DD(5) wants 5 inches of hair cut off

[ThePastKnocks]

She's told me what she wants and we've looked at pictures. She seems so sure but I'm concerned it'll be cut off and she'll be unhappy with it. She's sensitive and I don't want her to worry about her appearance already.

Let her do it and celebrate it with her. Don't let her pick up on any misgivings you might have.

Body autonomy is important, hair grows, if she doesn't like it, you will need to be positive about it, "oh I wonder what fancy accessories we could get for your new look!

My DD wanted this and I suggested she did it in two stages. She had 3 inches off and liked it, so then didn’t want to have the rest off. Gives her the chance to get used to it quite a bit shorter without going all the way there all at once.

You could go 2.5 and say if she likes it she can go shorter next time. Personally I would go for it. For better or worse I have always allowed my children free reign on hair decisions.

It will grow back if she doesn't like it.

I would double check she understands how long it takes hair to grow but otherwise I wouldn’t worry. At this age they want some autonomy and hair doesn’t actually matter.

When I was little I always wanted really short hair and my mum would NEVER let me have it shorter than shoulder length. Guess what I did the first time I went to the hairdressers by myself?

Do it the way she wants. If she decides she doesn't like it, it will grow back.

One of my friends was quite determined to keep her daughter's hair long - she asked for years to have it cut, and the child cut her own hair on a couple of occasions as well. If you really think there is a possibility that your child (not you) might not like it, I'd get it cut in two stages as others have suggested.

I agree, let her be in charge, and do it in two stages if unsure Do it yourself if cost is an issue

Hair grows back. I can't understand the angst about cutting it.

My daughter has been growing her hair for years and celebrating how long it is. Then last week suddenly decided she wanted a Bob with a fringe. Left it a week and kept checking and then went for the snip! 8" on their way to the little princess trust for another girl to have a wig made and she loves her new do! It will grow back!

Hair grows back, maybe do it in stages like someone else mentioned.

The OP said her DD is sensitive about her appearance. Hair does grow back, but it does take a long time - and that feels like an eternity when you’re young.

My DD wanted hers cut short until I told her how long it would take to grow back if she changed her mind. Stages are a good call if she's not sure.

I understand the reason for doing it in stages but the message it sends is that the daughter isn’t the best judge of what happens to her body, which isn’t what you’d usually try to do with a young girl.

Let her cut it. It's her hair.

When she has it done say "wow! Look at you!" That's all you have to do.

If she doesn't like it there are clips, head bands and hats.

FFS, it is hair. It grows back.

You are the one worrying about her appearance.

Let her try it.

Cut the hair on a barbie doll together and see how she reacts. If she expects it to grow back on command she might not have understood how hair cuts work.
She needs to understand that it will take a long long time to grow back. Once she understands that, absolutely let her cut her hair short. It’s her hair. And hair cuts are temporary:

I'd let her do it. It's her hair, and having shorter hair is a hardly radical thing to do. People are so used to girls and women having to have long hair now that it seems a big deal, when it really isn't. When I was a child (70s and 80s) there was none of this identikit female stuff - girls had short hair, long hair, pink hair, perms, etc, etc, etc. Nobody turned a hair (sorry) or believed that being female meant conforming to a certain way to look.

This is a non-issue, so don’t make it into one. Hair grows. If she doesn’t like it shorter, she can wait two months. Problem solved.

I can't imagine spending any time worrying over a 5yos hair beyond how practical it is. A 5yo isn't sensitive about their appearance unless they've been taught to be.

I would reconsider just letting her do it!! My dd at age 5 wanted a fringe cutting in I took her got it done next day she was in tears as she hated it asked me to just cut it off, thankfully a headband worked wonders untill it started growing out.

Agree.

She's 5. They aren't always the best judges at that age, simply down to a lack of experience. I've made some less-than-stellar hair choices myself on occasion when I was a lot older!

I won't say too much but it goes beyond normal sensitivity for DD, it's got nothing to do with me at all. I give her choices for everything I can and I'm happy to respect her wishes but I don't want to make the troubles she's experiencing any worse by a haircut. It'll feel like a big thing for her.

Doing it in stages sounds good.

Well, my 2 DD's wanted this and hated it and now their hair is well down their backs. I let them make the decision and then they dealt with it. X