Girl Suspended From School For Having Red Hair

Red Highlights Got This Girl Suspended

February 16, 2011

A sixth grader in Texas isn't having a very happy birthday week after the highlights she got as a present resulted in a suspension from school. The 12-year-old student was told that she either had to go home or face in-school suspension until her hair was colored back. Apparently, the school's dress code prohibits "inappropriate hair color," and school officials felt that her red highlights met those requirements. The girl's mom admits the color was "brighter than what I intended it to be," but do you think they're bright enough to warrant a suspension? Check the story out for yourself:

14 Comments

2 years

I'm with the commenter who asked what they'd do if they ever encountered an Anne of Green Gables type. Rihanna red I'd understand, but this is not too bright to be considered natural. Such a fuss about nothing.

2 years

Her hair color wasn't over the top. It looked very well done.I think that the school officials took it a little to far. God forbid the little red headed Irish girls come to that school - they just might have to change there hair color all together!!!

2 years

Anonymous, who are you to judge whether highlights are appropriate. My 10 yr old has been asking for highlights since she was 6. I told her I would finally let her this summer for her entrance to middle school. She does not wear makeup, but I see nothing wrong with highlights. Our district has a pretty strict dress code, but normal, well behaved girls abound with pink and red highlights.

2 years

I think the school's action was appropriate. It is not right for a sixth grader to have her hair coloured at all, in my opinion, even if it's a 'natural' colour. Obviously the school told her to go home and recolour her hair, and she refused, THEN she got the suspension. Just recolour it! Another (successful) attempt by bored parents to get their 15 minutes of fame.

2 years

This is outrageous... If she isn't allowed in school with that hair, I wouldn't be allowed in at all. lol My full head of hair is naturally bright red...that may too much of distraction. (if I were 12...)

dareu 2 years

Well, I guess it's a cultural thing then...I grew up in Germany and as far as I know schools don't/rarely have a certain dress code here. Nobody cares how you dress/look and I still think it should remain a personal choice. What matters is your performance in class! (Sorry about the rant)

Marshmelly411 2 years

@dareu I'm pretty sure all schools have a dress code, so the fact that a school is permitted to control/regulate what students' wear isn't that ridiculous. It just depends on the level of control. At one end, you have schools with strict uniform codes and policies and on the other, schools that may let you get away with much more, but may not allow things like excessive piercings or tube tops. Like I said in an above comment, my school didn't allow what they called "unnatural" hair. They also didn't allow us to wear headbands because they deemed them "gang-related" (don't even ask haha), and my elementary school didn't allow nail polish. My friend, however, was able to wear purple hair to her school...so it does really depend on that school's policy. I don't think she should have gotten suspended over it, though, maybe just a warning.

dareu 2 years

This is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time...I can't believe a school is permitted to control and regulate the way students dress or what hair color they choose. It is up to the students' parents to make that decision. I think it's perfectly fine and healthy if a sixth grader wants to try out new things such as highlights... Being suspended from school as a punishment for this is just out of proportion. What about "Toddlers & Tiaras"? The way young children are turned into real-life plastic dolls seems way more troubling to me than red highlights on a 12-year-old student...

Ladyseven 2 years

Seems like a serious overreaction to me... it's just some hair color. She wasn't asking for a tattoo or a boob job or obscene clothes or something that would offend people. So the girl wanted to do something special for her 12th birthday- so what? I think it looks cute, and they're red, not blue or green or purple; it's close enough to a natural hair color. Way too much of a punishment- if anything, I'd think a written warning to not do anything more drastic would be too much. IT'S JUST HAIR!

Kamelita 2 years

I think it's sad that girls are encouraged to change things about themselves at a younger and younger age. I think highlights are inappropriate on a sixth grader, and if the parent is dumb enough to give it as a present, the school has the right to rein it in.

Natalie Love 2 years

Hair colour and nailpolish wasn't allowed in my elementary school either. I remember some boys who put blonde streaks in their hair ,and were made to wear a hat until they changed it; never heard of an actual suspension though. I personally couldn't care less as a kid, but in retrospect, I don't see why such a big fuss should be made about it.

Faylinn 2 years

I think it's stupid because the color in no way will prevent her from getting an education. However, a suspension will. Kids get suspended for fighting and bringing drugs/cigarettes to school. Now they can get suspended for having a couple of red highlights? Nice job, school officials!

HellooQueen 2 years

The hair isn't obscene. It is just sad she will get behind in school for highlights. She is being given the same punishment as students who fight in school. How is that fair? Zero tolerance doesn't work for everything.

Marshmelly411 2 years

This isn't that crazy for a school to do (though I'll admit, I find it odd for a public school). I went to Catholic school growing up and my high school didn't allow what they called "unnatural" hair color...so that bright a red would have definitely gone against our dress code as well. People would still get away with it, though...but it might be harder to do so in sixth grade as opposed to high school.

Link Love

14 Comments