“Mama, can I have green hair for picture day?” my 4-year-old chirps, her voice bubbling with excitement. You might expect to hear this from a tween or a teen, but nope, it’s coming from my little one.
“Maybe just a braid or something would be nice?” I suggest, trying to steer her toward a more conventional hairstyle.
“Okay, Mama. But I really wanna look pretty like you.”
Cue my heart melting into a puddle. Three reasons:
- She wants to be like me (I currently rock green hair).
- She thinks her mama (that’s me!) is beautiful.
- She thinks I’m beautiful with green hair.
I’m over the moon! Picture day at preschool is just around the corner, and the teachers have been buzzing about it—sticking bright “PICTURE DAY IS TOMORROW. WEAR BRIGHT COLORS. WEAR YOUR SMILE” stickers on our kids’ clothes. Message received, right?
Before the green hair request, I had no plans to make my daughter look any different from her usual self. No fancy dress, no special hair styling. Who has time for that? I certainly wasn’t about to wake up extra early to do anything that requires more effort than swiping deodorant on my own stubbly pits! Honestly, it’s a miracle if we even make it out the door on time. Picture day would have looked just like any other day for her: comfy cotton clothes, a messy ponytail, and maybe even mismatched socks.
But when she asked for green hair, I couldn’t help but consider it. After all, the sticker did say, “WEAR BRIGHT COLORS.” I could give her the green light! We still have that green Halloween hair spray from last year stashed away, but it stains everything.
Then there’s option two: I have a bunch of Manic Panic hair dyes just waiting for a chance to be used. Would I really dye my 4-year-old’s hair? Yes, I know it sounds a bit wild, but when your mini-me expresses a desire to emulate you—especially with something as colorful as hair—it’s hard not to swoon.
It’s one thing for her to compliment my eyes or my sparkly rings, but it’s something else entirely when she says, “Mama, I wike your wips!” (all while they’re bright red) or “Mama, I wike your hearts,” pointing at my wrist tattoo.
In our suburban town, unconventional styles are few and far between. It’s the classic capris, yoga pants, and flip-flops kind of place. The only other “different” person she really sees around here is me—her mom—and that one lady with purple hair at the library last week.
So, if my little one loves my bold red lipstick, black nails, and tattoos, does that mean I’ll consider her requests? Absolutely! Well, maybe not the lipstick for school, but we can experiment on weekends. If I find the time, I’d love to paint her nails blue or black. And fake tattoos? Count me in!
I come from a long line of creatively open-minded mamas. My own mom let me express myself through wild hairstyles and accessories. I remember going to school with colorful pipe cleaners in my hair and a jewel on my forehead, inspired by Gwen Stefani. It was a true reflection of who I was at that age, and my mom encouraged it wholeheartedly.
To be honest, if it weren’t for some strict guidelines in my daughter’s school handbook, I would have no qualms about dyeing her hair without a second thought. But I’m choosing my battles wisely when it comes to school policies that often stifle creativity.
I want to reward my daughter for her unique perspective on beauty. Green hair could be just the beginning of her acceptance of diverse beauty standards—different body types, skin colors, and hair textures. So, after picture day, we will have a fun weekend with green hair chalk and a camera. Don’t worry, it washes out! We’ll dress her up however she wants and snap some fun selfies—all in the spirit of redefining beauty.
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Summary: In this lighthearted reflection, a mother shares her daughter’s whimsical request for green hair on picture day, revealing the joy and pride she feels in her daughter’s desire to emulate her unique style. Despite the challenges of school regulations, the mother is determined to celebrate her daughter’s individuality and creativity, planning a fun hair experiment after picture day.