Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let my 8 year old daughter shave half her head

349 replies

Missymini · 28/07/2025 20:12

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
NeedZzzzzssss · 29/07/2025 21:54

LadySuzanne · 29/07/2025 21:24

You could ask why does a mum feel the need to run it past a forum in the first place?

Edited
Show quote history

I'm sure she's regretting it now! Although as always I don't feel MN is a reflection of RL

Melm22 · 29/07/2025 22:12

I did this when I was 6. I had long hair down my back and I wanted it short, spiked and shaved at the back. My Mom let me do it, I loved it and it rocked. Was in the summer hols, we had fayres where it was spray painted etc. I loved it, did get a few people asking why I cut my beautiful long blonde hair off but loads say how much it suited me etc. I loved it. It did however grow into a mullet 😱 when i was growing it back out to get it long again but loved it at the time. I look at pics and I do cringe haha but again it was ok and now that mullets are in, she'll be great x
I also think life is too short, whilst we have hair enjoy it, experiment with it and be who you want to be x

Bleachedlevis · 29/07/2025 22:53

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 28/07/2025 21:27

I remember being FURIOUS mum and dad wouldn’t pay an extra £900 for a pink washing machine because “it’s my house too! I have to see it!!” when buying a new one. In hindsight, they were sensible not letting their 7 year old spend their money.

Show quote history

Lol. When my DS and partner were house hunting my 4 year old DGD said she wanted her own toilet.

Cariadm · 30/07/2025 03:00

Goldengirl123 · 28/07/2025 20:17

Don’t be so bloody ridiculous

I couldn't have put it better myself! 😏
Apart from the fact that I personally detest that type of style she 8 bloody years old!!! 🙄

HeyThereDelila · 30/07/2025 03:43

On an 8 year old? No, that would look awful and damage her as she’d stick out like a sore thumb.

SouthernNights59 · 30/07/2025 04:48

manicpixieschemegirl · 29/07/2025 08:10

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.

Edited
Show quote history

Why does having short hair make a girl/woman any less feminine than having long hair? You sound like you've just stepped off the ark!

Anyway, short hair usually is more interesting than long - especially when the long hair is pulled into a (very uninteresting) ponytail.

caringcarer · 30/07/2025 05:15

Check with school. Some schools don't allow attendance if shaved head.

Jumpers4goalposts · 30/07/2025 06:17

NeedZzzzzssss · 29/07/2025 20:59

This is the most bizarre threadI have read. Who would have thought that grown women would have such strong opinions and give so much thought and analysis towards an 8 year olds hair cut.

I think it’s because some women think an awful lot about their own hair and see it as part of their identity and therefore project this onto children and what they should think about their own hair. I try my hardest not to do this and allow my girls to do what they want with their hair but then I’ve always had a bit of a fear of the hairdressers after as a child my mum made me have all my hair cut off.

NeedZzzzzssss · 30/07/2025 06:30

Jumpers4goalposts · 30/07/2025 06:17

I think it’s because some women think an awful lot about their own hair and see it as part of their identity and therefore project this onto children and what they should think about their own hair. I try my hardest not to do this and allow my girls to do what they want with their hair but then I’ve always had a bit of a fear of the hairdressers after as a child my mum made me have all my hair cut off.

Show quote history

You are so right. I would be devastated if I had to cut my hair short and so would my DH. I also remember what my sistwr was like with her daughters hair when she wws a child. I think that's why I really admire DD, she will rock that style I'm sure. I would never be that brave!

Jumpers4goalposts · 30/07/2025 06:46

NeedZzzzzssss · 30/07/2025 06:30

You are so right. I would be devastated if I had to cut my hair short and so would my DH. I also remember what my sistwr was like with her daughters hair when she wws a child. I think that's why I really admire DD, she will rock that style I'm sure. I would never be that brave!

Show quote history

100% as an adult I always had long hair, both my DD’s always had long hair and then one day DD8 just wanted to cut their hair really short I found it so hard but it was what she wanted to do. Our hairdresser is our friend so I just told her in advance to ignore me and listen to what DD wanted. She donated 12 inches to the Little Princess Trust.

zaazaazoom · 30/07/2025 07:02

Dd had virtually this hair cut when she was about 9 or 10. I actually cut it myself as usually do their hair.

Tbh it looked really good and she still looked like a child with a fun hair cut.

She now has grown it out and has very long (boring!) hair as does 90% of her friends.

pebbles8811 · 30/07/2025 08:32

It’s her hair let her cut it how she wants, my little girl is 6 last year she had hair down to her bum and a few weeks after starting school asked for it cut to a bob which I done as it’s her hair. Also as her hair is quite light she asked for pink in it underneath so she could copy me as I have pink hair so I done it and she loved it. She wants to express herself so let her or she will just rebel and do it anyway when she is old enough and it could cause her to hide things when older as she thinks you will say no.
let your daughter have fun with her hair if she doesn’t like it once it’s done it’s a lesson learned we’ve all been there with haircuts and colours ourselves it’s a part of growing up don’t suppress her creativity

LadySuzanne · 30/07/2025 08:36

NeedZzzzzssss · 29/07/2025 21:54

I'm sure she's regretting it now! Although as always I don't feel MN is a reflection of RL

Show quote history

Well, I was being a tad flippant in response to NeedZzzzzssss who thinks it is "bizarre" that a post about a specific hairstyle for a child has received so many opinions.

This is a forum. If a poster posts for opinions they are going to receive opinions and some of those opinions won't necessarily validate the opinion to which they are leaning.

Purplerosez · 30/07/2025 08:56

Key thing for me would be that it shouldn't need styling products, an 8 year old shouldn't have to faff about with gels or waxes every day. Short all over might be easier to wash and go, rather than having the longer bit.

Another issue is growing it out - a good friend had a similar haircut as a teen in the 90s, and the growing out took ages. Your DD will need to be patient - not all 8 year olds are! Again just very short all over, or a pixie cut, would probably grow out better.

My own DD had very short hair for a while from 11 to 12 - she was constantly referred to as a boy, which didn't bother her, she jusy let it go and didn't bother correcting anyone. Will your DD be OK with that, or would she feel the need to correct people, as that would get irritating very quickly.

I'm of the hair grows back camp, but you need to think about how this one would grow out. A very short cut might be a better start, so she can see if she likes it short before going for the shaved side.

CruCru · 30/07/2025 09:02

I think this would be refreshing. Nearly all girls have shoulder to waist length hair, it’s nice to see a girl who wants something a bit different.

Also - it’s hair. It will grow back. It isn’t as though she wants to chop off her fingers. Even if it doesn’t look awesome when she is growing it out, who cares? She’s eight.

LadySuzanne · 30/07/2025 09:04

If OP's daughter does go ahead with this style, perhaps OP could persuade her to consider a more feathery effect on the longer side. It would still be an asymmetrical cut but might need less daily styling - like an asymmetric shaggy pixie.

The (most likely AI generated) image that OP posted as the style her daughter has picked out doesn't look an easy style for an 8 year old to manage herself. I would think it's going to flop down over her forehead if it's not styled every morning.

NeedZzzzzssss · 30/07/2025 10:08

LadySuzanne · 30/07/2025 09:04

If OP's daughter does go ahead with this style, perhaps OP could persuade her to consider a more feathery effect on the longer side. It would still be an asymmetrical cut but might need less daily styling - like an asymmetric shaggy pixie.

The (most likely AI generated) image that OP posted as the style her daughter has picked out doesn't look an easy style for an 8 year old to manage herself. I would think it's going to flop down over her forehead if it's not styled every morning.

That's what product is for. Also not understanding the comments about AI generated? My friend has this exact same hairstyle when it was first trendy in 2010ish. Do you think this style isn't possible for some reason?

Samscaff · 30/07/2025 10:14

pebbles8811 · 30/07/2025 08:32

It’s her hair let her cut it how she wants, my little girl is 6 last year she had hair down to her bum and a few weeks after starting school asked for it cut to a bob which I done as it’s her hair. Also as her hair is quite light she asked for pink in it underneath so she could copy me as I have pink hair so I done it and she loved it. She wants to express herself so let her or she will just rebel and do it anyway when she is old enough and it could cause her to hide things when older as she thinks you will say no.
let your daughter have fun with her hair if she doesn’t like it once it’s done it’s a lesson learned we’ve all been there with haircuts and colours ourselves it’s a part of growing up don’t suppress her creativity

Good lord.

KilkennyCats · 30/07/2025 10:14

NeedZzzzzssss · 30/07/2025 10:08

That's what product is for. Also not understanding the comments about AI generated? My friend has this exact same hairstyle when it was first trendy in 2010ish. Do you think this style isn't possible for some reason?

Show quote history

Seriously, product?
Who wants their 8 year old in front of a mirror every morning styling their hair with product?

KilkennyCats · 30/07/2025 10:16

pebbles8811 · 30/07/2025 08:32

It’s her hair let her cut it how she wants, my little girl is 6 last year she had hair down to her bum and a few weeks after starting school asked for it cut to a bob which I done as it’s her hair. Also as her hair is quite light she asked for pink in it underneath so she could copy me as I have pink hair so I done it and she loved it. She wants to express herself so let her or she will just rebel and do it anyway when she is old enough and it could cause her to hide things when older as she thinks you will say no.
let your daughter have fun with her hair if she doesn’t like it once it’s done it’s a lesson learned we’ve all been there with haircuts and colours ourselves it’s a part of growing up don’t suppress her creativity

Some people just amaze me…

pebbles8811 · 30/07/2025 10:24

@Samscaff @KilkennyCats you do what you like with your kids and let others do what they like with theirs it’s not hurting anyone and the pink washes out after 8 washes so it’s not like her hair is still pink it’s back to it’s natural colour.
what’s with being so judgy no one is telling you how to raise your kids or how to cut their hair, if it makes that woman’s daughter happy to have short hair then go for it. Fs it’s hair it grows back

LadySuzanne · 30/07/2025 10:30

NeedZzzzzssss · 30/07/2025 10:08

That's what product is for. Also not understanding the comments about AI generated? My friend has this exact same hairstyle when it was first trendy in 2010ish. Do you think this style isn't possible for some reason?

Show quote history

"That's what product is for."

Will an 8 year old want to faff around every morning before school with hair styling products?

"Also not understanding the comments about AI generated?"

One poster had referred to the image as "...the model in the photograph". It's quite likely that the image is AI generated - it has that feel about it. (One AI checker puts it at 74% likely AI.)

Whatever the context, I think it's worth pointing out where an image is likely to have been AI generated.

"Do you think this style isn't possible for some reason?"

No, I'm sure the style is achievable.

Whether it's a practical style for an 8 year old from a maintenance point of view is questionable. I also think that particular style is better suited to an older face - 15 and above.

Samscaff · 30/07/2025 10:32

pebbles8811 · 30/07/2025 10:24

@Samscaff @KilkennyCats you do what you like with your kids and let others do what they like with theirs it’s not hurting anyone and the pink washes out after 8 washes so it’s not like her hair is still pink it’s back to it’s natural colour.
what’s with being so judgy no one is telling you how to raise your kids or how to cut their hair, if it makes that woman’s daughter happy to have short hair then go for it. Fs it’s hair it grows back

I’m not proposing stopping anyone doing what they like with their children, just expressing my surprise that refusing to dye a six-year-old's hair would be seen as "suppressing her creativity". And my surprise that a parent would think you mustn’t say no to anything a child wants as it might cause her to hide things from you in the future. (And wondering whether the same applies to allowing her a completely free choice of clothes, regardless of their suitability for a six-year-old.)

pebbles8811 · 30/07/2025 10:41

@Samscaff it washes out it’s not a permanent hair dye or I would have said no and same with clothes although she likes to pick her own things she doesn’t wear in appropriate clothes or even ask for anything I would have to say no to, as long as it’s pink, girly and has her fave characters on it she loves it. I do say no to my kids but I let them express themselves also just as we get to do

NeedZzzzzssss · 30/07/2025 11:45

LadySuzanne · 30/07/2025 10:30

"That's what product is for."

Will an 8 year old want to faff around every morning before school with hair styling products?

"Also not understanding the comments about AI generated?"

One poster had referred to the image as "...the model in the photograph". It's quite likely that the image is AI generated - it has that feel about it. (One AI checker puts it at 74% likely AI.)

Whatever the context, I think it's worth pointing out where an image is likely to have been AI generated.

"Do you think this style isn't possible for some reason?"

No, I'm sure the style is achievable.

Whether it's a practical style for an 8 year old from a maintenance point of view is questionable. I also think that particular style is better suited to an older face - 15 and above.

Show quote history

I genuinely don't understand why it matters if the image is AI or not. This thread just gets weirder and weirder!!

Swipe left for the next trending thread