4-year-old's Hairstyle Sparks School Drama

**Nell** · May 23rd, 2012, 07:39 PM

There are bows and then there are Lady Gaga bows. Four-year-old Marcella Marino chose the latter for a school photo, only to end up in tears, according to her dad.

The British primary school student asked her father, professional hairstylist Marcello Marino, to make her look like a princess for her upcoming class photo. The salon owner went more rock princess than Cinderella, and tied his little girl's long blond hair into a tilted bow, a look popularized by Gaga back in 2009.
Marcella loved the look but her school didn't, according to the Daily Mail.

"When she went for the school photo on Monday she was told she wasn't allowed to wear her hair in that style because of the dress code," Marcello told the British paper.

In fact, the primary school his daughter attends has a very strict dress code, which is detailed on its website. With regards to hair, the school requests ribbons or bows are "made of dark colors, maroon/navy blue/black" and states strictly that "Hair braids/beads may not be worn."

Marcella's hairstyle broke all the rules and none of them. It's not really a braid and kind of a ribbon, but according to her dad, the look was banned by school officials. (The school didn't return Shine's request for a comment by press time.)

"I am so disappointed," Marcello told the Mail. "I could understand if Marcella arrived with her hair dyed or something, but this is an elegant look which I think the school should be proud of."

http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/lit...220000255.html

**totallytoddler** · May 23rd, 2012, 07:56 PM

I think she looks adorable....well her hair does anyway...I dont know about that outfit.

**cubby** · May 23rd, 2012, 07:57 PM

It looks a little too grown-up but it's kind of litle kiddy too. I think it looks okay, I wouldn't want to fiddle that much with a little girls hair everyday, but for a special picture, it looks alright. I'm sure daddy never thought that they wouldn't let her take the picture.

But in another thought, I'm sure her parents knew the dress code when they enrolled her there, so why would you put your child thru this just to prove YOUR point. Poor baby.

**Aena** · May 23rd, 2012, 08:26 PM

Why do people insist on dressing their young children like adults? I could never understand it, that show Toddlers and Tiaras makes me want to gag every time I see it advertised, or on the channel guide. This style isn't as bad, but still, she is 4 not 14. She is going to school, not going to walk on a catwalk. Everyone, does or should know the dress code of their child's school. My daughter is 11 going on 32 she will be 12 in June, she is constantly begging me to dye her hair purple or pink, guess what, she can't go to school like that, even if she could I don't think it would be happening. I have thought about letting her experiment with the temporary hair color this summer after she turns 12, but I am not sure yet. Kids should look like kids!

**Dakota Valkyrie** · May 23rd, 2012, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by Aena

Why do people insist on dressing their young children like adults? I could never understand it, that show Toddlers and Tiaras makes me want to gag every time I see it advertised, or on the channel guide. This style isn't as bad, but still, she is 4 not 14.

Seriously? I don't know of a 14yo that would wear their hear that way. I think she looks like a total little kid. Anyone over the age of five that wore their hair that way is doing nothing more than trying to look younger than they are. What person not-a-child would wear a big fucking bow on top of their head if it wasn't part of a Lolita-ish getup?

**TheMeaningOfItAll** · May 23rd, 2012, 11:05 PM

I think she looks adorable. I am always trying to find fun, cute hairstyle ideas for my girls. I don't see anything wrong with this little girl's hair. It's a frigging bow for crying out loud! Her dad did a great job. Still, I don't think the dad or the school should have made a big deal out of this. The school should have let her take the picture and the father, when told she couldn't do her hair that way, should have just fixed it and moved on. No need to make a big stink over a hairdo.

**sheevaa** · May 23rd, 2012, 11:10 PM

I agree DV. She definitely looks like a little girl. The bow emphasizes it. That outfit is cute too. What's wrong with it? It's cute too, not sexy or inappropriate.
School needs to unwedge the stick up their arses

**Jerri Blank** · May 24th, 2012, 12:23 AM

This could have been much much worse...

They really should of just let the child get her photo and had a word with the parents on the side, no reason to make a little girl cry over something like this.

**Pene784** · May 24th, 2012, 12:33 AM

I don't think the point is how grown up or childish the kids hair looks. The point is that the hair do breaks the school rules. At my daughter's school their hair cannot be "unnatural" colors or in designs. Regular braids are ok. Boys cannot have long hair. You send your kid to school with hair or clothes that break the rules, they will call you to come get your child or to bring them something that gets them into code. If you don't like it then you are free to remove your child from the school and enroll them somewhere else.
Every year I let my child (9 yrs old this year) do something funky to her hair to kick off summer break. This year we used some semi-permanent hair color in funky hues just on the tips of her hair. It will last several weeks and be gone before school starts again. See below:

**Silvahalo** · May 24th, 2012, 12:34 AM

She looks cute in a fashionista big girl kinda a way. Cute but I bit over the top for my taste.
Kids are growing up so fast wanting to emulate big kids but guess it's always been that way to some degree. It's not whether she looks cute or not, the parents are at fault here imo. Follow the school code or expect disappointment. His kid is all upset, rightfully so but she's the kid. Parents need to be more responsible and grow up.