My 13 year old daughter won't cut her hair?

she's 13 years old, let her have long hair if she wants....pfft.

Well, i think knee length hair is wayyyyyyyy too long, but I don't see why her hair should be as short as a bob if she doesn't want it to be. Personally, the longest I ever had my hair was about waist length in the eighth grade (so i was 13) I could never ever have dealt with hair as long as your daughters is, it has to be very awkward. Try and talk her into getting some of it cut off, to like waist length, which is still really long. That way, she won't be losing the long hair that she loves, but her hair will look much healthier, losing all that hair at the end that has to be pretty frayed and beaten, and also, it will be much more practical, and still very pretty.

I definitely wouldn't try and make her get a bob if that isn't what she wants, which it clearly isn't. Her choice to have long hair isn't hurting her or anyone else, so there is no point making it a fight, or forcing her to do something that is going to really upset her. It's her hair, she has to live with it. Also, people get really attached to their hair so don't act like getting a cut is no big deal, try to be sensitive. Even getting a just a foot or so cut off will be a big deal for her.

And, give the hair to locks of love!!!!

Just tell her to cut off like six inches. That should do the trick.

Bobs don't look good on many people and long hair looks nicer on 13 year olds because they're going through awkward stages. My mother may have had long hair at 13 but my hair style was different from hers. A trim or 6 inches cut might help but if she won't cut it then just let her keep it. She'll need it trimmed eventually I'm sure so just wait it outt.

There is nooo need for her to get a bob but knee length is just way too long. That is probably the reason why she doesn't want to cut her hair. She's afraid of getting a bob. Even though u had a bob when u were young, things go out of style and now having hair that goes to the middle of your back is the new trend. She can put it in a pony tail without it being too long, she can even curl or straighten her hair and make it look really nice! Too bad this question was made 7 years ago! Lmao

Simply: don't. As long as it's not a health risk to her or the people around her she should be able to grow her hair. Why does hair have to be short at the age of thirteen? Did you wear short hair because a parent made you cut it? Since she has to wear it (and especially since it isn't a particularly outlandish 'do) she should be the one who decides when it's time to cut it. Just because someone else did it doesn't make it the one true, right thing to do. Plus tying the hair-length decision to a specific age sounds a little cult-ish.

I'm sure she knows how you feel about the long hair and being insistent about her cutting it is probably only going to encourage her to keep it (she's a teen/tween and is probably trying to find ways to assert her independence and free will), and that's not even taking into account that she might really love it or get a genuine sense of empowerment and individuality from wearing her hair long.

That said, you can appeal to her sense of charity/compassion by telling her about Locks Of Love (www.locksoflove.org; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locks_of_Love) - an organization that takes donations of long hair (I believe the minimum is 8"-10") to make real-hair wigs for kids with cancer and other illnesses who are losing their hair (primarily due to chemotherapy).

You could also come to a compromise whereby she keeps it long and just wears it short by wearing it in wound braids or some other creative style.

Compromise, it is HER hair after all. Ask her if she is willing to cut it to the middle of her back. Going from "knee length" to a bob is a huge difference, I'd be overwhelmed and rebellious about it too. Be supportive, tell her that if she hates it, it will grow back, but you honestly believe that it is in her best interest. And give good reasons. Just because you had short hair and so did your friends doesn't mean that many years later when individuality is more accepted and supported that she should have the same hair cut.

I think if you force her, you're going to traumatize her, lose her trust, and really screw up her self-image.

I'm around that age and knee length hair is a little excessive, it must be hard to take care of. I don't know anyone my age with that long hair... I would definitely talk to her about it and ask her to cut it. Not short, but at least above her waist. Have her donate the cut hair to locks of love so she will feel as if she is doing something good for society and this may help work as an incentive. I definitely understand how you don't want her to have that long hair- if it is really knee length (im having a hard time picturing that, it's kinda shocking), but it is her hair, so don't be too harsh.

As a girl of 14 with long hair, I know it would be very tough to get my mom to persuade me to chop it into a bob. If her hair is knee length, try cutting off a little at a time. Keep in mind her hair doesn't have to be the way yours was when you were 13. Times have changed and maybe a lower back to collar bone cut would suit her better.

As the parent of two girls -- 6 and 12 -- I can't believe this is an issue! There are so many important things you could be thinking and worrying about. As long as my 12 year old keeps her hair clean and well cared for -- it can be any length she desires. I'm more concerned about immodest clothing, poor personal choices, sex, drugs, curfew. As a parent you can just say -- this is the way it is -- but she's not going to appreciate it or respect you for it and as long as it's clean and cared for -- it's not worth the fight. Leave her alone.

Long hair is beautiful, but you can point out to her that cutting her long hair into a more grown-up style is a rite of passage and sign of maturity. Surely many of her classmates with less hair are doing the same. Maybe you can connect cutting her hair to a life transition (e.g., "you should cut your hair before you start 9th grade.") or to a new privilege (e.g., "you can start wearing makeup when you cut your hair.")

You can also compromise by letting her pick a style as long as it is above a certain length (say shoulders or chin), and by telling her that she may grow it out again after the cut if she chooses. Point out that with a nice blunt chin-length or ear-length bob, she can have long hair (beyond her shoulders) again in a year or so.

It might be less stressful for her if you let her wait until the end of the school year to cut her hair, so she doesn't have to get reactions from classmates. Short hair is nice in the hot summer, and it gives her a while to get used to it. Maybe schedule an appointment for the day after school lets out. And make an event out of this important ritual: let her brush out and show off her beautiful hair, let her make her own final braid so that she may save her hair, and schedule some grown-up spa treatments or pampering after her haircut.

Good luck. Knee-length hair may look good now, but I can see why it needs to go. It will really make her stand out among her classmates and might make her a magnet for boys. The longer she waits to cut it, the harder it will be. Also, don't fall for the trap of cutting it in "stages;" that will make each small cut into a battle. Better to cut it all at once, have a nice long braid to save as a memento, and usher her into a more sophisticated look. Even if she starts growing it out again, after the first above-the-shoulder cut, you won't have to worry about her having super-long hair for several years, at which point she'll be old enough to really choose if she wants that look. But odds are she'll like the freedom and liberation of shorter hair and keep it that way for a few years.

Just let her keep her hair the way she wants it. 13 is a delicate age. If it makes her happy to have it that long, let her be. She'll eventually come around. It might be emotionally traumatizing if you force it upon her.

Have you tried to understand why she likes her hair so long? Ask her why--just try to start an honest conversation and put yourself in her shoes. Try to see it from her perspective. Maybe her reason is something silly. Maybe a boy at school told her he likes her hair, and she doesn't want to cut it because she thinks he's cute. I don't know, 13-yr-olds are weird. Once you can figure out WHY she doesn't want it short, you might be able to use this bit of information to your advantage. If you're dead set on changing her mind, you need to figure out what she's thinking first.