To let my 8 year old daughter shave half her head

[Missymini]

My daughter currently has a bob and she has decided she wants her hair cut shorter. We have looked together at pictures online and she likes the type were half the head is shaved and the remaining hair has a undercut. It feels quite drastic but I am tempted to let her as it is her hair we have discussed once it is done if she doesn't like it she will have to wait for it to grow out and she is adamant that is fine.

This haircut is on an adult, and professionally styled. Does DD realise that for her hair to look like this, it will involved daily washing & styling? Also, the person is wearing make up. I’m not sure at 8yrs old DD would fully grasp what a difference those two things make to the overall finish. Also hair type will impact how the cut will sit.
I say this as someone who’s had short hair, bob & longer hair.

I wouldn’t.

Imagine wanting an 8 year old to have a “can I speak fo the manager” haircut from 2006 and calling others old fashioned 🤣🤣

If she is really keen and fully understands how long it would take to grow back (and how it might look whilst growing back) then I think let her go for it! I agree, if you are in England the start of the summer hols is a great time.

Lovely hairstyle, but it will need a significant amount of daily ‘styling’ to look that way and your daughter might find that frustrating or get upset that hers doesn’t look that way after she’s washed it!

You do know that hair grows back ?

Does it? Fuck me. Who knew? 🙄

My rule with hair has always been if school allows it then you're allowed it.

It's a way for my child to express themselves and it's self fixing in no time

It's hardly a "can I speak to the manager" haircut 😂😂

It's far more old fashioned to think all women should have (boring) long hair.

Well summer holidays. When shes off she can have it how she likes but when shes at school she will have to understand if that the school uniform policy may have hair style requirements that mean she cant have it then

As a kid i always wanted pink hair. I was allowed on half term times, but school didnt allow "not natural colours" so it had to wash out for term time

Well summer holidays. When shes off she can have it how she likes but when shes at school she will have to understand if that the school uniform policy may have hair style requirements that mean she cant have it then

As a kid i always wanted pink hair. I was allowed on half term times, but school didnt allow "not natural colours" so it had to wash out for term time

Yes. We all know what I mean, Im not sure why people are so excited about it.

It’s absolutely a can I speak to the manager hairstyle 🤣 and who said all girls should have long hair? Not me.

There does seem to be some on MN who think having short hair makes you interesting though and that being feminine is somehow lesser - very “I’m not like other girls” and very cringe.

“Raging feminists” 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Imagine buying into the sheer misogyny centred around a haircut?!

Pure MN.

Imagine thinking a hair style means a certain time period or attitude. “Fashion” is just nonsense. You can have any style at any time with any attitude. I thought we as a society were finally moving on from this ridiculous idea of things being in or out of fashion.

The alleged "Karen" haircut was never a half-buzzed pixie anyway. It was a stacked, highlighted bob.

Why should an 8 year old be congratulated about caring what they look like at all? Who says that kids who don’t mind what they look like/look the same as everyone else/are “boring” are scared?

As for thinking it’s cool for an 8 year old to be edgy 🤣🤣🤣.

(I don’t have any thoughts about he haircut either way though I doubt any 8 year old is mature enough to feel perfectly comfortable growing out a haircut they hate.)

I’m confused what the problem is? From the picture it looks lovely. No one would bat an eyelid when boys of any age have their head shaved. I’ve seen boys with similar haircut to the picture, shorter on top and buzz cuts so why on earth can’t a girl have it?

I have had a long chat with her this morning. It is interesting that people have implied it is unhealthy for her to have an option about her hair and that this makes her image obsessed. It is actually the opposite. She wants shorter hair for practical reasons as she does a lot of sport.....it won't get so knotty and need so much brushing. It will dry faster and won't get in the way so much. She just doesn't have any point of reference for girls her age with short hair so we looked as some pictures for inspiration.

Like alot of posters on here I was of the opinion it is just hair and she can do what she wants. It was my DH that said she may get unkind comments from adults. Maybe I was naive but I am surprised by some of the more negative/small minded comments on here......I have been called a terrible parent for even considering it!! But all I can hope is that in reality these adults would keep these comments to themselves and not bully an 8 year old child.

I am proud of her that she knows her own mind and doesn't feel pressure to conform and I am unsure what lesson I would be teaching her by saying no. Fair enough she may regret it but really regretting a haircut is definitely not the worst thing in the world. So the appointment has be booked.

For an eight year old

Great update @Missymini , hope she loves it!

Fabulous update!

Why do you think the alternative to boring long hair is "half head shaved"? Why not just short hair?

So why did you ask for opinions in the first place?

You are being rather disingenuous. There are plenty of short, practical hairstyles that would stop hair getting knotty but wouldn't be so drastic or attention-drawing.