Dear Mrs Ness-Gifford

I would like to discuss the current rules on the colour of hair on students. The current rule states ‘hair must not be obviously coloured’ but I believe it needs to be changed.

I think that I use my hair colour to express myself and my individuality, emphasised by the ‘We are Limitless’ initiative that the school has supported; yet, I have become alarmingly aware that this statement seems untrue – at school, we are limited by how we look. Would purple hair hinder my learning, or spark conversation with someone in another year I have never spoken to before? Might it put a smile on someone’s face, or could it offend someone? Are they making assumptions about my character based on my appearance?

I can see where an issue lies: where do you draw the line on what can and can’t be done with the colour? Some may want to push the limits and have blue hair with green leopard spots which is obviously not appropriate for school. The line should be drawn to allow solid coloured hair, hair with coloured balayage, highlights, dip dye, ombré, lowlights and root colour. There will always be someone who would like to do more, but I believe with this expansion of rules students would be more pleased with the school’s diversity of self-expression through hair colour. A natural coloured perfectly tied back ponytail doesn’t make a perfect student or school. Article 10: Free expression of The Human Rights Act say that ‘we have the right to express ourselves freely and hold our own opinions - even if our views are unpopular or could upset or offend others’. We are told of the human rights at school to ensure we are always being treated fairly as they say, so why not question them now?

I read an article the other day, which speaks of a man called Alexander Cortes who moaned on social media that women with colourful hair are like “venomous animals” claiming that colourful hair is “a warning sign to stay away” and is “advertising their toxicity and lethality”, which is a total and unjust prejudice against women who have coloured hair. He has generalised women with coloured hair, and has refused to understand why. Also in a study conducted by Nottingham Trent University on women between the ages of 25 and 66 found that women experience a boost of confidence after dyeing their hair, more than half agreed with this.

I think dyeing your hair gives you that control over your body. In a world full of clones, computers and “perfect” influencers, creativity should be celebrated, not suppressed. Dyeing your hair is very much a thing for you, and no-one else. It is also good if you are struggling with mental health issues at that time because it almost marks that you have made it through that struggle.

I may seem like an anarchist but I am just trying to fight for what I believe in as everyone else is too afraid to. As I see it, even a little change for the school is a positive, we have already made changes to the uniform in order to support equality within our community. When I asked other girls if they would support this argument, many said they would but doubted the school would consider it which in my opinion is unjust on their behalf, but I on the other hand have full faith in the school to contemplate and possibly change this rule for the better and remove this stigma around ‘The Perfect Pipers Girl’. No one is perfect. Everyone is different.