Laura Denton, Charger Staff
Do you think we have the right to choose our own hair color? I do. Last winter I had bright red highlights (known as red-lights) put in my hair. I loved it- it was edgy and creative: perfect for me. When I returned to school the following Monday with my new hairdo, I was informed that if I didn’t have it out in three days, I would be suspended. I was dumbfounded! My hair was red, after all, and where do you draw the line with red hair color?
Who’s to say that no one could potentially have any given shade of red
naturally? I went ahead and scheduled an emergency hair appointment, and spent
even more money than having it done by changing it back.
Teachers and administrators claim that unusual hair color is distracting, but
I disagree. A change in hair color can be a shock at first, but after about
five minutes the novelty wears off, and people become disinterested. Also, people
can do unusual things with “naturally” colored hair that is no less
unnatural than if a student’s hair were lime green. For example, you could
dye your hair with alternating black and blonde stripes, and technically, it
would be acceptable.
In any case, hair is simply a form of expression. We are already heavily restricted
in most ways, and have limited opportunities to show our individuality. Enforcement
of uniformity and conformity only succeeds in brainwashing people into loosing
their individuality and uniqueness. When I dyed my hair, it wasn’t for
anyone else’s benefit; it was for me. I did it because I liked the way
it looked. I didn’t do it to attract attention or be a distraction, I just
did it because I liked it. That was why it angered me that I was being forced
to change it. It is my personal belief that we aren’t forbidden from dying
our hair so-called “unnatural” colors because it is distracting, but
because teachers and administrators themselves dislike the way it looks.
No one can say how any one person should choose to express themselves unless it is in some way harmful to themselves or others. Someday, I hope the people in charge of making decisions that affect students realize this. Someday, I hope they remember the frustration they felt against rules made to mold them into people they choose to be.
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Article prepared for web by Steven Linger 6-Sept-2002