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Original poster

Back to school and lockdown hair

47 replies

thereinmadnesslies · 25/02/2021 13:54

I know there’s more important things to worry about, but ... is anyone else concerned about how school will react to lockdown hair?

DC attend a school that is v strict on hair and uniform. DS in year 7 had a barber’s appointment booked for late December which was cancelled when our area went into tier 4. As a result he’s not had his hair cut since October half term and it’s long and a bit wild. This week several teachers have commented on his hair in zoom lessons and it’s upset him to the point he won’t have his camera on. I bought clippers in the first lockdown but didn’t do a great job so he doesn’t want me to cut his hair, which is fair enough. He’s got a double crown and an odd hairline which makes it tricky to cut anyway. My hairdressing competence could probably stretch to a buzz cut but that’s against school rules as well.

I’m expecting school to be unpleasant about it. Has anyone else’s schools put out any information about hair expectations when they go back on 8th March?

OP posts:
pooiepooie25 · 25/02/2021 13:56

I would email the school and explain the situation.

THATbasicSNOWFLAKE · 25/02/2021 13:59

Honestly no explanation should be needed

Hairdressers are closed. End of.

Angel2702 · 25/02/2021 14:01

I don’t think they will be able to say anything. It is illegal for him to visit a barber currently so there is nothing they can ask him to do other than comb it so it’s as tidy as possible.

motherrunner · 25/02/2021 15:13

As a teacher I would be only be critical is someone with obviously short, styled hair - unless I knew their parent was a hair stylist!

RedskyBynight · 25/02/2021 15:16

I'd expect "normal" guidelines to be in place. At DC's school that means hair has to be tied back if it's long enough for this to be possible (DD is disgusted enough about having to do this).

flumposie · 25/02/2021 15:17

Email his head of year who should then inform his teachers.

lunapeace · 25/02/2021 15:28

My DS is the same, his hair is very thick and double crown too. I've found using plenty of conditioner tames it and I think Boys look quite cool with longer hair anyways. That's wrong of the school to say something. Would they have said that to a girl!

Allgirlskidsanddogs · 25/02/2021 15:28

Email them and explain. Maybe also give him a short reply if he is criticised, “My hair maybe untidy but it also shows I kept to Lockdown.”

BlackInk · 25/02/2021 15:29

Surely every single child at school will be in the same position, unless they happen to have a barber in the family?!

Unless it's a boys only school, are girls also required to have a short back and sides cut?? Rules at most schools are simply that hair should be tied up (at least for PE and science) if long enough.

MY DS wears his hair semi-long and he looks like Shaggy (Scooby Doo Shaggy not "It Wasn't Me" Shaggy) at the moment.

This should be a total non-issue and I think you're over-thinking it... or your school is nuts!

Fortherosesjoni70 · 25/02/2021 15:33

Maybe its more about your son and how he might feel going back with his hair like this.
Its hard. My ds was teased a bit but I had to cut it. That was in the last lockdown. I think you should cut it as best you can and do it now just to give it a little time to grow back. If its anything like my sons hair, it grows fast. He needs to feel confident and it can really dent a persons confidence if someone says something horrible. That is what i would do.

Fortherosesjoni70 · 25/02/2021 15:35

It is bad that they made a comment but I am sure they were just not thinking about it and it was a bit thoughtless. As a teacher I might say, wow, your hair had got long but not as an insult.

chantelleeexox1 · 25/02/2021 15:35

Hi everyone I'm new to this website does anyone know if I could possibly do a questionnaire on here? I'm currently at university and studying Children and Young People level 6 and need to do some research for my dissertation
thanks

Fortherosesjoni70 · 25/02/2021 15:37

You are best off contacted Mumsnet for that.

littlepeas · 25/02/2021 15:37

We’re in the same boat - 2 boys with very long and untidy hair (haircuts were booked for 13th Jan and were already a bit overdue). I’m assuming it will be ok. Hairdressers are still closed after all.

Myshinynewname · 25/02/2021 15:39

Motherrunner I'm not a hairstylist but I have cut my dc's hair. He has quite easy hair so it looks like it normally does after he's been to the hairdresser. I'd be upset if you were judging him or me by assuming I'd broken lockdown to get it cut.
OP if he's worried about it then would you have another go at cutting it? If it already looks very untidy you won't make him look worse. Just watch lots of demos on YouTube first and take your time. Can his hairdresser give you any tips about dealing with his double crown? I agree the teachers definitely shouldn't be strict about hair rules but it's more about him feeling self conscious about it.

Original poster
thereinmadnesslies · 25/02/2021 15:41

Thanks all. I would have expected the school to show common sense, but the comments from teachers have worried me. It wasn’t a gentle comment, it was a ‘you need to get your hair cut’ comment. Annoyingly the school has a gender- specific hair policy, so girls can have long hair while boys hair has to be off ears and collars. I kinda don’t feel I should be having to email school; they should anticipate this issue.

OP posts:
Fortherosesjoni70 · 25/02/2021 15:42

@thereinmadnesslies

Thanks all. I would have expected the school to show common sense, but the comments from teachers have worried me. It wasn’t a gentle comment, it was a ‘you need to get your hair cut’ comment. Annoyingly the school has a gender- specific hair policy, so girls can have long hair while boys hair has to be off ears and collars. I kinda don’t feel I should be having to email school; they should anticipate this issue.
In that case complain!! That is ridiculous.
Fortherosesjoni70 · 25/02/2021 15:43

Well I would email or phone. I think that is utterly ridiculous and they many not be aware that their staff are saying this.

Fortherosesjoni70 · 25/02/2021 15:44

*may not

NoSquirrels · 25/02/2021 15:51

@thereinmadnesslies

Thanks all. I would have expected the school to show common sense, but the comments from teachers have worried me. It wasn’t a gentle comment, it was a ‘you need to get your hair cut’ comment. Annoyingly the school has a gender- specific hair policy, so girls can have long hair while boys hair has to be off ears and collars. I kinda don’t feel I should be having to email school; they should anticipate this issue.
I think if it’s already an issue that’s affecting your DS negatively then it’s madness to not bring it up with school.

Yes - they should ‘anticipate’ this but as they clearly haven’t, already, to the point of addressing your DS whilst at home, then why wait to be further outraged when it happens at school.

Email them.

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 25/02/2021 15:52

That is ridiculous op - surely schools have got better things to worry about other than your sons hair.

Terrible that they commented on it also.

Our school sent an email out saying they understood that children wouldn’t have had their hair cut or that it’s difficult to buy school uniform and to chat to the teacher if there was a concern.

Cloudyrainsham · 25/02/2021 15:55

My sons looks awful, really long with the remaining bleach on the ends that we did in the first lockdown. Annoyingly he’s decided he loves it and doesn’t want it cut anyway when the barber re-opens.

If school say anything, they’re obviously a bit dim 🙄

Frazzled2207 · 25/02/2021 15:56

surely the vast majority of children are in a similar position . After last year's disastrous lockdown haircuts mine will be going in shaggy for the forseeable. They can't force haircuts when they are illegal!

Frazzled2207 · 25/02/2021 15:57

btw when teacher said you need a haircut are you sure it wasn't in jest?

Rhythmisadancer · 25/02/2021 16:04

I would complain about the comments that have already been made, and insisting that the school undertakes not to be so stupid when the kids are back in class. Might not call it stupid though - maybe "unrealistic"? It's hard enough to get students to turn their cameras on without making inappropriate personal remarks. Any teachers with freshly cut hair should be required to explain themselves! Have they not been observing lockdown?

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