AIBU to not want my DS to have this hairstyle?

[greenlantern1]

7 yr DS wants to have streaks razored into the side of his hair, like the footballers have. I can't stand it on young kids - plus I hate buying into that celebrity/sport bullshit culture.

I don't want him to have it. He's going to push for it.

If you say no though at what age does he get to choose his own hairstyle? I have the opposite problem, my 9 year old still has no interest in hair styles but I'm finding myself asking him to consider some sort of style as it's just a thick mop at the moment and all his friends are starting to style their hair. I never used to like really short hair on boys but now I think it'd really suit him. One of his friends has his initials shaved into the side of the head and they spell out the name of the company I work for .

You say you don't get involved in what he wears (although I assume you do to a certain extent as he won't shop and pay by himself) but if he chose to wear something inappropriate then I really hope then you'd have an opinion. Is this inappropriate? I would find it so, especially on such a young child.

Let the child make some decisions for himself! He's 7, not a baby. It's only hair, it'll grow back. It's hardly permanent

In the summer holidays, then yes. Why not? It's not permanent.

But then I may be looking at it from a cultural veiw point. We're not white and it's always been quite normal for young black boys to have patterns in their hair. My brother even had his name once

I'd let him have it done. When depends on the school policy, obviously. If they're fine with it I'd take him now, otherwise he'd have to wait for the summer holidays.

I've always let my dcs choose their hair style and clothing. It's their body.

My answer would simply be no. I would choose to fight this particular battle!

It looks awful

I'm not bothered if I get flamed, I am very careful with how my boys hairs are cut because I don't want them to look like chavs. Any pattern shaved into the hair often does look that way.

I've always let my dcs choose their hair style and clothing. It's their body

Easy to say, but all you mean is your lines are a little looser. You don't actually mean you let them do as they like because it's their body. You wouldn't die their hair pink and let them pierce an eyebrow,

Doug was just about to say exactly the same to this comment

I've always let my dcs choose their hair style and clothing. It's their body - presumably you wouldn't allow multiple piercings and tattoos.

Scrotey. What a fantastic word. Accurate too.

I liked it too.

presumably you wouldn't allow multiple piercings and tattoos.

Those are permanent whereas hair and clothing aren’t. Hardly the same thing at all.

I let mine choose his hair style and clothes etc but to a point.

He had to wait until he was 10 to get his ears pierced because I think they're chavvy as hell to be sure he really wanted them. Admittedly he has black plugs and they look quite cool.

He tends to want blue or black hair but is allowed only in the school holidays as long as it doesn't involve bleach.

He wants long hair and is growing it, but always gets fed up by the time it's at his shoulders and has it chopped.

If he really wanted those nasty patterns, I'd have to let him have them as they aren't extreme and hair grows back, but I'd let him know my opinion of them

My DS used to like having patterns cut in his hair when he was that age. I'm not keen, but it's harmless. I used to let him have them done at the start of the holidays so it had grown back by the time he went back to school.

At 7, no way

Those are permanent whereas hair and clothing aren’t. Hardly the same thing at all

Same thing, further up the spectrum. The point pp made was "I let my children do what they want as its their body" nothing was said about only temporary things counting. Piercing is temporary anyway.

Why are people so worried that their children will look ‘chavy’ - how shit have we become as a society if we’re judging people on their hair rather than their behaviour?

I’d be delighted if my DS showed any interest in style (good or bad) so I’d say yes, but only in the holidays. I saw a child with a star shaved into his hair and thought it looked cute 🤷🏻‍♀️

Count yourself lucky he's not asking for the haircut that's popular near me I have no idea what shaved streaks look like but what hairstyle is worse than that mz ? (debates if I really want the answer to that one )

I can't think of any footballers that have tracks shaved into their hair?

These days they all seem to favour long messy hair with some sort of alice band or long on the top and shaved at the sides a bit like an alpaca.

That said, I think you could reach a compromise here. He just wants to express himself and look cool, bless him.

What a depressing thread.

I would let him do it. It is important he feels he can make choices about his body as this will help him develop his self-esteem and feel confident about saying no when things are suggested to him that he doesn't like down the line. Of course there are limits to this principle. I wouldn't let him do anything permanent or irreversible, nor would I let him do anything that contravenes school rules, but other than that it's his choice. And yes, my 7yo DD and 3.5yo DS chose their hairstyles, hair colour and clothes.

This sort of look is popular round our way for teen boys 70's

Would it be against school rules, OP?

Personally, my 7 year old wouldn't be allowed this haircut. Even in the holidays.

NFW would I be allowing this - not now (mine are 10 and just about 13), certainly not at 7!

I don't allow my dc to leave the house in jogging bottoms either, unless they are going to a sporting activity.

I just think some things are appropriate and some aren't. And as long as I'm paying for clothes and haircuts, I get a certain say.