At what age allow highlights/hair treatments?

[Anonymous]

My DD 12 has a very pretty hair color (auburn) and it’s pretty straight. Would you allow her to get highlights and a body wave/perm?

I am worried about opening Pandora’s box of expensive hair treatments.

[Anonymous]

I worry about the chemicals. Too many cancer links. Thankfully my kids only asked casually once or twice but weren't really pushing for it yet.

[Anonymous]

I do my dd's highlights myself, started when she was 16. It looks fantastic and she gets compliments all the time, people think it's her natural hair color (her hair is normally a neutral light brown and this adds a lot of dimension). I would not pay for it at a salon. It's an extremely expensive routine to get into and really not rocket science to do well at home. Not sure I would do it on auburn hair though as it sounds very nice as is.

[Anonymous]

High school, not before

[Anonymous]

Thanks!
We actually go to an organic salon (they cover my jet black hair that is coming in gray) much better than the expensive salons I used to go to.

But yeah, I think you are all right. I will wait until she can’t live without it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High school, not before

I've been holding my middle schooler off with a "no treatments before high school" rule. She really wants highlights. I barely like to pay for them myself and it seems ludicrous but whatever.

[Anonymous]

When they can pay themselves (not being sarcastic).

[Anonymous]

Wouldn’t allow any. They can get and pay for it when they are an adult.

[Anonymous]

I've told my DDs that they can get professional highlights when they can pay for the upkeep themselves and drive themselves to the salon every 6-8 weeks in their own car.

[Anonymous]

Not on my dime. We have fine and delicate hair, and if she wants to damage it, it should be her own decision and money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When they can pay themselves (not being sarcastic).

+1 This is my position too. It's such an expensive habit to get into and I don't want to support it. I don't get my own hair highlighted so it's not even an expense that I'm used to.

I'd be more inclined to let DD play around with a body wave or perm than to get used to highlights.

[Anonymous]

My teen DD has beautiful, healthy hair. If she wants body, she'll braid it a bit damp before bed. No need for expensive anything. She should enjoy her healthy, young hair for as long as it lasts.

Highlights and treatments are to mask aging hair.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, maybe once or twice for a special treat but like others, I don’t want to encourage starting this habit.

Will you support it all through college? Will they work to support that? It is so expensive these days; it literally would take them hours and hours to pay for it. They can choose to spend their money that way when they are supporting themselves.

If you have tons of money and will pay for it moving forward, go for it. Otherwise, it’s a luxury that adults can choose to pay for.

[Anonymous]

That’s DEFINITELY a “when you can afford it yourself” in our house.

[Anonymous]

It absolutely does open up Pandora’s box to expensive beauty treatments. Don’t do it.