Parents of teens - their haircuts

[undertheradar]

DS-17, is a football player and it is funny to watch how short the hair gets as the compete in passing leagues all Summer. Some holdouts keep it long, but it gets very hot in full gear in August. The boosters could have a cut-a-thon with all the hair that comes off the players the first week of full pads. My son wears a buzz cut year round.

 

[scrapquitler]

When I was growing up the rule was: no piercings, no tatoos, no stupid behavior, but your hair...well, your hair was JUST hair. As long as it was clean and combed, that was fine. The style was up to us.

My Mom always said "Hey, if you want a pink mohawk, go ahead. Its not my problem if you look stupid. But remember, if you look stupid, people might treat you like they think YOU ARE stupid."

She also said, "Hey, its just hair, it will eventually grow out, or can be restyled".

My brothers had some ugly ugly hairstyles (hey, it was the 80s afterall, even the 'good styles' were ugly). One of them had blue hair for a while. The other had looong hair. They look completely normal now.

If a battle over the hairstyle is the biggest issue, you are doing well

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Mine are 10 and 8. I let them wear their hair anyway they want during the school year, as long as it conforms to the school requirements. DS10's is pretty long for a boy. If they wanted a mohawk in the summer, I would let them have one. But come September, it would have to be cut to the requirements at school. The only cut I would wince at would be a buzz cut, I just don't like them. But if that's what they wanted, it would certainly be easier for all of us to keep up with. Oh yeah, and a mullet..the mullet would probably be one of our battles.

I have been trying to talk DS8 into putting some color in his hair this summer, I think it would be fun. he is a NO GO on that one.

If they wanted an ear pierced, I would let them. They are chickens and won't do it.

 

[4greatboys]

My 2 oldest are 18 and 20. I never told them how to wear their hair. The have had it super short, highlighted, dyed and now they both have long hair. Hair is just hair, it grows back. My 18 yr old went through a period years ago where he painted his fingernails black. That didn't bother me either. They have also been free to get a piercing if they wanted one--neither did. And they have also dressed however they liked. Their dad (my ex) cried and griped about every single thing they did. If you don't look like him then something is wrong with you


I feel like parents should pick their battles. For me important issues were:how you treat others (parents, siblings, friends), grades, drugs and making sure I could walk through their rooms without needing a shovel.

 

[KikiFan]

My daughter is involved in several activities that limit what she can do with her hair. But she's been itching to do something "fun" with her hair. So I've been thinking that I'll let her this summer. In fact we've been talking about the two of us getting purple streaks in our hair for the Disney trip. It really is only hair and it grows back.

I figure this age (13) is one of the rare times in her life she won't have to worry what potential bosses might think. Let her have fun.

I'm curious what the reason is for requiring the girls to have long hair?

 

[CathrynRose]

I can respect your opinion and it makes no difference to me. I'm just kinda baffled (coming from the mom of a son with a mohawk )

I dont understand the long hair on girls thing, either.

But again - Ive got boys with hair longer then mine.

If a battle over the hairstyle is the biggest issue, you are doing well

Thats my thought on it, too.

 

[ozarkmom]

My hair rule is: it has to be clean.

Beyond that, being the mom of two teenagers - hair is the very least of my worries.

Both have long hair.

ditto

 

[CathrynRose]

DS-17, is a football player and it is funny to watch how short the hair gets as the compete in passing leagues all Summer. Some holdouts keep it long, but it gets very hot in full gear in August. The boosters could have a cut-a-thon with all the hair that comes off the players the first week of full pads. My son wears a buzz cut year round.

When my son was in football, it cracked me up to watch him pull his helmet off and this mop of hair was all up under neath it.

Then this year, in track, I'd laugh as I saw him coming around the bend.....with his hair blowing in the wind.

 

[4greatboys]

I'm curious what the reason is for requiring the girls to have long hair?

that is odd. I have also wondered what the big deal was with letting girls shave their legs if they are hairy However thats a whole other fun thread.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Well mine aren't teens yet (DD11 and DS9) BUT I really don't care how they wear their hair. My rules are that it must be clean and if they choose a style which requires styling THEY are responsible for working with the stylist to learn how to do so and letting me know what product they need for it. Also, I will only pay for basic cuts every 10 weeks or so (so if they want highlights or the like they can finance--but I would help color something at home if they wanted). So far they both have very conservative styles. The only "unusual" thing hairwise either has done is DS gets a hair wrap on every trip to WDW. DD had her ears pierces but let them close and DS does not want earrings but I would be okay with that also (but other piercings or tatoos would bug me and I would ask them to wait on those until they grew up). Tempory things like hair and nails (DS has polished nails as often as not) do not bother me at all.

 

[sacall]

I will not fight about hair - but is must be combed and clean, that is my only rule.

My oldest dd, who is eleven, wanted to get pink streaks in her hair. I told her if she got all A's on her report, she could get them done. Last quarter, she got all A's and she got pink streaks in her hair. We even had to get it done twice, since it faded out after the first wash. Her hairdresser did them again at no cost. She was really sweet

We did get a lot of ribbing from our friends about letting her do that to her hair, but I really don't care. My dd has been having medical problems since she was around 8. No one could figure out what was going on with her. This past February, we finally got our answer. She was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and spent a week in the hospital. But, she still managed to get all of her homework done, and get all A's.

So, really in the long run, coloring her hair - no big deal to me. I'm just glad she is healthy now and feeling good.

Stacy

 

[Chipmunk89]

I feel that as long as DS8 keeps up his grades. He can wear his hair however he likes it. Right now he has it long (this is my favorite), but if he wanted a 'hawk, or a crew, or even shaved. I would be Okay with it.


However, I would have to put my foot down if he ever wanted a MULLET!!!!!!!!

PS That's my son in my avatar.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I feel that as long as DS8 keeps up his grades. He can wear his hair however he likes it. Right now he has it long (this is my favorite), but if he wanted a 'hawk, or a crew, or even shaved. I would be Okay with it.


However, I would have to put my foot down if he ever wanted a MULLET!!!!!!!!

PS That's my son in my avatar.

I love his hair...

 

[hentob]

Dh would prefer it longer and my oldest dear daughter just meets his requirement..

Why? Just curious.

 

[hentob]

She was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and spent a week in the hospital.

At 8

Oh, honey That choked me up a bit. Poor baby. I wish her well

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I pay for it, I dictate it. If my kids wants to save up his money for a wacky haircut and discreet piercings (less discreet and tatoos fall under a different argument) then they can knock themselves out. Personally, as a kid, I had a lot better things to do with my allowance.

 

[Capn Jack]

Our girls must have their hair past their shoulders. Dh would prefer it longer and my oldest dear daughter just meets his requirement.

Please tell me your dds don't have very thick hair. I remember the headaches I used to get the one time I grew my hair past my shoulders. Ouch!

 

[Chipmunk89]

Please tell me your dds don't have very thick hair. I remember the headaches I used to get the one time I grew my hair past my shoulders. Ouch!

Oh my goodness. I remember those "hair headaches". Too tight of ponytails and those plastic headbands gave me headaches all the time.

 

[4forMe]

DH and I really don't care what the boys want to do with their hair. So far, it has not come up. Several of the boys at school have mohawks, and it wouldn't bother us in the least. Our feeling it that it's hair and it will grow back.

When DH and I where dating in college (back in the day), my friend cut his hair one weekend. He went from having a part in his hair to having his hair all spiked up. When he went home for the weekend, his mother saw him and started crying over his haircut (no, I'm not kidding here). His dad became very upset, they argued, and he tried to physically go after my DH (yes, tried to punch him). DH was 19 at the time and all of this was over a haircut which I felt (and still feel) was ridiculous. Talk about control issues. Thus, we've known for a long time that hair and the way it's cut and colored will be the least of our concerns with our kids.

 

[tasha99]

DD15 was born a rebel.I allow her to have whatever hairstyle she likes, including color. I went so far once as to dred her hair--only to have her change her mind 2 weeks later. It wasn't too late since it came out with some conditioner, but I'd spent 10 HOURS teasing it into very narrow dreds. What a waste of time that was!

As for piercings, she's got her ears, eyebrow, and nose. I've said no to the tongue because I won't be responsible for an accident or infection, and the labret (because I think they're ugly).

DS10 has much stricter rules. He goes to a Catholic school and per their dress code, he'll have short hair and no piercings till he's graduated. Poor kid.

My oldest son is almost 18, but mostly lived with his dad after we split. No rules for him, but he's going into the army this summer, so any rebellion better get done with quick!