Should I let my 11 year old dye her hair?

Q: Can an 11 year old get highlights?

As long as your parents are ok with it thats all that matters. I got highlights around the same age, but I continued to get them done but I loved it and never had any issues.

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What It Means To Give Birth On Country
Life, Death And How To Explain It All To Your Kids
At what age should a girl dye her hair?
Is it wrong to dye your child's hair?
Can an 11 year old get highlights?

Amber Rose’s son Sebastian has some blond hair, and the internet loves it. (Photo: Instagram/Amber Rose)

Star football player Odell Beckham Jr. gets major props, not only for his talent but for his blond, curly Mohawk — which some parents are now allowing their children to mimic as a way of saluting their favorite New York Giant. The trend of allowing kids to playfully dye their hair is one that seems to be growing.

That’s even true for celebrity kids: This week, model Amber Rose posted a photo her 4-year-old son Sebastian wearing a high-top version of his natural curls with a section of his hair highlighted blond. “The Most handsomest Pumpkin in all the Land,” she wrote, with lots of commenters agreeing by noting, “He’s a handsome young man,” and “so cute.”

Other recent instances — such as the mom who shared on Instagram how she dyed her daughter’s hair pink, and tattoo artist Amy Lyn, who made headlines for allowing her 2-year-old to have a head full of dyed purple hair — have resulted in big parenting debates.

Many agree that it’s cute. But is coloring a child’s hair at such a young age safe?

Latanya T. Benjamin, MD, medial director of pediatric dermatology at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, for one, doesn’t advise it. “There are many chemicals that a child could potentially absorb or have an adverse reaction to,” she tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

One ingredient particularly worth being wary of is p-Phenylenediamine, an organic compound found in many hair dyes, also known as PPD. “Many permanent and some semipermanent hair colors often contain PPD, which can trigger an allergic response to anyone at any time,” Benjamin explains. “A person can be sensitive to color at any point in life. Therefore, there is no safe age to start experimenting without prior patch testing to chemical ingredients.”

To do a patch test, use a cotton swab to dab a small amount of hair dye near the back of the ear or another inconspicuous area of skin. Allow it to dry and stay there for a minimum of 24 hours, and then examine the skin to see if there are any allergic reactions. If there are, you should try a hair color with a different formulation.

Colorist Maddison Cave of Rita Hazan Salon in New York City advises starting out with highlights or a sectioned pop of color on kids. “It’s a technique that doesn’t require color to touch the scalp,” she shares. “Most color has ammonia or peroxide, so it is best to do color in the salon with good ventilation and off-the-scalp application.”

When it comes to actually gearing up to color a young child’s hair, it’s important to carefully consider the types of hair dyes, says Cassondra Kaeding, Redken brand ambassador and colorist at Mare Salon LA. “Something like Redken City Beats, which is a direct dye, or Shades EQ glosses, a demi-permanent dye, are less invasive to the hair follicle, so those types of hair-color options would be the best introduction to hair color,” she tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

Alternatively, there are even less invasive options, such as IGK Girls Club Color Spray, that are safer, wash out easily, and don’t contain many of the harsh ingredients that can be found in most hair dyes.

Temporary spray-on hair color is an excellent option for coloring a young child’s hair. (Photo: IGK)

Experts agree that no matter what dye you plan to use on a child’s hair, it’s best to do a patch test. It’s also a good idea to visit a licensed salon professional to ensure that best practices and precautions are used — especially if it’s the first time.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

This video of a 3-year-old girl with pink hair has the internet divided
Picnic tablecloth-inspired dye job is wild and wonderful
Your Hair Dye Is Killing You, According to This Advocacy Group

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

It’s predictable that young girls will want to change their hairstyle over time.

But how young is too young to dye your child’s hair? If an eight-year-old “hates her hair”, should she be allowed to change it?

It’s a debate that has one online mums group fired up.

Dr Michael Gannon, Australian Medical Association (AMA) President says he would advise parents to “exercise caution” and question whether it’s really necessary.

“Children have developing bodies and it’s at least plausible that there might be a level of risk exposing young children to these kind of chemicals,” he told Mamamia.

Listen: A mum explains why she let her teenage daughter get lip fillers. (Post continues after audio.)

“I would question the need for it in most circumstances. If it’s for a theatrical performance at primary school then there are plenty of spray on alternatives,” he added.

“There’s is evidence that these chemicals get into the bloodstream so it’s plausible there could be some sort of risk.”

Sydney Toni & Guy salon owner, Marie Poggi, says 15 or 16 is a good age to start experimenting with hair colours.

“We have teenage clients aged 15 or 16 that want tint pastels. It is semi-permanent and very soft and subtle,” she said.

“I think it’s good age to start, especially with the trends and fashion. Girls just want to be on point with the way they look – quite young now. It’s not a problem.”

Poggi’s Surry Hills salon offers 48-hour allergy test for first time clients to test for allergic reactions.

“I will always give my opinion. Also it is my business, so if I think it’s too trashy or too much I will refuse to do it because the little girl would walk out of the shop with my name on her head. I need to agree,” said the hairdresser.

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Mamamia mum, Rebecca Jacobs, started dyeing her daughter Ruby’s hair when she was 10 years old.

Ruby, now 12, got her hair done for her 11th birthday. Image supplied.

"We coloured her hair last year for her 11th birthday. It was her one pleading request," said Jacobs.

"I was in two minds about her wanting to colour her hair," she added.

"She is wanting to express herself in that way which is totally legitimate and I support that. My husband was concerned about her inviting comment on her appearance, which is not important. I definitely saw his point."

Ruby's birthday salon treat was a semi-permanent colour that cost around $150.

Ruby's salon trip was a birthday present. Image supplied.

"She wanted to colour her hair so bad - for a long time - and the more I thought about it the harder I found it to think of a good reason why not. Because other people might judge her? That’s a terrible reason," said Jacobs.

The mother of one says the home dyes are now a shared fun experience she can have with her daughter.

"She could have been like me and just bought the colour from the chemist myself and did it without telling my mum then it becomes a whole big thing."

At what age should a girl dye her hair?

Hair dyes contain chemicals that in rare cases can cause severe, even life-threatening, allergic reactions. Hair dye manufacturers say they are not intended for anyone under the age of 16.

Is it wrong to dye your child's hair?

“Since the chemicals in hair dye and bleach can be damaging, a child's immature hair is much more susceptible to damage. Children's skin is also more sensitive, so they're more likely to experience a skin reaction on their scalp from dyes,” he adds.

Can an 11 year old get highlights?

As long as your parents are ok with it that's all that matters. I got highlights around the same age, but I continued to get them done but I loved it and never had any issues.