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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My daughter wants short hair

135 replies

Nameforsaken · 22/12/2016 18:46

My dd is 3. She's never had her hair cut and it's diwn to her bum. Although I love it, it is difficult to manage as she hates me brushing it. I manage once every few days if I'm lucky.

She's going for her 1st haircut tomorrow and is adamant she wants it short. Now I'm happy going ahead with this, but what do you think of a pixie cut on a pre schooler?

OP posts:
MrsPnut · 23/12/2016 06:39

It reminds me a bit of when DD was in reception she had a beautiful blonde short bob (was the only girl in the class with short hair) and her friend had her very long dark hair cut into a bob. She thought it would change colour and be blonde too like my daughter's.

user1480946351 · 23/12/2016 07:38

I'd get it cut how she wants (as long as it still conforms to the school rules about hair). It's her hair after all, and if she doesn't like it, it will grow again

The child is THREE. What school rules, for one thing? And being three, if she doesn't like it, she is hardly going to have the patience to wait around for a year while it grows a bit.

3, people. Not 13! She's 3, she can have whatever hair mammy wants her to.

Original poster
Nameforsaken · 23/12/2016 16:02

Cool, thanks everyone.
She's just had it cut. They did a short bob. Hd recommended not going too pixie short as her hair is thin and whispy so a bob has more weight so will sit better.
It looks fab!

OP posts:
LotsOfShoes · 23/12/2016 16:08

Good to hear that, OP! I must say I really don't understand the angst over this. I had a pixie cut throughout my childhood until about the age of 9...but like someone said, the 90s I guess were a bit different.

Hullygully · 23/12/2016 16:09

What about extensions? They can look sweetly pretty. Or dreads.

longdiling · 23/12/2016 16:09

I am loving your work today hullygully. Been on the eggnog have you?!

MrsPnut · 23/12/2016 21:11

That's brilliant OP, I hope she really loves it and so easy to wash and brush

Original poster
Nameforsaken · 23/12/2016 22:17

hully she's had accidental dreads!

OP posts:
Original poster
Nameforsaken · 23/12/2016 22:17

She still wants it shorter Confused but is happy for now

OP posts:
3littlebadgers · 23/12/2016 22:23

So glad you had it done. You have shown her you value her oppinion over the way she is 'supposed to look as a girl'. A lovely lesson to have been given

SignOnTheWindow · 24/12/2016 02:33

If you want to go shorter in the future, I'd say go for it. My DD has a very short pixie cut because her hair is very fine and wispy - it looks much thicker this way.

She asked for her first short haircut at 4 and is now 7. It looks great - very stylish and she has the delicate features to pull it off.

Be prepared for people thinking she's a boy. DD gets this all the time, even when wearing dresses. We don't care and DD thinks it's funny. She thinks her friends are mugs for having screaming battles with their mothers at hair washing/brushing time.

notangelinajolie · 24/12/2016 02:45

Aw love that she had it cut and most importantly it is what she wanted. I was the only girl with short hair at school and tbh I hated it but didn't have much choice as my mum was the one who decided.

ScarfSearcher · 24/12/2016 06:02

Mine has had a pixie cut since she was 2.5, doesn't want it longer and told her brother to take the scissors to it when she decided it was too long Hmm. Only ever been mistaken for a boy when she's worn DS's hand-me-downs. It suits her much better than long hair and she was so happy and grateful last time we left the hairdresser's!

isthistoonosy · 24/12/2016 06:42

Can't believe people are getting pixie cuts and bobs at two/three. My two yr old doesn't have enough hair yet to cut it into any style and the three yr old is a long way off having enough hair for a bob, and neither has ever had their hair cut.

wtffgs · 24/12/2016 07:23

a nob with a fringe ShockGrinGrin

I think long hair on little girls is very samey and a nightmare when nits arrive.

I admire teens who go for shorter cuts. It just looks more original.

I think a bob might be a good starting point. I miss DD2's little bob - much nicer than her long hair which always looks unkempt even when she brushes it Hmm

Silverdream · 24/12/2016 07:32

Say to her that to help the hairdresser we should cut your hair a bit. Cut it off to below her shoulders. She can then have fun with her hair that length and then when you go to the hairdressers she may just want a trim or the full cut.
Leaving her hair grow to the length you have has caused her to hate it. Which is sad. Showing her a half way option first may help as she will find it hard at that age to imagine what it would be like.

bringonyourwreckingball · 24/12/2016 07:40

My daughter had a pixie cut aged 3 as a tidy up job after she decided to cut her own hair - she looked adorable but was a bit sad that people might think she was a boy.

LynetteScavo · 24/12/2016 07:47

Don't go from long to pixie in one go.

Go for a bob first.

My DD always wanted short hair. She had a short bob with no fringe for years, but having two boys I knew a feet short cut would require more up-keep. And it wouldn't look nice IMO.

RockyBird · 24/12/2016 07:54

I always had my dd8 in a short bob with short fringe. She has huge black/brown eyes and looked super cute. This year she's decided she wants it long and no fringe. She looks like a mini rock chick to me because when out of school she wears it down and messy.

I just go with the flow when it comes to both my DDs' hairstyle wishes. My mother used to get economical short crops for me by a butcher hairdresser who came to the house about once a year...I'd cry myself to sleep on haircut day.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 24/12/2016 08:04

My dd(6) decided she wanted short hair over the summer. It was halfway down her back. She asked for it just above her shoulders & it looks lovely & it's thickened up nicely too. She's growing it again now but it still looks so much better. The great thing about hair is it grows back.

isthistoonosy Both my girls too a good while to get a decent amount of hair too.

DinosaursRoar · 24/12/2016 08:12

Bob is a good compromise - missed this yesterday, but was going to say my DS has curly hair so it looks scruffy if longer than 1.5inches. He needs his hair cutting every 4 weeks - a lot more expense and effort than a bob you can trim yourself.

DD has similar hair type but hers is bob length and I can trim it or it can just be left for a few months and still look neat.

Easy neat hair is the best for pre-schoolers!

Catsize · 24/12/2016 09:40

My DD (3 in Feb) has always had short hair. Really suits her and she stands out from the crowd. It is a short but soft style. Bit awkward sometimes - Father Christmas thought she was a boy last night, despite typically feminine clothing etc. I think it is just so unusual to see a small girl with short hair so people don't compute. He even commented on her 'little squeaky voice' (presumably meaning it was high-pitched for a boy? Hmm )
It is also far more practical for swimming, park etc.

DoosyFartlek · 24/12/2016 09:44

My friends kids had their hair cut elf like two years ago. So cute and suited the style. They have now grown out long hair and it's quite boring now and seems to drag their features down

Charlottelouisa · 24/12/2016 09:52

Sorry but a 3 year old is not able to make decisions like that. The most i would have it cut is a bob. If you let her have a short haircut she

  1. might hate it and want her hair back (she's 3 and will not understand why)
  2. she will be mistaken for a boy
  3. when not styled correctly it will look like she has cut her hair herself!

However that is just my opinion , I would in no way let a 3 year old make that decision.

JerryFerry · 24/12/2016 09:53

This is such a wonderful opportunity to show your daughter that her opinion about her appearance matters. I love that she has a strong sense of herself and his she'd like her hair, she'll go far if you continue to hear her and let her find her preferences.

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