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AIBU?

school crack down on hair colour

396 replies

mrsfuzzy · 05/09/2013 10:03

new school year and problems already! ds is 14 and like a lot of girls her age experiments with her hair, for the first time during the school hols she tried a semi permanent raspberry colour on her red hair [god knows why- ex p let her do it] anyhow i was cool with that as it doesn't look that obvious, as she washes it it becomes less obvious, however school are cracking down on these things make up, uniform etc as they did last year, but she brought a note home yesterday saying to remove the dye or steps will be taken, i wasn't fazed by this as each wash reduces the colour, but how do people 'get away' with flouting the rules about such things one girl has dyed her hair jet black with blue streaks over the hols and mum told me she is not going to remove the colour for anyone, one lad keeps one side of his head shaved in spite of repeated warnings, mum says she ignores them, i accept the school policy that's not the problem but aibu to wonder why it seems the 'easy targets get picked on' to set an example? any thoughts or similar experiences anyone?

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TheOriginalSteamingNit · 05/09/2013 10:04

Well, you don't know for sure the jet black girl will get away with it yet! Grin And if they're cracking down, it's to be hoped shaved-side-boy will be cracked down on too.

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QueenofallIsee · 05/09/2013 10:08

My DD (15) goes to a school that takes this stuff seriously..unless you are a musician/am dram/high achiever type where you seem to get away with it! There are also a few kids with families who would be down there like a shot and they seem to get away with it too!

My DD is not one for flouting the rules and though she has had highlights etc, they are a 'natural' colour so has has not fallen foul of it. I would never say so to her but we live in a very middle class area, the school is scores highly on all the tables and I am secretly of the view that there are bigger problems the in the world than mascara/streaks or skirt lengths! Can't help it, seems like a waste of time and energy

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daftdame · 05/09/2013 10:08

Maybe they'll make them wear a school hat/cap to cover up? How embarrassing would that be?! Grin

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mrsfuzzy · 05/09/2013 10:09

i don't want to sound bitchy but jet black girl was blonde last year with bright pink streaks thought the year but my ds was told to get his hair cut because it was 3cm over his collar within a day of starting in year 10, just can't figure this out.

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meditrina · 05/09/2013 10:09

You'll drive yourself mad if you try to second guess what the school will do in respect of unrelated pupils apparently infringing rules (though I suppose with hair it's more obvious to see what is going on than with other disciplinary issues). Also, you can't police the attitude other parents have to school rules.

Happy hair washing over the next few days! Hope it's all out soon!

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mrsjay · 05/09/2013 10:10

I get you DD was pulled up when she was in high school for a non uniform violation it was a roasting hot day and she wore black 3/4 shorts to school they sent her home to change, yet girls can wear bum hugging skirts and that was fine, Hmm I dont really know what the school can do about hair dye or shaved heads though they cant make the hair grow or make them strip colour out, DD has purple hair ATM it is fading her school is fine with hair I think but they dont allow face piercings yet I see teenagers with metal in their face walking past my house to go to school,

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MamaTo3Boys · 05/09/2013 10:12

They were cracking down on hair colour when I was at school (10years ago)

I was sent out of my first GCSE exam because I had blue streaks in my hair. I had to dye my hair to cover up the blue streaks so I could do the rest of my exams. Then my dad had to pay for me to re-sit the exam I missed Confused

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Crinkle77 · 05/09/2013 10:13

I really don't understand the fuss that some schools make about dyed hair. Surely there are better things for them to be concerened about.

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SPsTotallyMullerFuckingLicious · 05/09/2013 10:15

I got sent home when I was in high school for having pink in my hair.

My old high school is now apparently handing face wipes out at the school gate so girls have to take all their make up off!

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mrsjay · 05/09/2013 10:15

you would think crinkle if kids turn up have uniform on and do what they have to do why are they getting all het up about a bit of hair dye,

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mrsjay · 05/09/2013 10:17

oh I remember the school nurse when I was in Highschool used to have a bottle of something It stank to the high heaven. making girls take make up off, TBH i dont like dd wearing make up to school she goes a bit too emo Grin and it is all down her face by the time she gets home sigh so wears very little if any to school

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fluffyraggies · 05/09/2013 10:19

Had this convo with DD yeterday - about hair, make up, jewelery etc. at school.

Personally i think it's perfectly fair for the school to say no to bright nail varnish, big jewelery, lots of make up and high fashion clothes.

DD has fallen foul of the tight trouser and bright nail varnish bits of the above over the last couple of years and complained bitterly to me.

I don't agree with the school dictating about hair though (with the possible exception of hair being so thick and long over the eyes that the pupil can't see!)(which doesn't happen).

Why should boys have to have their hair short? Why can't hair be coloured?

The make up, clothes and nail varnish rules help teach the pupils that there might be times when they will have to please an employer, and that there are times and places for high fashion. They can put all the bling back on when they get back home if they want to.

Clamping down on hair colour is OTT IMO though. It means they have to spend their whole school year conforming, day and night and weekends too.

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addictedtofarmville · 05/09/2013 10:20

I think if the school has rules then all pupils should be made to adhere to them. I would be kicking up a fuss and going to the governers if my child was told off about their hair colour but other children were getting away with having similar colours.

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LadyBigtoes · 05/09/2013 10:21

Arggh this kind of thing is so stupid! How, exactly how can your hair colour or length have anything whatsoever to do with your ability or behaviour (except perhaps to indicate that you are particularly individual or creative - not bad things)?

And letting girls have long hair but not boys is surely a form of gender discrimination that the European Court on Human Rights would take a v. dim view of.

As an adult, but especially if I was a teenager, this is exactly the kind of thing that would make me have zero respect for the school. And especially as you say when it's patchily enforced, making it even more unfair.

I would simply say quite clearly that while x y and z are allowed to do it you don't see why your DC have to change, and anyway, are the school really intending to block the way to someone having an education because of their hair. Is that really their priority? And I do hope none of the teachers dye their hair at all. Hmm Hmm Hmm

Racist t-shirts, or anything obscene, yes, they should be banned, in line with the law. Hair dye? - grow up!

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dopeysheep · 05/09/2013 10:23

I think it is a bit mad to worry about dyed hair. I think uniforms are ok because it takes away the competitive side of dressing up for your peers and gives some sort of grudging team spirit.
But who cares what colour their hair is?

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MrsBucketxx · 05/09/2013 10:24

Lady my thoughts exactly. Jf the secondary school tries this with my children ill home school.

They take piss who do these head teachers think they are.

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mrsjay · 05/09/2013 10:24

eldest dd friend at school was asked to get his hair cut several times apparently the school thought it was restricting his vision Confused I agree with fluffy about make up etc but hair is taking it to far, next there will be regulation haircuts, maybe the teachers who dye their hair to cover grey should stop and fall in line with school rules

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ManifestoMT · 05/09/2013 10:26

My friend had to sit her a levels in a swimming cap as she had dyed her hair.

The dyed hair would be a distraction to the other girls apparently.

1978 in all girls convent school.
That's nuns for you!
Nowt changes

We also got sent home if we came in to the school gate with snow on our blazers as
"we had been acting the goat in public and uniform and bringing the school into disrepute"
Our skirt length was measured
We knelt on the floor the hem should touch the floor
"We have no prostitures in this school"
Irish nun

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MrsBucketxx · 05/09/2013 10:28

Thats a great point mrsjay.

Cant see lots of salt and pepper teachers can you?

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ManifestoMT · 05/09/2013 10:29

I wouldn't mind but it was in the time when older ladies would put weird rinses in their hair and the office staff had loads of ladies of a certain age with purple and blue rinses

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QuintessentialOldDear · 05/09/2013 10:29

But do all these girls with hair coloured in all these unnatural colours not see how extremely ugly it is? These colours dont flatter the face or skin colour/complexion of anybody really, so why do they do it?

Personally, I think the school should just let them get on with it. If teenagers wants to make themselves look like ugly little <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=netdna.copyblogger.com/images/two-trolls.jpg&imgrefurl=www.copyblogger.com/troll/&h=650&w=755&sz=246&tbnid=R3jwokw3Vxat-M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=108&zoom=1&usg=__UuNdQPnS9sGqPivyosNryfVr6KU=&docid=7LV0x6UZ6WXVDM&sa=X&ei=wU4oUpjSFsWshQerlYDQAw&sqi=2&ved=0CGQQ9QEwBw&dur=1008" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">trolls, why not.

I suspect they would not bother if the school was ok with it.

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GrimmaTheNome · 05/09/2013 10:29

It is a bit of a strange thing to get aerated about. DDs school has a rule that hair 'must be of a natural colour' - so they can do a bit of dyeing/highlighting. AFAIK most of the girls are happy with this (its an all girls school).

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mrsjay · 05/09/2013 10:32

because it is fun quint and they like to do it personally i dont think orange foundation flatters skin tone but girls/women do it and seriously ugly little trolls Shock

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GhostsInSnow · 05/09/2013 10:32

Had a similar issues yesterday. Head of zone said DD needed to 'Tone down her hair'. Its a gingery red, could well be a natural colour. As this was going on another girl wandered past with bright green hair. Teacher saw other girl and ignored her.

I've come to the conclusion with her school if the child is in the top sets they will be pulled up about anything and everything. Children who's Mothers come into school screaming like fishwives also seem to be able to wear what they want and do what they like with their hair.
On my drive in this morning I've seen a girl with blue hair and a knicker skimming skirt yet DD was told off for wearing the wrong type of trousers.

I'm all for enforcing uniform policies if it is done consistently and fairly. Don't just pick on the higher set kids, don't ignore those who you knows parents will kick up a stink.

She's year 11 now, I have 8 more months of tongue biting.

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MrsBucketxx · 05/09/2013 10:34

Quint where you ever young, I have been every colour under the sun.

I think it looks great, some of the reds blues are gorgeous, Kelly osbournes lilac hair is the one I covert.

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