It's nothing we haven't heard before: kids these days are growing up too quickly. Whether you see this as a problem or an inevitability, it still doesn't detract from the fact that it's almost certainly true. How often though, do you as a beauty professional, stop and wonder if we are playing any part in this?
Child beauty treatments are on the increase. There are salons dedicated solely to offering hair and beauty treatments to children. Is there anything wrong with this? As a professional do you beleive there's a market for child beauty? Would you offer mini-sized manicures for teeny tiny hands? More to the point, DO you offer them? Are the papers right? Is this just another step towards sexualising children? Who knows...what I do know is that it's a hot topic and one we can't ignore.
This week at Salon Geek HQ we'll be investigating more about this issue after a spate of stories in the national press and, as ever, we want to know what you think.
Until then....Geek On.
The Ed.
Hello,
Personally I offer Pamper Parties for children which involve a bit of eye make-up and a body gem on the face, or a file and paint both with glitter tattoos.
As they get older, I offer a Nailcare party or a Skincare party which is more like a workshop that helps educate them into how and what to do as opposed to 'tarting up'.
I offer ear-piercing for over 2 yr olds provided parents bring the red/purple book.
I wouldn't have a Child Only place as I just don't feel it's for me.
Certain aspects do sexualise kids though I feel it's the shock value of reality programs that cause this (Pushy parents/Child Models/Tantrums & Tiaras or whatever the shows are called).
I think there is nothing wrong with a youngster playing dress up with mummy's make-up but I wouldn't enter my kid in a beauty pageant as I just think it opens up a whole load of confidence issues, the potential to have eating disorders when they get older through rejection, worse still, extreme cosmetic surgery.
It's like a drug, start with a ciggie, move onto a joint, does it stop there or progress into full blown Class A addiction?
Children are so innocent and lose a bit of that when they start school, I feel there is no need to add to their pressure of growing up by having to look a certain way as there is enough of that already.
Yet, when I clip my son's nails, I file them (and his toenails) and have done since he was born so he doesn't scratch himself etc, he'll grow knowing mummy looks after his nails to make them strong and grow properly. And I put that in at bath time so it's all part of his personal hygiene.
A 'friend' saw me file his nails and told me "I'd turn him into a poof"! I went mental, males of any age who take care of their skin, hair and nails is a good thing, not a sign of sexual preference and if he grows effeminate/gay, at least he won't be a sweaty hulky ape and a pleasure to hug instead of me having to buy him smellies every Christmas as a hint to WASH!
Going back to the point though, I did a party the other night for some 10 yr olds and they were a pleasure and loved the glitter tattoos and it was all fine and nice and la de dah, UNTIL I saw them dance.
They were in a dance group and MAN, THAT WAS WAY TOO MUCH!
10 yr olds dancing sexually like RiHanna or whoever, is what concerns me much more.
Wether they are wearing lippy or not, a hip gyration is a hip gyration and I was mortified. I kept quiet obviously while thinking, if that was my kid, she'd be locked in a cupboard til age 40!
But then, I am wrong in that sense too. There is only so much cotton wool, we can clothe our kids in...
Interestingly enough, I heard on my local radio show about 2 weeks ago that Gary Barlow (Take That) had said that music videos were to sexual and he worried about his kids and that they'd picked up swearing through Black Eyed Peas songs.
Coming from a guy dressed in leather and mesh during live concerts, I thought ok, he's a parent now, clearly he's grown up a bit and I thought it was really good as I guess with X Factor and his Take That career, he is a bit of a role model now.
H x
