Hair Dye

My 13 year old daughter wanted me to dye her hair black for the first day of school this year. I couldn't do it. Black is just so dark and dingy and I couldn't stand thinking of her with black hair and a pale face. She is just to pretty, I couldn't do it.

We argued for a long time. Most of the summer actually. She tried to fool me by asking if she could dye her hair a very dark brown knowing it would look black or even be black if we let it dye long enough. I wasn't fooled as I had done that once to my hair. She wanted me to dye the roots to half way down her long brown hair and then bleach and dye the rest of her hair red. I still couldn't do it. I didn't want to see black hair against her pretty face.

We have bleached her hair tips and dyed them blue and pink before so I am not against color. I am just against black. For reasons I am unsure of I guess, just think it's too dark and depressing. So today we compromised. I dyed the under half of her hair black (semi-permanent) and the top bleached streaks and red. The Black actually doesn't look that bad on her. But the red must be masking the darkness. She looks beautiful! And I am so glad she compromised! But am I being too strict of a mom? Am I not letting her be herself? I guess I still have a couple years to make decisions for her!