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Consider this a follow up to an earlier post - Willow Smith's Hair: Too Cute Or Too Much? Because the youngest girl in the Smith clan has done it again!
When I was nine, it was all about getting the exact kind of floppy hat and waistcoat as inspired by Blossom. Soon after that came the Cross Colors phase and the burning need to own a leather Africa medallion of my very own. My parents may have shaken their heads at my whimsical fashion passions, but they allowed me to express myself. And for that I am grateful, even though I look back at photos of myself and cringe.
Someday, young Willow Smith may do the same when she sees this head-to-toe animal print ensemble that she wore to her brother Jaden's premiere for 'The Karate Kid,' but right now I know she is feeling fresh dressed like a million bucks, from the mohawk on down to the combat boots.
She is so cool and self possessed, and just nine years old! What some grown women would give for that kind of confidence!
Willow's style and hairstyle has been provoking some truly interesting online responses. For every commenter online saying "you go girl, express yourself!", there's a voice of dissent casting judgment on Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith as parents cosigning this look. Most specifically, the hair.
Which begs the question -- at what age do you decide to let your little girl or boy shave their head into a complete mohawk?
I'm thinking nine is a little young for regular folks outside of Hollywood, but hey -- I myself am not yet a mom. So I respectfully ask you, the parents who read BVHairTalk.com. Theoretical question: Your 9 year old wants to get a mohawk. What do you do?
Willow Smith's Wild Style
Smith arrives at the premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'The Karate Kid' at Mann's Village Theatre on June 7, 2010 in Westwood, Calif.
Actress Willow Smith arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "The Perfect Game" in the Pacific Theaters at the Grove on April 5, 2010 in Los Angeles.
Actress Willow Smith arrives at the "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" Los Angeles premiere on October 26, 2008 in Westwood, Calif.
Willow Smith attends the premiere of 'Kit Kittredge: An American Girl' at The Grove on June 14, 2008 in Los Angeles.
Willow Smith arrives at Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 27, 2010 in Los Angeles.
Smith arrives at the premiere Of Paramount Pictures & Nickelodeon's 'Imagine That' at Paramount Theater on the Paramount Studios lot on June 6, 2009 in Los Angeles.
Comments: (15)
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By: kim on 6/09/2010 2:27PM
Salt & Pepa said "You know life is all about expression, you only live once, and you're not coming back, so express yourself." She's a Hollywood kid. Willow is being bought up to love herself no matter what. I remember rocking the Salt n Pepa hair do back in the day I also remember when as teenagers, we were shaving one side of our hair. Trends fad to black and then some come right back. Will & Jada seem to be raising smart children. The get excellent grades, don't don't appear to be overly spoiled and the youngest Smith children WORK!!! The parents set the example. Jada is ALWAYS changing her look. WIllow might a designer in training. Who knows, however, I do know that she's not harming herself, or anyone. Check out pictures of Gwen Stefani's son, when he was just 1, he was rocking a spiked mohawk. Willow's mohawk, is probably least of their worries. Let the child be, next week she might be rocking Diana Ross type hair. To answer the question, what would I do, not sure, however, when my son decided that he wanted to grow his hair out so he could start getting in braided, I told him he has to be responsible about washing it, on a regular basis. IF he wasn't going to keep the braids up, then I would take him to a barber shop to get it cut off back close. Well, he's 21 and the hair is down his back. If he was nine and wanted a mohawk, I probably would have done it. Like I said trends fade to black real quick
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By: Keni on 6/13/2010 1:25AM
I believe in the Smith family child-rearing method. Will Smith stated on the Oprah show that they give their children all the freedom they can handle. So, if she is being responsible and able to handle the attention she will get from her new style, so be it. Little Black girls have always been made to feel insecure about their beauty, especially when it comes to their hair. It's about time we start teaching them to love themselves and celebrate their uniqueness.
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By: Gale Bowens on 6/14/2010 3:28PM
At nine years old, Willow is a very confidence young girl. As a young girl, I believe there should be bountaries which are set by her parents who definitely know 100% more than her. She should not have been allowed to buzzed off the side of hair. In my opinion, she is too young to be allowed to display this look. As she matures with age then she can be allowed the opportunity to express herself. This I feel comes when she is 18 years old. Call me old school.
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By: cheryl on 6/28/2010 9:00AM
i agree. she's entirely too young for this look. she's moving too fast. her parents need to call the shots. wonder if Jada told her NO WAY! but she did it anyway. anyway, fashion or no fashion, she should still be playing dolls!
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By: Rachel on 6/14/2010 10:52PM
For a nine year old she's got some serious guts!!! Either she is going to look at this and laugh one day or she is showing that one day she plans on taking over the world, because if she can shave her head at 9 imagine what she will be like at 13 or 18.
She is beaming with self confidence... Inspiring... To keep your hair styles fresher you should sleep on silk pillowcases or hair wraps. http://www.essenceofsilk.com has the best prices & selection.
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By: Eddie on 6/24/2010 8:08PM
The bottom line: that hair is growing out of her head. not her parents. this is a form of expression and if she is like every other 9 year old i know then she has opinions and a personality. her hair is the least of her parents worries when clothing companies are making low waisted jeans, micro-mini skirts, and mid-drift bearing shirts for girls her age. if she were a boy this would not be a topic of conversation.
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