'd dipped his hair in banana angel delight.

Original poster
Tortoise · 27/03/2011 12:58

Chippingin No final decision made yet but i still feel he is too young!

TBH I don't give 2 hoots about things being 'chavvy'! Lots of boys and girls have their ears pierced. Rule for DD's is that they can have theirs pierced just before secondary school (they are 6&7 at the moment) so i had to agree the same rule for DS2.

Lol worraliberty! It's not like i am fully relying on MNers to decide. I was asking opinions, thats all!

onceamai No, not a wind up! Can't see why it would be. Obviously my local schools aren't as strict as yours!

OP posts:
Gemsy83 · 27/03/2011 13:07

It sounds totally chavtastic if im blatantly honest and no way would I allow my child to go around looking as common as muck. Fashion schmashion who cares, appearances and first impressions count.

TrillianAstra · 27/03/2011 13:26

11 is for wash-in wash-out hair dye in sachets that doesn't actually make a colour difference, or for spray-on colour.

13+ is for dodgy home dyes (semi-permanent at best).

When you are old enough to have a part time job is when proper hair dye-ing can be done.

Them's the rules.

And all of them are pay for it yourself.

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