Me vs. my dad: hair dye

Here is the issue. I plan to get my hair dyed this week, and when my dad found out he was completely upset with me and my decision making capabilities. He said I was turning into a self-absorbed person, that boys would be crawling all over me, that I would get cancer, and that I was utterly harming the environment.

He does make a few good points, however, I think he is completely over reacting over something as simple as dyeing one's hair. I even looked up several scholarly journals which claim the connection to hair dye and bad side effects are pretty negligible, and tend to increase in people who smoke, are imunocompromised, are allergic to the dyes (well, duh haha) and in hairdressers, who constantly deal with hair dye over a long period of time. I am none of those things.

I can see how hair dyeing chemicals can have harmful side effects in grossly unrealistic proportions, but also have read that many of the classic "carcinogenic" chemicals were only present in hair dye until the 1990's at the most. From what I have researched, today's hair dye is safer than in the past.

Also, like I said before, he also thinks I am being completely self-absorbed and selfish for wanting to dye my hair (*cough couch*, says the man who is a fairly heavy drinker) and that I am being a hypocrite for wanting to recycle (help the environment) and dye my hair. He is so frustrating because I think he is reading far too into things.

And who gives a damn if I have boys all over me. I will shut them down like I have before. I doubt it will be this huge "Look at me! Look at how hot and easy and slutty I am" scenario my dad envisions, and having him think that is who I am is very irritating.

I am 18, I can do what I want and he knows it, but I am just wondering is it normal that my dad has such a huge reaction over me wanting to dye my hair. Sorry for making this huge post over this silly question, but I am really curious if this is a normal thing for dads to do.

Voting Results
45% Normal
Based on 40 votes (18 yes)
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Comments ( 15 )
  • dom180

    Do what you want. Force him get over his irrational and mutually harmful desire to control you. Just because you live in his house doesn't mean he's allowed to order you about over every little thing.

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  • dinz

    Parents come up with the most ridiculous excuses at times.

    I don't think he is worried about the hair dye, it is the fact you're growing up and concerned about a young teen heading into adulthood.

    What I find is that Fathers (well us males in general) lack the emotional empathy to explain what we are really wanting to say.

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  • GiveMeAFuckingNameAlready!

    "Your a Mcdonald not a whore". -Ronald Mcdonald

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  • Ladygee

    Not his hair not his problem.

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  • jeebley

    It's probably pretty common for Dads to overreact like that. Especially with daughters. Maybe he feels like he's lost his little girl and you dying your hair is a sign that your growing up a bit too fast for him... Maybe not. But all the reasons he's giving - cancer and selfishness hehe - they're pretty silly, so maybe there's a deeper underlying reason he feels that way.

    Anyway, it's funny around that age, sometimes you have to be the more mature, rational one in the relationship. It sounds like you're doing alright though. They do tend to overreact.

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    • jeebley

      That sounded a bit patronising. I realise you're not twelve, it just seemed that your Dad is acting as if you are.

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  • Meowcats123

    I’ve been dying my hair since age 5 and I’m perfectly healthy.

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  • JustAnotherGuy218

    Being a guy myself I can tell you he is just scared for you. He really does want you to grow you but at the same time he doesn't. He just wants to protect you.

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  • Cats

    You're officially an adult and you can make your own decisions. Your Dad will just have to accept this.

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  • RoseIsabella

    Is your dad an overly religious person?

    So what are you looking to dye your hair anyway?

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    • No, not overly religious. And I have blond hair, the color of my skin basically and want to dye it dark brown to get a better contrast.

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  • iEatZombies_

    He's acting like a child. Dye your hair, he can whine about it afterwards. Living in someone's house doesn't give them authority over things that don't affect their household. When are parents going to grow up? "Well the house is mine, and I said so." You aren't his possession, the roof is. If he doesn't like it, tell him to go get the eviction notice.

    It is true, though. You should get your crap together and run. You'll be happier.

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  • (s)aint

    You are eighteen and he has no real arguments against this. My parents whined some when I was about 14 and wanted to dye my hair black. I was sorta nice about it and agreed to go darker and darker brown until the day it finally got black when I was 15.

    Turned out that my mum didn't think I looked that weird in it after all.

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  • Lissisbliss

    My Dad's the exact same. I'm going with dom180. Do what you want.

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  • thegypsysailor

    If you are living in his house, then 18 or 80, you should abide by his wishes. It's probably about time you moved out anyway, because it seems you resent his input at all.

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