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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why people dislike buzz cuts on little boys?

364 replies

brightmonitorx2 · 28/02/2022 21:23

I did not realise this was a thing until I buzzed my 3 year olds hair in lockdown (had tried and failed to cut it so had to buzz).
My mother hated it, friends made comments. I then googled and people say it's trashy or something 🤷‍♀️
I thought it was cute and he is asking me to do it again because longer hair annoys him.
It was also way easier to bath/dry as he hates hair wash etc.

I want to do it again but so people thing it looks trashy/chavy whatever?

I know I shouldn't care what others think but I do 😬

OP posts:
Avocadobacardi · 01/03/2022 07:43

Blueuggboots
I'd much rather see a young boy with a buzz cut than the utterly ridiculous fashion for long curls on young boys that seems to abound currently!

I agree. The “gorgeous curls” are anything but. They inevitably look like a matted mess.

HikingforScenery · 01/03/2022 07:46

Mumsnet can be a funny place.

Child wants to cut hair short and parent is reluctant.

Mumsnet: it’s only hair. It’ll grow back.

3year old boy wants to cut hair short.
Mumsnet: he’ll look like a skinhead. He’ll look like he’s lice.

I’d go Google buzz cut but I have never come across anyone with a low haircut and thought they must be a skinhead. (Do those not go completely bald?). In some cultures, the standard is low cut hair.

OP, it’s only hair. It’ll grow. You’re doing the right thing by encouraging his choices for his own body.
A low hair cut is far better than some of the truly awful haircuts on some boys’ hair these days.

ImAvingOops · 01/03/2022 07:55

One of my children grew up to become an accountant, another works for a bank. Which are probably two of the least thuggish jobs a person could have!

Mind, they might have some Air Max knocking around Grin

headintheproverbial · 01/03/2022 08:04

My son has always had a nice short cut (sadly his hair is too thick to carry off floppy which I really like) but I haven't ever had to do a buzz cut to keep it short. There's a middle ground - go for that.

I'm afraid I agree it doesn't look nice on little boys.

Empressofthemundane · 01/03/2022 08:05

I’ve never thought much about DC’s hair. I will now! I’m starting to have negative associations with boys with long hair, and “lovely curls.” I’m getting a strong picture of their mums’ attitudes from this thread.

PintOfBovril · 01/03/2022 08:08

@Empressofthemundane

I’ve never thought much about DC’s hair. I will now! I’m starting to have negative associations with boys with long hair, and “lovely curls.” I’m getting a strong picture of their mums’ attitudes from this thread.
Totally agree!
PutinNOnukin · 01/03/2022 08:09

@Megletthesecond Really? I must tell my skinhead DH and sons that. Does it also apply to skinhead me?

ladydimitrescu · 01/03/2022 08:11

I had to buzz mine in lockdown because I gave him the WORST hair cut in the history of mankind - he looked like friar tuck, and it was better than that option at the time.
I wouldn't ever choose to have it cut that way again as I think it looks crap as well tbh.

Mummytobe93 · 01/03/2022 08:12

When I worked in children’s home we got told off by one of the boys family for giving him a buzz cut as it “screamed institutionalisation” apparently.

VenusClapTrap · 01/03/2022 08:12

It screams toxic masculinity to me. The boys at my school with shaved heads were the ones with Dads who believed ‘boys don’t cry’ and any perceived feminine traits in their sons must be stamped out at all costs.

RufustheFloralmissingreindeer · 01/03/2022 08:13

Personally i judge people who judge 3 year olds with a buzz cut 🤔

And yes i know (before posters get all over excited and say ‘we are not judging the child) lots of people are judging the mothers

But you are judging the mother based on the appearance of a child

Its a bit silly

DropYourSword · 01/03/2022 08:15

@brightmonitorx2

Actually this thread is a bit of a depressing read. I think it's one thing to not like a style, but to have so many stereotypical associations I just had no idea!
Honestly, screw what everybody else thinks! If your son and you are happy with his hair that's really all that counts.

I recently had to deal with my 5 year old begging for his head to be shaved totally bald! I had a thread about it and there were some choice judgements on there, but also plenty of supportive people.

I managed to persuade him to have a really short fade fresh cut instead. I guess that would be too much for some people too. Meh, so what!

TheFairyCaravan · 01/03/2022 08:17

@Empressofthemundane

I’ve never thought much about DC’s hair. I will now! I’m starting to have negative associations with boys with long hair, and “lovely curls.” I’m getting a strong picture of their mums’ attitudes from this thread.
Same!

It’s funny that people associate buzz cuts with the army because the only time soldiers have to have them is the day they join up. They get their heads shaved on the first day of Phase 1, then after that it’s a neat short back and sides throughout their career. You’d never be able to tell that DS1, or DH when he was in, is a soldier from his hair cut.

I much prefer seeing a neat, short haircut on a boy than a ratty, tatty mess of “long gorgeous curls” that are usually anything but. I refer to boys here because parents of girls are usually more bothered to style their longer length hair and have the dead ends trimmed off, ime.

BarbaraofSeville · 01/03/2022 08:19

@MadgeMak

Wow, I'm shocked at some of the disgusting comments I'm reading. My son has a buzz cut, his hair his choice. And he looks bloody gorgeous actually.
I'm also disgusted. It's shocking to see that, in a group of people who generally fall over themselves to showcase their loathing of racism, homophobia and sexism that they apparently find it acceptable to judge someone for something as innocuous as a haircut and openly display hatred based on class or perceived class.
Fallingonice · 01/03/2022 08:20

There is quite a big grey area between long gorgeous curls and a skinhead.

Gowithme · 01/03/2022 08:21

DH has a buzz cut as he's balding - not sure what else he's supposed to do? Doesn't look chavy at all IMO. Maybe it's just a kids thing where people make judgements on the poor because it's cheap to shave your kids hair at home and expensive to go to the barbers, especially if you've got 2 or 3 boys. It's just the sort of snobbery you expect from MN I guess.

Changeee15467 · 01/03/2022 08:21

I did it with my little lad and he looked soooo cute!! Never had any negative comments and we live in a posh village.

MintyFreshBreath · 01/03/2022 08:23

I don’t care if other people do it but it really didn’t suit my son when he had one at about age 8. Luckily he agreed and quickly grew it out.

berksandbeyond · 01/03/2022 08:23

I would agree it looks thuggish I am afraid, but I don’t like shaved heads / buzz cuts on anyone

Legoninjago1 · 01/03/2022 08:23

@Mammyloveswine

Oh i hate a buzzcut on little boys..so harsh!

My eldest likes a short back and sides (6 going on 60) but my little one has a lovely mop of blonde hair! It had a life of its own until he was about 18 months, like a mini Boris Grin now its more of a page boy style and he looks like an actual angel from heaven shame hes the devil incarnate.

Ha! Exactly the same with my two! Including the bit you crossed out Smile Buzz cuts are just awful.
Sceptre86 · 01/03/2022 08:25

I like it. I don't like long hair on kids though, be it boys or girls. Just my preference.

thepeopleversuswork · 01/03/2022 08:27

@RufustheFloralmissingreindeer

Personally i judge people who judge 3 year olds with a buzz cut 🤔

And yes i know (before posters get all over excited and say ‘we are not judging the child) lots of people are judging the mothers

But you are judging the mother based on the appearance of a child

Its a bit silly

To be fair, the OP asked the question.

A lot of us have said we wouldn't judge the mother but have sought to explain the reasons (conscious or unconscious) why we wouldn't do it ourselves.

I certainly wouldn't judge anyone for cutting their children's hair in a certain way but clothes, haircuts and styles of dress do have symbolism attached to them which are unavoidable.

For me, a haircut which is associated with a very stereotypically "masculine" style lends itself to the idea that someone thinks men and women should have very fixed gender roles and an aesthetic which draws inspiration from the police/military/authoritarian styles of masculinity. It's just not an aesthetic I would run to embrace.

I don't think its a class thing particularly its just not wanting to symbolically brand "I am a boy and I think its very important to look like a boy" on a male child's forehead.

RozHuntleysStump · 01/03/2022 08:29

It looks rough.

luckylavender · 01/03/2022 08:32

Strange post title. We can all have an opinion.

LowlandLucky · 01/03/2022 08:37

If you think a 3 year old looks thuggish you are the problem not the child