I am pretty sure I've asked this question before, if this applies how old were you before your parents would allow you to color your hair? Were you disappointed in how it turned out? Did you like it once it was done? Was it difficult to return to your natural hair color? My dd who will be 15 in October wants to color her hair. She's had highlights before which I've never had a problem with. I have personally never colored my hair, although I've thought about it. She is entering ninth grade this year and is low self esteem, and she wants to have a "whole new look" for this year, (and I suppose what teenager doesn't?). She's a young minded teenager. I so want her to be happy, she doesn't want to do any unnatural colors, some type of red. Her hair is a light brown now. I know it's only hair, but I'm afraid she has second thoughts then she won't want to go to school, this is her first year of high school!! What are your thoughts on this anyone??

By My2girlygirls on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 04:46 pm:

What color is she thinking? Maybe some red "highlights" or "low lights" would look nice. Either go light with strawberry or go dark with auburn. If she is doing her whole head and not just a few pieces, I would suggest that she have at least two different colors foiled in so it looks more natural. Doing some chunky pieces in the front could be cool . Is she going to have a hairdresser do it? I would suggest it. Reds can be tricky..... but fun! I say "why not?" If she goes to a hairdresser they can always fix it!

By Debbie on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 06:13 pm:

I didn't have my hair colored until I was in my 20's. And, now I just get highlights, and they are close to my hair color. I just "brighten up" my brown hair, with carmel hightlights.

I don't have a daughter, but I would probably allow highlights at her age. I would have to think long and hard about a full color, or hightlights that are really far from her natural color. You are going to have the whole mainenance issue. If you use a hairdresser, it can get expensive. With natural highlights, they are easier to maintain, and don't need to be done as often.

By Imamommyx4 on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 06:37 pm:

45 and done by a hair stylist. But Holly gave me all the info I ever needed to know on another thread and I've been doing it myself and very pleased with my results.

By Yjja123 on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 06:44 pm:

I think experimenting with hair is all part of growing up. I certainly did. My 12 year old daughter recently had pink highlights (that wash out after a few months). For me, hair is one of the "pick your battles things". It isn't worth fighting about. My son had a mohawk and realized he didn't like being stared at. It was a great lesson. If you choose to be different you WILL get attention. He now has his hair spiked (fairly normal).
I think brown to red is fairly easy and will certainly be a fun make-over.

By Crystal915 on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 07:12 pm:

I started dyeing my hair around 12, 8th grade. It was one of those things my mom refused to let me do, and I snuck off and did it at a friend's house. I agree with Yvonne, it's a choose your battle thing.

By Vicki on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 07:43 pm:

If she has low self esteem and this could help build up her confidence, I would be taking her in a heart beat! It is only hair. If she hates it, it can be colored back to her natural color or allow it to grow out. Not a big deal at all in my book!!

By Tsa on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 08:19 pm:

It is just hair, it grows back. You can get color that washes out in 8 washes, or you can get color that lasts 2 months+. To me it is a sign of independence and it can be changed relatively easily. Good Luck.

By Kaye on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 11:12 pm:

Let me start with, I would let her do it, it is just hair.

However, I would be skeptical if she could really boost her selfesteem with her looks. Dr phil did a whole show about this. If she is really having issues with that, this may just be a drop in the bucket, first the hair, then what? maybe some exercise for her body, what about liposuction, etc, etc.

So yeah I would let her, but I would also just keep a close check on her and make sure she is really doing okay. If you suspect there is a real self esteem problem, then get her some counseling before things get out of hand. It might just be a hey lets try this out, and no biggie, but thought it was worth tossing out here.

By Imamommyx4 on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 11:22 am:

How about taking her to a good stylist and let her do a new style and some coloring? Get some recommendations from friends about who is really good if you don't already know somebody. A new cut can do wonders in itself.

By Karen~admin on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 11:51 am:

Ditto Yvonne & Vicki AND Kaye!

By Yjja123 on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 02:00 pm:

I think if she needs a little pick-me-up than go for it. Lets be realistic here, who hasn't had a makeover boost their spirits? When you look good, you tend to feel good.

By Mom2three1968 on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 04:39 pm:

We're going to do it ladies! Her hair is short and she is wanting to grow it out so there will just be a trim up done and then her color. I think I may even get some highlights added to my hair too, it's been awhile! Thank you for the other advice concerning her welfare, I will let you all know how she does when she goes back to school and if the new hair style goes well.

By Anonymous on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 08:42 pm:

I colored my hair at age 16 with a demi-permanent color that washed out in about 8 shampoos.
I also used HENNA many times after that & on into college. Henna is great, easy to use, inexpensive. But have to be careful to buy only henna not henna combined with another hair coloring chemical. I have brown hair and the henna put a great auburn highlights to my hair.
Of course now I am too grey to use henna. I often bought mine at a local Indian-Pakistani Grocery store. I think u should let her color her hair but only with a semi or demi-permanent.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 01:18 am:

I've never colored my hair, so I don't have an age, for when it was okay. I think elementary school aged boys, look cute, with short spiky hair and then a little bleach on the ends, so I guess I'm pretty liberal. If I had a son, I'd probably want that hairdo.

So, go for it! It might help her feel better!

By Karen~admin on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 08:39 am:

To repeat, I am of the *pick your battles* mindset. Hair can be cut, recolored, it will grow out. All of mine have done stuff with their hair that I absolutely hated or thought looked ridiculous, and some things that I thought were very flattering. It's just hair. It's a form of expression and even rebellion. Girls tend to want to do things that boost their self esteem, though not always. It's a minor thing, if you don't make a huge deal out of it, they won't either.

Once I came home from a trip to find that Jeff had dyed his hair a blueish purple color; another time both Jeff and Jen put this bright green color in their hair. HORRIBLE color for hair, but it totally matched a pretty top Jen had! ROFL It grew out, no permanent harm done.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 09:16 am:

Hair is hair.. it grows... Although, if you haven't already done it.. I am for the multi colored high lights. My hair is a strawberry blonde. I have high lights in butter scotch and low lights in a light brown put in.. They frame my face with the brown because my eyes are brown and it makes my eyes pop.. Then they blend in my natural color and the other two through out.. One thing about high lights and low lights.. It doesn't look as bad as it grows out. Full/all over color can really look bad as it grows out.. Recoloring isn't hard. At one point I was doing all over color. When I decided to go back to my natural color for my base they just matched the hair swatches to my roots and did an all over..

She could have a strawberry red and a butter scotch or even a pale blonde put in, using the strawberry blonde to frame her face. Callie's hair is dark brown/auburn and she has pale blonde and butter scotch high lights in hers..
We haven't had our hair colored in months and it still looks great...

I hope she loves it... Callie had a real boost when she had hers done.. And it looks very atracitive...

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 09:19 am:

Here is Callie's hair..

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 09:33 am:

Depending on how much you want to spend.. you could color it all over and then have them throw in a few high lights..


Is she talking bright red?? Or is she wanting a natural red?


Oh and I had my hair colored at 14 for the first time. The summer before my freshman year.. I had high lights put in and they looked bad... My mom did it and she had no clue.. I ended up with nearly white pale blonde chunky high lights and I hated it.. Almost looked like gray hair.. But it grew out and I had it done again "right".