Does hair affect a teen's behavior?

[Aisling]

When my son was 16, I noticed he wasn't getting haircuts anymore, just trims to keep it neat. He said he wanted to grow his hair shoulder-length, and that was ok with me.

Well now it's a year later, he has his a-little-longer-than-shoulder-length hair, and it looks great. The problem is that his attitude has changed and my DH blames it on the hair! My son has become more rebellious, not to a problem stage, but where I have to tell him twice to clean his room, do his home work etc. He into rockers now and carries himself with a "hey, everything's cool, man" way. Could it be the hair?? In other words, if we told him to cut his hair, do you think his "attitude" would change? I think he may be loving himself a bit too much, if you know what I mean.

 

[PatsMom]

I don't think its the hair - its just that he is a teenager.

DD hasn't changed her hair since she was about 10 years old and grew it out. But her attitude was kind of bad for a year or two!

 

[tar heel]

Good grief, no. My son got his hair cut in January, and I can't tell that he's changed. Of course, he's 21 and (mostly) over being mouthy.

 

[MomofKatie]

I know boys with short buzz cuts who have bad attitudes, and I know boys with shoulder-length or longer hair that are the sweetest kids you'd ever want to meet. It's not the hair.

 

[GeorgeG]

Sounds like a pretty typical teenage attitude. It has nothing to do with the hair except that the hair may be a by-product of the attitude.

 

[HunnyPots]

Hair is hair and nothing more. They've been trying to blame teen rebellion on hair since the 60's and it's a load of crap. FWIW, the most obnoxious teenage boy I've ever known wears his in a military style buzz cut so, what's wrong with him?
FYI, teen girls get rebellious, too. What should we blame that on?

 

[java]

I had a long haired teenager that went with Dad for a haircut and came back with a Buzz cut He walks in and says "happy valentines day mom"

Oh my little guy. Honestly I'm good long hair or not. But I do think the teachers treated him differently. Like after the haircut all of a sudden I see "Much better at organizing" on the report cards- come on really??

He's letting it grow back in a little now. We'll see what happens. And if he's cleaning his room after only 2 times asking your better than me!

 

[mjkacmom]

I'll let you know - ds11 has been growing out his hair (with some trims at the salon - LOL) for almost a year, and he's getting buzzed on Thursday! He was a much easier child last year.

 

[imabrat]

As a teenage girl, yes my hair absolutely effects my moods. I lost my hair from chemo and did nothing but shut myself in my room and sob for days. My hair grew back, and I became happier. If I get a horrible, horrible hair cut, I will be miserable and pouting.

As for teenage boys, maybe. I can't say because I'm not one. It sounds like he's just being a normal teenager though.

 

[Stitchfans]

IMO the length of the hair has nothing to do with the teen's behavior. As said I have seen some with short who are horrible and great. Also the same with long hair - horrible and great. JMO though I feel they "look" better with it shorter. Never did like males with the long hair. Just above the collar is ok IMO.

 

[StitchfansJr]

For girls, I think that it could, since they care about what they look like. (well, most of them do anyway) I don't think with a guy you could say that it affects their behavoir just because of a haircut.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

FYI, teen girls get rebellious, too. What should we blame that on?

The good-looking teenage boys and their hair! I can only imagine the kind of payback I'm going to get one day. I was such a horrible teenager! (no drugs, sex, or anything like that just mouthy, know-it-all, and FULL of attitude)

 

[minkydog]

My son has become more rebellious, not to a problem stage, but where I have to tell him twice to clean his room, do his home work etc. He into rockers now and carries himself with a "hey, everything's cool, man" way. Could it be the hair?? In other words, if we told him to cut his hair, do you think his "attitude" would change? I think he may be loving himself a bit too much, if you know what I mean.

Sure, force him to cut the hair. His attitude will change immediately.

Your son sounds like every other teenager I've ever known. They all think they are the coolest thing since hot grits at this age. It's a developmental stage--independence vs. dependence. All of us have to go through this, some to an extreme.

It is certainly within your rights to be treated respectfully. No back talk or cursing. But really, messy room? Homework? Are you sure this is the hill you wanna die on?

How about you take the "consequences" route. If homework is going undone, allow him to fail a bit. Or require him to hand over his cell phone and cut off the computer until the grades improve(I'm assuming that we're talking about Fs not Bs.) The room I wouldn't even bother--shut the door if you don't want to see it. Don't even go in there unless you suspect illegal or immoral activity.

Tell your husband to relax. In two more years your son will be out of the house, in college where he will grow his hair as long as he wants and participate in many things that you will never know about. In 2 years hair will be the least of your worries. In 10years he will be looking back at his yearbook and saying,"Man, i looked cheesy." And when he has kids of his own he'll be thanking you for not freaking out over something as silly as hair.

 

[JessicaR]

I have that same kid in my house! My son just turned 16 and also has not wanted to cut his hair since September. Its pretty long right now but it does look great on him. I noticed an attitude and wanted to blame it on the hair. Deep down I know its just a 'teen thing' and this too shall pass.

I do believe he is judged by some on his long hair. He has noticed it also more than a couple of times. I tell him to do what he likes. This is not a battle I choose to have. He is a good kid and student, he just has long hair.

 

[KristaTX]

If it's an unkempt sort of look, it's probably more likely that the attitude led to the hairstyle than the hairstyle leading to the attitude.

But then there are instances like on "What's Not To Wear". In that case the new hairstyle often affects the attitude, but in a positive way .

So maybe a bad hairstyle can make people have a bad attitude just like a good hairstyle can make people have a good attitude.

In short, I dunno .

 

[Serena]

LOL. tell dad to leave his hair alone.



No disrespect allowed, hair or no hair.

 

[sbell111]

The hair is a just symptom, it's not the disease.

 

[suprgrlx]

I think that not only is the hair not the problem, making him cut it won't improve any attitude problems at all. I would just think that it would make him angry and possibly even more rebellious. I also agree with the poster who thinks that asking your son twice to clean up his room, is hardly attitude you really have to worry about.

People have mentioned that it might be different for girls. Honestly, I think the only way you could say that hair affects your attitude, is to say that it (along with the rest of your appearance) affects your self-esteem. So do you think that shorter hair would make him feel better about himself, or do you think it will cut down his self-esteem? Since you said the hair looks great, it would only be the latter that you might accomplish, and for most teens I would think that you're better off encouraging their self-esteem.

Good luck!

 

[CPT Tripss]

Whooa! Hold the time machine . . . I'm flashing back to the Sixties. The Beatles and Stones will be the death of civilization as we know it. Get a haircut you Hippie.

Yeah . . I am that old! Well, "Hair" did get revived and there is sure to be 40th Anniversery Tours of the Woodstock geezer groups this summer.

 

[Lanshark]

My father always said, "Hair is the root of all evil." Of course he is totally bald.