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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:

Woodlandbelle · 25/02/2021 16:06

I can't believe the teachers commented on something so trivial during a lesson under the circumstances. I would certainly write an email explaining the situation and how sensitive your son feels.

ouchmyfeet · 25/02/2021 16:23

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE

Honestly no explanation should be needed

Hairdressers are closed. End of.

This

LadyCatStark · 25/02/2021 16:47

DS looks like an alpaca 😂 he’s always has it longer on top and he has really tight ringlet curls. There’s absolutely no way I could cut it, it requires a specialist! There’s no way he can brush it either, it would go like candy floss.

croci · 25/02/2021 17:23

Some older boys at DS's school seem to have short back and sides (as achieved with basic knowledge of home clippers wielded by a sibling or parent) and then very very long on top - so long it needs tying in a bun!

Boph · 25/02/2021 17:29

Well my DS is a teacher and will virtually need a pony tail!
His hairstyle before lockdown was buzz cut around the sides and long floppy hair on top (I know, I hate it too). He has managed to keep the sides tidy with clippers but the top is now very long. I could do a reasonable job but he doesn't live with me so can't help him.

If you use proper hair cutting scissors it's actually much easier than you think. DH says he will never bother with a barber again so I can't have done too badly.

Randomschoolworker19 · 25/02/2021 17:34

I work in a school.

Absolutely stupid comments. No hair dressers are open.

I've commented on hair in my class (primary) but it has been in a commiserating way since my hair is a mess too. One of the boys recently started sporting a man bun and I commented it looked cool. Honestly we've had a bit of a laugh and it's sort of become a bit of a competition to see who can have the wildest lockdown hair.

goldpendant · 25/02/2021 19:15

Nothing you can do!

If you wanted to have a go.... my son is similar, thick, wild, wavy hair with a double crown!

Clippers; only for the nape of the neck and sides - grade 4. Take it easy.

Scissors; get some hairdressers scissors on amazon and slowly chip into the mop on top- it'll take shape. We leave the top front longer so that he can quiff it up/side wards.

Frazzled2207 · 25/02/2021 21:09

@croci

Same round here! They all have topknots! I suppose fairly easy to keep tidy with clippers but I hope my sons don’t choose this style when older!

Beebityboo · 25/02/2021 21:13

10YO DS has always liked his hair long, over lockdown it is now at his shoulders and he wants me to just stick it in a pony tail for when he goes back to school so he can keep growing it a bit more. I'm now wondering whether he'll get teased and picked on? He assures me he won't...what a minefield, it's just bloody hair!

peak2021 · 25/02/2021 21:14

Just make sure it is washed regularly.

If the school is unpleasant, drop the Chair of Governors a note.

Beebityboo · 25/02/2021 21:14

YY to the new style of a man bun on the top and shaved sides, that's why DS is confident his ponytail would be ok as a boy in his class has a hairstyle like that.

croci · 25/02/2021 21:15

Must be a new fashion. Took me a bit by surprise but we have been shielding so are behind the times.

I think the pupils and teachers should enjoy looking less than perfect for a few weeks while there is a good excuse. Plenty of time for smart haircuts when there is less virus around.

orangenasturtium · 25/02/2021 21:18

@chantelleeexox1

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

Go to the Classifieds section, there is a subsection called NFP Surveys and you can post requests for people to take part in academic research, @chantelleeexox1

FunnyWonder · 25/02/2021 21:24

DS1 is 12 and likes his hair long, but it is now a big, thick, black trianglular shaped affair. Even he thinks it's too long (and correspondingly wide). But if I so much as mention the clippers stashed in my wardrobe, he says 'Help me someone' and edges out of the room. We're in NI, so as things stand, no school for his year group until after Easter. He'll be tripping over his hair by then. Maybe I should take him to a dog groomer.

poppycat10 · 25/02/2021 21:28

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE

Honestly no explanation should be needed

Hairdressers are closed. End of.

This. If anyone makes any more comments on Zoom lessons, get him to call you over and you can tell the teacher to butt out. Yes, in public, n front of the other kids. Just how much common sense do they not have?

poppycat10 · 25/02/2021 21:29

@Rhythmisadancer

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?

Nah call it stupid, because it is. Diplomacy is too, well, diplomatic when someone is being an utter moron.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 25/02/2021 21:45

I’m a lecturer, so no dress codes or hair rules for students, and we are remote teaching until summer, but lockdown hair (including mine) is a constant topic of conversation in my classes. Is there any chance the teacher was making a joke and your son took it to heart because he is feeling self-conscious anyway?

I had a tutorial this morning where my student was in a beanie hat, and his opening line beyond hello was “I’m afraid we have reached the hat stage now” and we had a laugh together. I appreciate it is different because he/they are adults though.

Oneweekleft · 25/02/2021 22:14

My son has a double crown and fairly thick hair. I did his hair cut with an "8" clipper setting. Its the first time I've used the clippers and im pleased with the result. Used some scissors around the ears and the back of the neck. Your son can either let you do it or he'll have to deal with the comments. I would try and persuade him. I have never used clippers before and the result wasnt bad at all. Its not perfect but will get him through to April and everyone has got dodgy cuts right now. Just leave it a tiny bit longer at the front.

itsgettingwierd · 25/02/2021 22:20

I'd just teach your ds to respond politely to any comments about his hair with

"Well hairdressers are closed"

That's it.

I'd also get him to type it in chat if he has his camera in and it's commented via video.

And if school did send an email about it I'd reply quite simply

"Can you clarify you are contacting me to complain about my sons hair when the government have made it illegal for hairdressers to operate!"

And then post their reply here

MrBullinaChinaShop · 25/02/2021 22:24

Sadly, any teacher (or anyone) saying ‘you need to get a haircut’ when hairdressers are obviously closed and have been for months must be a little bit intellectually challenged and need our compassion rather than anything else.

BogRollBOGOF · 25/02/2021 22:32

DS1 just has a bob anyway. He has cows licks and double crowns and shorter hair is more messy than longer hair in a worn bog brush kind of way. Long hair pulls it down in one direction. He also has ASD so hates the feel of hair cuts and gets anxious in case of injury. I've tried a few cuts in the past year but he really doesn't trust me, and it's only at the point where he's have to have a ponytail that he succumbs.

Given that we've had no access to shops or hairdressing for at least 2.5 months at the point of school returning, possibly longer depending on local condtions or the way the November lockdown fell, schools would be utterly ridiculous to challenge hair cuts and uniform (especially shoes) until there has been a reasonable amount to time to deal with it.

RaggieDolls · 25/02/2021 22:47

Your poor DS. Surely they have to understand hairdressers are closed.

Our school have already written to say they know the school uniform supplier has furloughed all their staff, the children can't get their feet measured etc so if needs be just send them in in what fits rather than full uniform. They didn't even mention hair because it doesn't need saying.

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