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Original poster

My daughter wants her hair cut short

51 replies

Pollypower · 04/02/2023 12:44

Going to hairdressers today. She has long wavy hair. She is asking for very short hair - like bob length shoulder length. Im happy to get her what she wants but before I do I wanted to check if anyone has experience of their child going from long to short. Was it easier to style? Less tugs? Did your child like it.

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Ruffpuff · 04/02/2023 15:29

I’m glad you’re letting her express herself and get what she wants ☺️. She’ll be fine. If she doesn’t like it after just reminds her that hair grow a back soon enough.

I always wanted shorter hair as a child, I was never very girly. My mum wouldn’t let me cut it and kept it very long, which I hated and couldn’t manage at school.

2023istheyearigetmyacttogether · 04/02/2023 15:34

Parent of DD with curly hair here.
If it's wavy, does she want it cut into a bob because she thinks it will be easier to manage? That was my DD's thinking but it doesn't necessarily work like that. It might cut down on drying time and, if she hasn't had it cut for ages, will mean fewer split ends but it won't stop it being wavy or getting knotted. Instead, find some products which help with that. That might be a long process but it might be the better solution.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 04/02/2023 15:42

DD had long hair. We had lots of fights about caring for it. Aged about 7, she had it cut into a Bob just long enough to tie into a short pony tail for football. Between chin and shoulders. That's been her style ever since - she's 11 now.

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Stickmansmum · 04/02/2023 15:44

My girls have had bobs most their lives. Wayyyyyy easier to wash, brush style. One of them got a boy cut when she was 5. She looked cool but grew it back out next time.

I don’t know why girls are socially encumbered with long hair.

TheGoodEnoughWife · 04/02/2023 16:23

@JustFrustrated exactly the right attitude.

OP that isn't even 'very short hair' but it is her hair and I agree with others, she should have control on how she wants her hair.

Singleandproud · 04/02/2023 16:33

DD has had a pixie cut since she was in year 2 and has gone even shorter since starting at Secondary school and has a No. 3 back and sides with longer on top. She has always appreciated being allowed to do what she likes with her hair, although does face some idiots making comments as it's so short. For her it was a sensory thing, didn't like having her hair brushed and put up in a bun for ballet when little and then she went shorter because she doesn't like the feel of her hair on her neck.

Your DD will have less knots and it'll be easier for her to look after herself giving her some independence.

ladygindiva · 04/02/2023 16:41

My DD (6) has my thick , coarse, wavy hair and has gone to a collar length bob and it is so better for brushing etc. Still just long enough to scrape into a little ponytail when required though.

MarshaBradyo · 04/02/2023 16:43

How old is she?

Dd has shoulder length hair rather than long as it knots easily, it’s much easier on her and I think it looks really good

moleeye · 04/02/2023 16:44

My 8 year old had waist length hair and when she was about 6.5 asked for it to be chopped off into a bob.

Looked great on her and grew back quickly.

It's just hair, it'll grow back.

plumduck · 04/02/2023 16:45

That's not "very short" you've got issues if this is causing you so much concern tbh.

Toddlingturtle · 04/02/2023 16:46

DD had short hair from about 10-12 it looked bloody awful and I hated it. It was her hair though and she was happy

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 04/02/2023 16:53

It grows back, so if she doesn't like it after it's cut it doesn't matter all that much.

My DD has absolutely gorgeous hair but it was hard to deal with because of the curls and she didn't like that people were always commenting on it. She wanted it all cut off aged about six and kept it very short for years. She's a teenager now and has it below her shoulder blades because she can care for it herself.

DelphiniumBlue · 04/02/2023 16:57

Glad to see you are encouraging her, and even if she doesn't like it, it' temporary, it will grow again!
I notice in the school I work in, more of the girls are having bobs but I haven't seen a girl with a pixie cut for a long time.

LookingOldTheseDays · 04/02/2023 17:00

She is asking for very short hair - like bob length shoulder length.

Shoulder length isn't "very short". It's not even "short" (without the very).

I think you're making this into a big deal when it doesn't need to be.

Beamur · 04/02/2023 17:01

DD had long curly/wavy until she was about 9, hated the knots and tangles.
Had it cut to shoulder length, then short bob, now it's a pixie.
Really suits her but she is a rarity and few girls have short hair at the moment.

SazCat · 04/02/2023 17:02

My almost 6 year old had hers cut from what sounds like a similar length to your DD last autumn.

I persuaded her to do it in a couple of stages, just past shoulder at first then a short bob a couple of months later.

She did love it and I've found it so much easier to wash! Def less luggy and easier to brush too.

But... she has now decided she wants to grow it again as she misses having plaits Grin.

JimnJoyce · 04/02/2023 17:07

DD13 had just had her hair cut very short? it was shoulder blade length before. Also had it dyed black

TwoBlueFish · 04/02/2023 17:08

I had mine cut at about age 7 or 8 from being able to sit on it to short and I cried (was my choice) was much easier to manage. I did get used to it but it was a big shock.

See if there’s somewhere she can donate her hair to.

I grew mine out again and didn’t get it cut again for about 5 years.

Starfishandreefs · 04/02/2023 17:12

My DD16 has very long hair and when she was 12 she nagged me to have it cut to a chin length Bob. It looked lovely but i was reluctant. I gave in as i thought if she doesnt like it then her hair will grow. My DD has since grown her hair long and it looked lovely long or short.

itsme432 · 04/02/2023 17:18

My daughter had nearly waist length hair.
She had it cut above her shoulders last year, I was dubious but I told her it was her hair, her choice!

She loved it and was so much softer/easier to brush ect.

She's now growing it out again, but will probably change her mind and have it cut again in the near future.

Through the years shes also choose to have a full fringe and side fringe and I just go with the flow.

Hair grows back, she has fun experiment and likes a change, think it makes her feel more grown up having that bit of control. She's now 9

smileladiesplease · 04/02/2023 17:20

Let her decide that was my policy with all my children girls and boys. Hair/clothes matters not.

Piercings were allowed past 14. Tattoos17 in my experience if you don't make it a big deal they make sensible choices.

Original poster
Pollypower · 04/02/2023 17:29

She’s 6. She got her bob and is so pleased. It really suits her.

OP posts:
smileladiesplease · 04/02/2023 17:48

Aw lovely that's nice to hear

SarahAndQuack · 04/02/2023 20:04

Pollypower · 04/02/2023 17:29

She’s 6. She got her bob and is so pleased. It really suits her.

Aw, that's lovely! FWIW I think it's totally sensible to wonder if it'll be ok at this age - you want them to be happy, don't you? And it is a bit of a shock the first time you have a dramatic change.

SazCat · 04/02/2023 20:35

That's great. Similar age to my DD! I was a bit apprehensive as mine had always liked hers long. But like you I wanted to let her make her own decision. Hair will always grow back!
Glad she likes it tho 👍

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