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.

My local primary's uniform policy says nothing about hair cuts.

I would hate it, but I would have to let mine because I've spent her childhood telling her that it's her body and her choice. It's her hair, so I can't see any meaningful argument against it, other than it won't look very nice, which it probably won't. But it's not her job to look 'nice'.

It’s fucking hair. It will grow back, she won’t joint a gang, it won’t send her spiralling into a life of crime.

It’s no different to letting her express herself through clothes.

you can have quite a high hidden undercut - so if she keeps it long enough it will flop over the shaved part

It’s hair, it grows back. And it’s her hair 🤷🏻‍♀️

Jesus theres some fun suckers on here.

OP, let her have her hair cut however she Friggin well wants. It’s HER hair. At 8 she’s old enough to know about decision making and lasting effects so if she doesn’t like it then it’s tough in the short term. And if she does then it’s a win!

What about an undercut first so it's not such a dramatic change? I love the fact she wants to experiment with hair though 😊

In my view (which also includes the view that the current trend of all girls having ling hair is boring, horrible for their self esteem, and sexist), this is an edgy hairstyle suitable for teenagers and not 8y olds.

😱can’t believe I just read that! Are girls meant to be pretty and feminine? Or can they just “be”.

Are you fucking kidding? You think a homophobic comment like that is just fine?

Good grief.

I assume you regret typing that? If you don't, have a really big word with yourself. One where you're thinking so hard it almost hurts. Really engage that brain as best you possibly can.

Whilst yes, its hair and it'll grow back, the considerations for me would me would be whether it requires daily styling (which might be a big no-no for an 8 year old), and just the difference between how a haircut looks in an adult vs on a child.
Beyond that, if she's happy about those options, why not?

Just as a point of consideration, my DC has a friend who had very long hair. She cut it recently into a similar style to the picture. Quite a few people have addressed her as though she's male. She's not bothered and will correct people, but that may be something else for you daughter to think about.

Perhaps a good age to learn that lesson before more permanent teenage experimentation starts?

This is the only valid reason to say no in my opinion.

When my daughter was 14 she chose to have a grade 4 all over. She looked stunning and not at all butch 🙄

mind you I have always had short hair and went for a grade 2 start of lockdown which I still have now. Don’t give a fuck what people think.

My DD is almost 9 and keeps asking for a less extreme version of that (an asymmetric bob perhaps with an undercut). She currently has a chin length bob after chopping it from very long and it looks great.

It’s just hair, no need to brand little girls butch or “chavvy” for not confirming to stereotypes

Wow.

I'm paying so I decide what you look like. My money, my hair.

You're that guy?! Christ.

My daughter did at around 9. she looked great with it. Very cool. Of course it grows back within months. No harm done.

“Raging feminists”. 😅😅

The only time I ever said “my money, I decide” to my children was when we were doing a house renovation and for some reason they thought they had a say in the colour of the kitchen, bathrooms etc.

Oh I don't think that's too bad. At 8yo she'll look more like a tiny 80s hausfrau than a cool kid, but she'll laugh about it when she's older.

Is she aware how much of a pain it'll be growing it out?

Your comment is disgustingly homophobic. But this is why I have a slight reservation. I am proud of her for not feeling that she has to conform. All the girls in her class have long hair. I have told her people will comment and she says she doesn't care. My concern is will she in reality be able to deal with the judgement. I think she is strong enough to stand up to her peers but I do wonder how she will cope if any adults make comments.

She is absolutely tiny and so petite that I don't think even with this haircut anyone would consider her to be butch!

I think a lot of people will just assume the poor child has had a bad case of nits that could only be dealt with by extreme measures!

There's a massive amount of maintenance and products involved in that hairstyle - too much for an 8 year old.

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.