It is Just Hair

Some people really care about hair - like life or death care. If their hair is too long, then it is the end of the world. If it is too short, then might as well just stay home. If their hair is not exactly how they want it, then they are going to have to get it done immediately. For whatever reason, hair is really important to some people. There is nothing wrong with that, but if you are one of those people then you need to keep your judgement to yourself.

Hair is something that is personal to each individual. They can do their hair how they want to and it shouldn’t have any meaningful effect on you. If you find that you’re irrationally bothered by someone else’s hair, then you need to figure out why. There’s really no reason that someone else’s hair should have that type of a meaningful impact on you. It’s their hair that they’ve chosen to do what they want with.

If you have kids, then you’re going to need to let them do their own hair at some point. While you’ll have a strong influence on their hairstyle while they’re still young, they will get to an age where they will want to do things with their hair that you might think are weird. Get over it and let them do it. As long as they’re not putting obscene or inappropriate messages in their hair then it doesn’t really matter.

Does your daughter want to shave her head? Please let her go ahead. Does your son want to dye his hair bright red? More power to him (assuming he can still go to school with it that way). Does your child like long hair? Great, as long as they take care of it then let them have it as long as they want. Whatever length or color that they want it shouldn’t really matter as long as they’re taking care of it.

Ideally, you’re not spending a lot of money on their hair only for them to change it all the time. If they want an expensive service done on their hair then make them save up and pay for it themselves or discuss with them the cost of it, and figure out if that’s what they really want because you’re not going to pay to have it undone the following week if they suddenly changed their minds.

If other people are judging your child’s hair, then simply shrug it off and move along. Your child’s hair isn’t their choice or up to them. They think you should cut it? Good for them. Tell them to mind their own business and move along. There’s no reason to argue with someone over the state of your child’s hair. If they’re commenting on how you should parent, you’re likely not changing their mind anyways.

Does it really matter if someone else lets their child grow their hair out or cut it? Does it really matter if they let them shave their hair? What affect is it actually going to have on you in the long term (or the short term for that matter)? Don’t comment unless you want to complement them, and just move along to something that’s more important. There are far more meaningful conversations to be had.

Let kids do what they want with their hair as long as they’re going to be responsible for it. Don’t worry about other kids’ hair.