13 And Wants To Color His Hair

[littlemama_28-5]

Ok I Have 6 Kids And My Oldest Boy(13) Wants To Color His Hair We Keep Telling Him He Should Wait But He Wants To Do It Any Ways Should We Just Go Ahead And Let Him Do Color It Or Make Him Wait.

[henhao]

you prob didn't meant to post this in the baby forum...

anyway, i say let him. you might as well have fun. ask him what color. you could even go with him to buy the dye.

i colored my hair as a kid. i could feel different and it's a safe way to feel different, kwim?

[kathirynne]

Imho

What colour does he want to make it? If it's not something outrageous (like green or something) then I say let him do it. (Of course my eldest son's godmother took him to get highlights when he was 10, so maybe my perspective's skewed. )

I have always been of the opinion that if kids are given (limited) autonomy over temporary things (like hair), they may be less likely to exert autonomy over something more permanent (like ear-piercing).

[la mamita]

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[Eaglevoice]

I started coloring my hair when I was around 11. Then again I grew up in Orange County and I was making my hair more blonde, so....

[lucyem]

There are lots of color choices from temporary to permanent. See if you can steer him to temporary - this just coming from the mom in me And even permanent will grow out. Let him be who he wants to be. My sister colored her hair just about every color imaginable. It was always changing all through high school.

[calicokatt]

Our rule is any natural colors may be permanent, but colors that do not naturally occur in hair (green, blue, purple, pink) must be temporary. Sometimes just the colored hairspray, so they can get a chance to see what they'll look like with neon green hair is enough to make them decide they don't like it. It's just a form of self-expression, and if he/she doesn't like it, he/she can always shave it or try a different color!

[mothragirl]

hair grows back, it's not like a tattoo

[nabigus]

I agree with the pps. Hair grows out, and 13 seems about right to me. Even if it's green or purple--hey, it's only hair. (My mom, who is by no means a purple-hair-kind-of-woman, complemented me on mine when I was a teen by saying, "oh, it's so pretty! Just like an aubergine!" Took the rebellion right out of me. I washed it out pretty soon thereafter.)

[stiles' mummy]

Originally Posted by nabigus

I agree with the pps. Hair grows out, and 13 seems about right to me. Even if it's green or purple--hey, it's only hair. (My mom, who is by no means a purple-hair-kind-of-woman, complemented me on mine when I was a teen by saying, "oh, it's so pretty! Just like an aubergine!" Took the rebellion right out of me. I washed it out pretty soon thereafter.)

nabigus, your mum is a very smart woman, nothing like agreeing with your teen to suck the rebellion right out one!!!

[Tofu the Geek]

In my opinion 13 is old enough for hair colour. DD desperately wanted orange hair when she was 7. I found some temporary colour that comes out as a mousse and we used that. It took about 2 months to wash out. She's now done pink as well. You can also get colours that wash out after one wash.

My only rule is that DD cannot do a full head colour because I refuse to let the chemicals sit on her scalp (too many hair colours have known carcinogens in them). You can use a cap or foils which allow you to do the hair while minimizing any chemical contact with the scalp.

[Shann]

I just have a simple question: why would you NOT allow him to color his hair? That seems like such an easy decision to me. 13 is plenty old enough to make decisions like that, so yes, DEFINITELY let him color it...whatever color he wants. My boys (12 and 10) have had purple hair, green hair, pink hair, etc. and it's never been an issue.

[delicious]

i would totally let him go for it. it's his hair.

my dd has had pink streaks in her hair. she's 4.

[cakefight]

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[lilsishomemade]

Oh yeh, I was dying my hair long before my 13th b-day. Actually, I made a deal with my mom, I got her to agree to letting me try temporary hair color, then gradually progressed to permanent. It let me explore with what was available and decide which color I wanted the most.

[malachi's_mommy]

I say 13 is plenty old enough. If he dosn't like it he could always choose a different color or just shave his head

[Stinkerbell]

i agree with everyone else. unless he has a job, why not??

[DawnaRose]

my 11 yr old has had pink in her hair since she was 9

We usually do the front and maybe 4 -6 inches of the bottom, no one bats an eye and she is the *only* kid in our tiny town with pink hair.
here is her hair now

I don't see the big deal about it, the way I look at it is the more open I am to listening to what she wants to do now the more open she is going to be with me later with the more "important" stuff ya know?

[alllyssa]

My 15 year old son has asked me several times to bleach his hair. I told him that if he gets straight A's he can do whatever he wants. I'm not holding my breath :-)

[zjande]

My 14yr old has vibrantly blue hair. It's awesome. Her hair's been green, purple, red, burgandy.... My parents never let me color my hair at all which enraged me (& I rebelled by dying my hair bright blue for several years in my late 20s!! ). So, I made the decision to let my dd have a lot of control over her looks (well, all the control so far- thank GOODNESS she doesn't want to dress like Paris Hilton or anything!). If we don't let our kids/teens have fun with their appearance when they're young, when will they get to?? They have their entire adult lives to be stuck with "normal" looking hair, let's let them have fun while they are young! Also, I think changing your appearance is all a healthy part of searching for your identity. It's good & it's fun. I will however ignore my own advice if my dd decides that her "identity" includes dressing like Paris.