What Age for Make Up? Heels? (Clicky)

StrawberryAlarmClock · June 2011

The neighbor girl is in elementary school and wears what I'd consider "real" make up. I have no problem with sparkly lip gloss or nail polish, but she has on foundation, eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick. I see her standing at the school bus stop with her hair done (hair spray, curls, hilights) and decked out to the nines (sometimes even heels!!!) to go to school. I'm not sure her exact age. The elementary school bus picks her up so she could be as old as 10 or 11, but looks around 8 to me.

I guess my problem with it is that I understand what heels and make up are for. I'm looking at it from an anthropological angle and it makes my stomach roll to think that there are predators out there who would be attracted to her. I get that pedophiles have something wrong with them and we can't live our lives in fear, plus they'd be attracted to a little girl in a Dora the Explorer T-shirt just as easily. However, I think that make up and adult clothes are "selling" something that the girl is not old enough yet to understand.

WDYT?

[Poll]

Abinormal · June 2011

I wasn't allowed to wear make up to school until junior high and even then it was a minimal amount of make up. My mother would've also discourage me from wearing high heels to school (although I had zero interest in wearing high heels). I did have to do my hair and makeup for dance recitals and plays that I was in starting at a young age, but that's a different story. I teach elementary children and I don't have any students that wear full blown make up to school. There are a couple of fifth graders who probably wear some minimal eye and lip make up.

StrawberryAlarmClock · June 2011

Abinormal:
I wasn't allowed to wear make up to school until junior high and even then it was a minimal amount of make up. My mother would've also discourage me from wearing high heels to school (although I had zero interest in wearing high heels). I did have to do my hair and makeup for dance recitals and plays that I was in starting at a young age, but that's a different story. I teach elementary children and I don't have any students that wear full blown make up to school. There are a couple of fifth graders who probably wear some minimal eye and lip make up.

I'm definitely wondering how this goes over at school. You know how there are always girls who go straight to the bathroom to change into a short skirt and put on make up. How ironic would it be if she runs to the girls' room and washes it off?!

Blue1299 · June 2011

I don't even wear foundation, mascara, eyeliner or eyeshadow on a daily basis, I couldn't imagine letting my child wear that to elementary school. And heels, forget about it. My plan is to allow makeup at 16 (maybe 14 depending on how I'm feeling at that time) and to give DD some direction on how to apply it properly.

I see nothing wrong with lip gloss and nail polish on little girls, but I don't like to see them made up like the picture in the OP, it just isn't appropriate.

cchill01 · June 2011

I voted for 13, but I would allow her to wear some lip gloss at probably 11. If she has her period and is interested in boys, I think that's the right time to start teaching her 'woman' things, like some limited makeup and shaving.

Abinormal · June 2011

StrawberryAlarmClock:
Abinormal:
I wasn't allowed to wear make up to school until junior high and even then it was a minimal amount of make up. My mother would've also discourage me from wearing high heels to school (although I had zero interest in wearing high heels). I did have to do my hair and makeup for dance recitals and plays that I was in starting at a young age, but that's a different story. I teach elementary children and I don't have any students that wear full blown make up to school. There are a couple of fifth graders who probably wear some minimal eye and lip make up.

I'm definitely wondering how this goes over at school. You know how there are always girls who go straight to the bathroom to change into a short skirt and put on make up. How ironic would it be if she runs to the girls' room and washes it off?!

The high heels and clothing probably aren't easy to deal with at school. I'd think she'd probably get made fun of at school for dressing that way, but I teach in a very low SES district and our students don't have the time, money or parental involvement to end up looking like that at school. With a lot of our students, especially the younger ones, we're just happy when they show up clean.

Jake's Mom · June 2011

I have a 12 year old, who will be 13 shortly. She doesn't need make up and has no interest in it thank god. I don't know if I would let her wear it...hmmmm.

I guess it would depend on what and how much. As it is she has boobs, which makes me kinda crazy...wtf already they need a bra.

hterry85 · June 2011

I said 13 +, but probably a little older. I'd say small heels would be fine for around that age for dress up occasions (church, weddings) but not school. Make up I'd say high school, btu I never had a hage interest in these things, and I think DD will (the child is already obsessed with shoes! lol) so it could be a battle.

shoeboxx · June 2011

I really don't know because I'm 28 and I don't wear makeup. I usually only use chapstick for my lips...that's it. I don't know how to even apply it...sad but true. Stick out tongue

Dreamsicle23 · June 2011

Do they even make heels that would fit an 8 year old???

I don't have a problem with make-up for younger girls (well 8 is really young...I mean more like middle school). I have a problem with how they dress. It disturbs me to see micro booty shorts and a push-up bra on a 12 year old. I also think they DO know what they're "selling", and that's why it bothers me.

Blue1299 · June 2011

Dreamsicle23:

Do they even make heels that would fit an 8 year old???

Yes they do. My neighbors' little girl wears them all the time, even out to play.

yankeebaby2 · June 2011

Wow, I don't even do all that for work!

My daughter started wearing lip gloss and mascara at 13. If she goes out then she can use mascara and eye shadow. She is 5-9 so she doesn't wear heels ever.

ashnoelle · June 2011

I had zero interest in that stuff until senior year of high school. I was very, uh, naturalistic about it.

I would be okay with the lip gloss and nail polish at a young age (like as young as 8-10 if interested) but would hope to hold off on any other make up until 13 or older.

Heels on little girls weird me out for sure. I think 13 for those too, and I would encourage her to be practical and not wear them to school at all. Maybe a little heel if she was in a wedding and was under 13.

yankeebaby2 · June 2011

Heels aren't even allowed to be worn to the kids school. Shoes can't have a heel or be open in the back or front and they must be flat.

shellybell15 · June 2011

I will probably follow similar rules that I had. In Jr. High (so 12) my mom started letting me wear mascara and lipstick. Then by High School I had slowly started wearing the full blown thing. I've never worn a lot of makeup so it wasn't a battle or anything. I remember wearing heels in Jr. High, but mostly short, chunky heels. Not like FM heels or anything.

My mom made a lot of compromises with me. She started out putting an age to everything. I was one of the babies of my class so I complained when all the girls were allowed to do things way before me. Luckily she understood most of the time.

StrawberryAlarmClock · June 2011

Jake's Mom:

I have a 12 year old, who will be 13 shortly. She doesn't need make up and has no interest in it thank god. I don't know if I would let her wear it...hmmmm.

I guess it would depend on what and how much. As it is she has boobs, which makes me kinda crazy...wtf already they need a bra.

You're right! Your DD doesn't need a drop of makeup. She has the eyes women use make up to try to paint on!

StrawberryAlarmClock · June 2011

yankeebaby2:
Heels aren't even allowed to be worn to the kids school. Shoes can't have a heel or be open in the back or front and they must be flat.

I wonder if our elementary school has this policy. It sounds logical and standard to me.

PizzaBride · June 2011

The first time I was allowed to wear make-up make-up was my grade 8 graduation & my mom took me for a lesson. After that I was allowed to wear lipstick only, then eye shadow & mascara & then blush & finally I was allowed to wear concealer/foundation when I was 16 or 17, I think.

I don't have a problem with elementary kids wearing clear lipgloss, but no more than that. If we have a girl I will probably follow the same schedule my mom did for me.

Having said that, once I wore eyeshadow to school in grade 2...I got in big trouble from the teacher & from my parents.

StrawberryAlarmClock · June 2011

Since foundation and concealer is used to even skin tone and cover blemishes, why would parents let a porcelin-skinned child wear it? They have the complexion 30-somethings are trying to get with the make up.

Here's a question: Do you think that allowing young girls to wear makeup affects their self-image? Can you be "addicted" to makeup?

LoveMyMen · June 2011

shoeboxx:
I really don't know because I'm 28 and I don't wear makeup. I usually only use chapstick for my lips...that's it. I don't know how to even apply it...sad but true.

This is me too!

thequeeenbee · June 2011

I think it's pretty much the norm for girls to start wearing makeup, worrying about their hair, and wanting to dress more "adult" once they reach middle school. I remember middle school being the time that most girls in my grade starting changing their appearance and such.

Erika6504 · June 2011

I remember being in 8th grade when my mom took me to the Clinique counter to get a make over. At that point I was interested in wearing makeup and my mom was ok with it, as long as it was done tastefully. I'll do the same with DD probably right before she goes in to high school.

PoseyMamma · June 2011

I started wearing lip gloss and eye shadow when I was in 6th grade and then when my face started to get zits around 7-8 grade is when I started wearing foundation. I will probably follow the same my DDs. DD#1 loves make up now well the make up brushes! She sits in my lap while I do my make up and she will get one of my clean brushes out and put it up to her face. I really never wore heels unless it was a special event (wedding, graduation etc.) Still to this day I really don't wear heels so my girl might not even be into them either. I will teach the girls how to put make up on and make sure its not to dark before they ever walk out of the house while they are younger. Now when they get into high school like JR or SR then I really don't have a lot of say I just hope they remember what I have taught them about their appearance.

murfygirl · June 2011

I think I first started wearing make up at around 14 and I will probably do the same for my daughter if we have a daughter. I was a bit of a tomboy and I kind of hope my DD is too since I think it saved me from a lot of trouble. I liked my hair in a pony tail and plain old tennis shoes when I was in high school and I had no interest in boys.

2-Step · June 2011

To me these are two seperate ages. Makeup maybe 12 or 13 depending on if she is junior high. I was 12 in junior high and my mom let me wear limited makeup- mascara, blush, lip gloss. To me heels are more of a high school and beyond thing. Maybe tiny kitten heels to a junior high dance, but full on high heels should be saved for 15+ age range I think.

At my elementary school makeup was not allowed. Girls who wore make up to school had to go to the bathroom and wash it off and their parents were called. It was just part of the dress code and I agree with that. Just like kids shouldn't wear short shirts or skirts, they are too young for makeup too.

Temp36641187503164 · June 2011

I chose teenager, but I think 6th grade and up is fine. I wore makeup and heels to my 5th grade graduation, lol - but it was just a little mascara and lip gloss. I wore makeup everyday once I started middle school.

My Mom bought my older sisters heels when they were 5 (twins) and my Dad wouldn't allow them to wear them. They weren't high heels and I think that my Dad overreacted.

Temp36641187503164 · June 2011

My sister's are 8.5 years older than me, so they liked to play with my hair and make up all the time when I was a kid. This is me and my brother when I was 7.

I didn't really go out or to school like this, but I loved for my sister's to do my hair and make up. I have more of a problem with clothes than a little make up.

mrshaines · June 2011

I think junior high is an appropriate age, so thats what 13 or 14? I had to wait until then and even then just wore minimal eye shadow and mascara, nothing drastic. As for heels I always wore them, throughout junior and high school. To me it depends on how mature DD by the time she gets old enough to consider wearing make up. As for the little girl you are talking about, thats just wrong to me.

Cheekie4 · June 2011

StrawberryAlarmClock:

yankeebaby2:
Heels aren't even allowed to be worn to the kids school. Shoes can't have a heel or be open in the back or front and they must be flat.

I wonder if our elementary school has this policy. It sounds logical and standard to me.

Where I teach, they aren't even allowed to wear flip-flops. Most girls wear some type of sneaker or Ugg style of boot in the winter. The boys all wear sneakers. We (the staff) have this in the handbook b/c of all the freak accidents that could happen w/o the appropriate footwear at school. In college at a school internship, I saw an 8 year old get a woodchip stuck underneath her toenail.

I voted for HS. Some kids begin to experiment w/ their look at that age. I'll try to guide her into keeping it minimal, but you just never know until you get to that point, YKWIM?

jjoli · June 2011

When I was a fifth grader so 10 I started my period and my mom also let me wear clear (makes look wet) mascara (I have blonder hair and so I look like I have no eyelashes), also I could wear mail polish and lip gloss if I wanted (I didn't like lipgloss just chapstick same today). Then in middle school I got bras and I was allowed to wear what I wanted, in 6th grade I was more mainstream because of my friends, but then I lost all my friends come 7th grade year and go tolder friends and changed styles dramatically and my parents still let me dress the way I wanted (lots of black, I even had a black mini skirt, but I always wore tights with them and I had what I called hooker boots that came up to my knee that I wore all the time) In 7th grade my mom also taught me how to put makeup on and I wore a light lotion/foundation with sunscreen in it and some powder and a little blush and then I got to do my eyes how I wanted which was usually just a little mascara and eyeliner. Then in 8th grade I wore more eye makeup with eye shadow and such. My parent were pretty lax about things we wore, my oldest brother wore eyeliner and painted his fingermails, and had really long hair in high school (no he is a bald fisherman!) I will be the same way with my kids. I barely ever wear makeup now and I hate heels

testtubebaby · June 2011

that girl in your post looks freaky, like a weird, creepy doll.

StrawberryAlarmClock · June 2011

renee1.28.06:

My sister's are 8.5 years older than me, so they liked to play with my hair and make up all the time when I was a kid. This is me and my brother when I was 7.

I didn't really go out or to school like this, but I loved for my sister's to do my hair and make up. I have more of a problem with clothes than a little make up.

That's a super cute pic and I'm sure bonding with your big sisters was awesome. I think this is cute and safe and fun. Like you said, going to school this way is a different story.

Torani · June 2011

I was allowed to wear make up in junior high. I still remember thinking blue eyeshadow was soooo cool. Now I wear none! I wasn't allowed to pierce my ears until I was 12 either. Probably be the same for my (hopefully) future daughter.

ablou · June 2011

I wasn't allowed to wear makeup until high school (unless we were going to a wedding or something), 1st heels at 14, but only wore them twice. I started wearing them for dances & things around my junior year of HS.

yourmomwreckedmybike · June 2011

i voted for: She should be in senior high school to start dressing like a woman. I meant in high school though. I think 13 - 15 is too young to start dressing like a WOMAN, because IMO they are not WOMEN yet, they are still girls.

I don't have a problem with daily makeup starting in junior high (so like 13+ years old), but there is no need for heavy makeup for a girl, or skimpy/revealing/tight clothing for kids in school -- that is sending a message that I do not approve of for my child.

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