To shave DD head

[AtSea1979]

Ok maybe shave is a bit drastic but cut it all off.
She's 6, she has an odd, head shaking in bed, to get her to sleep habit.
Her hair is very thick and even at shoulder length (the shortest she can have it and still tie up) and it's completely matted in the mornings. I've tried everything. Plaiting it before bed etc etc but to no avail.
She has lovely hair when it's brushed through but every morning is a battle.
Surely in the 21st century, age of feminism, my DD shouldn't have to have these battles and can just have it cut off like a boy would. Apart from wanting 'Tangled' rapunzel hair or an Elsa plait she would probably want it cropped off too.
AIBU to take DD to hairdresser and get it all cut off?

[Toraleistripe]

I love short hair on little girls. My DD had a very short bob until at 8 she rebelled and grew it!

[nooka]

I've often wondered why it is that the default hairstyle for little girls is so long. When my dd had hers cut into a bob she was virtually the only girl with shorter hair, all the rest of the girls we knew had below shoulder hair. I don't think that was particularly their choice, it just seems to be the default. The boys had much more varied hair cuts (for a while ds's hair was longer than dd's). When we had dd's first short haircut we took her our with a camera and did a modelling session with her to help her feel confident about it. Seemed to work as she's chosen a short cut ever since.

My children's hair is very fine so the mats are probably different to those with thicker hair, but it took a good half hour to an hour to detangle and often the hair was so kinked by then that it tangled up again within minutes. It was also quite painful for them to sit through, even with shed loads of conditioner and me being very careful. dh never had the patience, he'd just shop the mats out with scissors so dd often had weird spiky little clumps at the back of her head too. No regrets here for chopping it all off!

[AtSea1979]

Thanks for all your messages. Just been to a few neighbours trick or treating and they all commented on DD hair and said it looks lovely so DD is beaming from ear to ear. Whether they'd have still said the same if I'd gone real short I don't know. I must admit the short bob really suits her.

[AtSea1979]

As for plaits in hair, yes tried this, DD removes them. DD was told if she removed them then her hair would knot etc but she still removed them.

[ShadyMyLady]

I think girls look lovely with short hair, but then my DD has a pixie cut that looks exactly like the photo you posted at 11.23. She gets a lot of comments about it saying how lovely it looks. But she has fine, straight hair so it sits nicely.

My other DD on the other hand has a massive afro and gets massively matted on a daily basis. She sleeps in a silk cap, it does help a bit but still needs 20 minutes of brushing out every morning.

If the front bits get in your DD's eyes or food, just scrape the side bits up into a mini ponytail on the top of her head. I'm sure it looks lovely.

[HopefulHamster]

I hope it helps. Please think about it more indepth before you get it cut next time though! I know it stings to listen to people tell you to rethink things, but find a hairdresser who will talk through all the options with you! Or if you're lucky the bob will be manageable.

[coffeeisnectar]

Glad you've found a solution. My 10 year old has almost waist length hair which knots and tangles if it's not plaited or in a bun. Brushing it is a nightmare but she's started doing it properly herself so I only need to check it's clear before laboriously doing something complicated for school. It's is gorgeous hair though.

[BreadPitt]

I recall my Mum taking me to the hairdressers for a Paige Boy cut when I was about 8. I'd got waist length hair at the time and suffered headaches which the GP concluded was due to the weight of the hair in a pony tail. Of course the better solution would have been to chop a few feet off, layer it and lessen the weight, but no, she scalped me.

I was utterly devastated. I tried to put a brave face on it but even now I can't look at photos from that period. Sounds ridiculous but it traumatised me enough that I can count on one hand the number of hairdressers I've visited in my adult life. I have a genuine phobia of hair that short again, my hair is never shorter than my bra strap now.

[AtSea1979]

Wow what a difference this morning was. No tears before school. Hair just brushed through, no catches at all. Couldn't believe it. Noticed her hair is greasy looking though already and needed washing again tonight. Usually goes 4-5 days between washes because so dry.
DD got a positive response at school so she's happy.