Anonymous wrote:I hate that cut, personally, but if my 12 yr old grows up to do that rather than dying her whole entire head Kermit Green or Fire Engine Red I'll be happy.

I love that cut and always have! My head is too big for short hair but it has always been one of my all-time-favorite hairstyles.

Talk to DD and make sure she is happy and confident, OP. It sounds like she make the best possible "rebellion statement". She could have come home with a tattoo!

I hate that cut, personally, but if my 12 yr old grows up to do that rather than dying her whole entire head Kermit Green or Fire Engine Red I'll be happy.

Sounds normal!

That sounds normal. I have done this constantly, from my teens until now. It can be refreshing to change your hairstyle from time to time.

Good for her! It sounds adorable.

Anonymous wrote:You know, if it IS a rebellion against ballet culture, then I'm not sure that's a bad thing, either. She's at the age where a lot of the more insidious elements of the dance world take hold. If she's willing to set herself apart in this way, maybe she can also resist the damaging body image and injury issues that end many dancers' careers before they begin.

+1 I agree 100%. I do think it is a rebellion against the ballet culture and I applaud that! She can still dance without buying into the sick elements of the culture.

Anonymous wrote:I used to do this regularly, growing up. I started at 13. At least she isn't shaving parts off and dying them horrible green.

It actually sounds very elegant and she will stand out here in this land of long haired women (right through to their 60s and 70s!)

She will get noticed in her new school - that is for sure! I don't know if it means anything more than what she has told you but on a totally superficial note - I wish more young women would cut their hair short when they have the wrinkle-free skin to do a short cut justice!

You know, if it IS a rebellion against ballet culture, then I'm not sure that's a bad thing, either. She's at the age where a lot of the more insidious elements of the dance world take hold. If she's willing to set herself apart in this way, maybe she can also resist the damaging body image and injury issues that end many dancers' careers before they begin.

She may just want a change as she said - to start fresh. I would keep a close eye on her however - it sounds like a rebellion against ballet and the ballet culture more than her return to the states (although moving SUCKS).

I used to do this regularly, growing up. I started at 13. At least she isn't shaving parts off and dying them horrible green.

It actually sounds very elegant and she will stand out here in this land of long haired women (right through to their 60s and 70s!)

Cutting hair drastically like this is nearly ALWAYS a sign of inner turmoil. Seriously.

As you said, she has had a lot of transitions, and 16 is not an age where you move gracefully away from all your friends and previous routine! I moved several times to different countries as a child, and the teen move was quite difficult.

Do you have a good relationship? Be extra watchful and nurturing for a while.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a safe way to assert herself. Be proud of her!

Yep. There are a lot of ways a 16 year-old could assert her independence and this is probably one of the best/safest.

Who cares? I did the same. Give her some independence.

Sounds like a safe way to assert herself. Be proud of her!

DD will be 16 in September and is away at a ballet program for the summer. She went to a salon yesterday and had her long hair (beautiful hair) cut off into a Mia-Farrow-Rosemary's-Baby short, short, boy haircut. She is a very pretty girl and the cut is cute. However, it was so sudden and I am just wondering if it is not a rebellion against ballet (all ballet dancers have long hair worn in the traditional ballet-bun) or the fact that we have moved back to the US recently and she will be starting at a new school, in a new city, back in the states.

I have no problem if you tell be I am an idiot and worrying about nothing, btw!

She told me that she just needed a change and that her ballet program was shocked but it is not a punishable offense or anything.