How did your parents and family react?

Hey girls -

I was curious to know how your parents and/or other family reacted when they found out you have a hawk?
I just got my hair done 2 days ago. By the way I am 25 yrs old and live on my own with my bf, and not under my parents roof.
My grandparents are having their 55th anniversary party this weekend, and the plans were that my bf and I were going to attend it. We were going to go there with my parents.
Knowing this, I sucked it up and called my parents the night I got it done...I let them know that I have this new mohawk hairstyle, BUT that I don't plan on spiking it up and that I would wear it down around them and the family.
Their reaction? They were utterly shocked, upset, and immediately told me that I am not allowed to attend our family function this weekend! They hadn't even seen any pics of me or anything...just immediately banned me from going! I was so hurt :(
I tried calling my parents last night and that didn't get me anywhere. My mom could barely talk to me and threatened to hang up on me so we ended the call.

I wrote them a long email last night explaining everything out and sent them pics of my hair down, which I think makes a very cute short hairstyle for me. I just hope they read it and understand that I am still the same daughter I always have and a hairstyle won't change that.

I'm tempted to call my grandparents and let them know whats going on and see if my bf and I can visit them on another weekend, but I'm nervous about my grandmother. She's very judgmental just like my parents and I don't want to deal with a repeat issue..

I think as women, we have it harder when we choose to have a punked out hairstyle such as this. Especially when there are family members who are set in their ways that it isn't "ladylike or proper" for a woman to wear their hair in a mohawk style.

Anyway I was just wondering if anyone else had simular reactions as I did from their families and/or how you worked through them?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kate Terrio on June 20, 2011 at 9:22pm

I was 15 when I first got a hawk. Luckily, my parents have always been wicked chill, and didn't mind at all when I got my head shaved. My mum had the 'It's your hair, do whatever you want." reaction, and my dad was pumped and wanted to have a mad max marathon, cause that's what it reminded him of.

Permalink Reply by Barbiepueppchen on June 26, 2011 at 2:02pm

I told my mom a week ago that i'm gonna get one and she said she hated it.

I told my dad, and he simply said women are difficult and he can't understand that I never wanted to cut my hair and now I wanna buzz my sides off. He's just like: I don't have to walk around with it so it's what effs.

Good argument: Now I'm in school and I can try it and if I don't like it (haha.) I didn't lose my job cause of it.

Permalink Reply by L Lowery on July 9, 2011 at 5:41pm

I have the same reaction with my in-laws. My hubby told me they absolutely HATE my hair. I had dark brown hair and bleached it to blonde and then dyed it magenta and now it's a bright red color. But I couldn't care less b/c I don't like them anyhow and they don't like me just b/c I'm half Cherokee. I get looks every now and then but most the time people like my hair and even though it's still short and doesn't look great up yet I love fluffing it up and then making it all messy at the top :) IMO hawk haters are people who just want something to hate or don't like you b/c you're brave enough to go somewhere style-wise they are too chicken too.

Permalink Reply by YaZ on September 30, 2011 at 11:18pm

Well my mom used to hate it but but she like it, she even help me dye it!

Permalink Reply by Robin on November 18, 2011 at 10:17am

My family is used to my shenaningans now, so I got approval from them. But my fiances grandma was another story. I walked out of her house with shoulder length hair and came back two hours later with my newly aquired hawk. I got " WHAT IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO TO YOUR HAIR???" bahahaha

Permalink Reply by Kitti McManus on November 23, 2011 at 12:57am

Before I got my Mohawk, I had had dreads once before which my parents made me get rid of, so instead of combing it out I just shaved my head. So, It wasn't much of a change for them, since when I first showed them I had it down. And often, when I'm around them my hair is down. The worst I've gotten is when I'm talking to my dad, he thinks I should spike just my bangs so I can catch the ideas that fly over my head. And my family gives me loads of shit, but surprisingly they don't really care, they just got used to the fact that I want to be unusual.

Permalink Reply by Luca on December 7, 2011 at 2:19am

My family's reaction was good... I was 14 and came home from a party at dawn, with my mohawk... My mom doesnt care about it, and my dad loves to make jokes of my hair.. My parents only hate my piercings and tattoos.. But they still love me, I guess. They dont care about my look anymore, because I love colorful hawks and body mods.. I've got a green-black hair now.

Permalink Reply by freak27 on December 17, 2011 at 2:32am

My immediate family likes it. They know me and my crazy style. but my mom's side is like idk They have adapted and grown used to it. As long as its not a crazy color my great aunt is okay. I really dont care though.

Permalink Reply by India 'fuckface' Calver on May 18, 2012 at 7:10pm

I know this sounds weird but my Mum cut my first mohawk in, she used to love dying it and bleaching it.
I'm surprised she didn't make her own portfolio!! haha Bless her soul.

Permalink Reply by Brittany Young on December 20, 2012 at 6:07pm

Mine maintains my 'hawk now as well. Had it cut professionally and then she's just been trimming. :D

Permalink Reply by Alexandra Slaughter on June 27, 2012 at 1:27pm

My mom flipped when I first cut mine last year, but my father thought it was awesome. my mom has grown to like it but I wouldn't care if she did/didn't anyway haha. My mother's mother hates it but my father's mother thinks its the coolest thing ever. My mom's side is very... uptight so they don't dig it too much but my dad's side thinks its awesome (:

Permalink Reply by Scamp on June 27, 2012 at 6:28pm

I had just turned 18 me my brother and my bio dad went and got mohawks together! But my grandparents that raised me wouldn't talk to me for about 2 weeks wastotally worth it. I am 23 now and when I was going to have my baby my biodad and my grandpa took me to get a mohawk so I could have it up while I gave birth best pictures ever! Now they love it when I shave my head.