Argumentative Essay: Has Dyed Hair Died?

Has Dyed Hair Died?

Imagine you are a middle school student. One weekend, you decide to dye your hair purple, and you can’t wait to show your friends. When you get to school, you are immediately sent home for “being a distraction.” That sounds ridiculous, right? Well, that has happened to some teens, and a no-dyed-hair policy is enforced in many middle schools, including Paulding. That rule should change. Paulding should allow students to dye their hair because it is a form of self-expression and does not distract other students enough to create a problem any more than colorful clothing does. Many people, including parents, believe that hair dye is not a form of gang affiliation, but instead it’s a way to express creativity. For example,

Barclay Cunningham discovered for herself that applying hair dye continuously can eventually lead to rashes and infection, and because of that reaction she goes through an elaborate process to color her hair. ”Every two months Barclay Cunningham goes through a process that begins with taking an antihistamine tablet. After a few hours, she smears a thick layer of antihistamine cream across her forehead, around her ears and over her neck. Finally, she shields the area with ripped-up plastic carrier bags. All this so she can dye her hair.” (Guenard, 1-2). While Barclay was negatively affected by her hair coloring process, it was her choice to use and continue to use the product she chose. Permanent hair color (the type Barclay used) is the most likely to hurt the hair and scalp, while most temporary hair colors will not affect the user unless they are allergic. Using hair dye that hurts the user is not the school’s or dye seller’s fault, it is purely the choice of the user. Barclay knew that the product she used harmed her, but she continued to use it. She made a mature decision in the same way adults choose to get a tattoo or piercings, although the difference is that those are far more permanent than hair dye. In the end it is proven that, while hair dye can be harmful, it is the choice of the user to use injurious products, and teens should be able to make the same