It has been my experience that if you let it go, hard as that may be, the child will eventually realize that he looks silly and change it on his/her own. Plus, you get lots of pictures to laugh together about in years to come. :-D

I know what you're talking about. I'm much older than you - I'm talking about a 14-year-old grandson who also favors the "emo" hairstyle recently. But, as you say, you should learn to pick your battles. I'm afraid bigger ones are ahead so don't waste too much time dwelling on this - like all fads, this, too, will pass.

My boys insist that their hair must be pulled down, straight in the front -- no part. They would look so NICE if they had a little part on the side!! However, my hairstylist tells me this is very common for boys. Straight down the middle. I try to pick my battles too -- but I know, it's a tough one.

Okay... so were you ever at the stage where your son didn't even realize that there were styles? That's my 8 yo right now... Haircuts? Do we really need 'em? That would be his mantra.... UGH!!!!! I guess we just can't win!

heh...just tell him blonde emo hair makes him look like a poser, but that once you thought about it, he was just as cute as a bug.

Then proceed to tell his friends that every time you see them.

Watch the hairstyle change ;-)

Crud - why didn't you people WARN me before I had kids that this is what I had to look forward to????

With a boy? Hairstyle is a big deal?

And I thought I had it made with no girls!

For many years, my ex insisted that our son wet his hair, part it on the side and comb it down for church. He hated this, so he eventually asked for a buzz cut. No fuss, no bother. He wore that until he hit middle school, and now it is "emo" all the way. It doesn't look all that good, because his hair is fine and VERY straight and just sort of lays on top of his head. But I don't say a word, because it is his choice and it is a small-enough thing.

My daughter is 6 months old, so I don't have any problems like that...yet. However, my husband is terrified that she's going to come home one day and want tattoos and piercing. I just keep reminding him that by the time she is old enough to want those things there will be something else "cool" that we can't even fathom right now. I'm pretty sure we will wish that she'll only want a piercing or an emo hair cut. So don't worry, there will always be crazier things to come into fashion. =)

At least he isn't dying it yet...(Is he?)

O M G I thought my son was the only one who wanted his hair that way.

I will be shouting for joy so loud you'll hear me all the way at your house the day my 15 year old son cuts his hair. It's long, got split ends, but, that's how the Heavy Metal guys wear it.

I hold my tongue (most of the time) but it's hard. I say "But, you have such a pretty face."

Okay, help me out here. I've heard the term "emo" but I cannot for the life of me understand what it is! The pictures just aren't explaining it to me. Can you?

For Jenn http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=emo

For Busymom--Hey it could be Flock of Seagulls!

I'll take the line to the right, and one-up it by saying I like those kinds of hairstyles. Eeek! LOL!

My son will never be able to pull off that hairstyle, because he has such an exuberant cowlick, you can't look at him without thinking, "Boing!"

Maybe that's why I like the emo hairdo: because it will probably never be a factor in my life.

with 3 teenage boys in the house I gave up on this battle years ago. and I gave up on the color coordinated clothes battle. and the messy room battle.
but the homework battle? so far i am winning and I am not giving up!
mom -1 boys -3

LMAO.... ahhhh my 6'4", then 19 year old had a 'fro'. I said nothing, even though I hated it. I left it to his older sister. She told him he looked like a punk, and he cut it. heheheh Talk to Busy Girl.

my little brother (now 13) has the funky 'do as well. i beg him to cut it so i can see his pretty little eyes and all i get is: "sister, it's a babe magnet! all chicks dig my hair"

and then i run away crying! HES MY LITTLE BROTHER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

(strange attachment, but i raised him...)

I'll see your strange hair and raise you one wearing pants much lower than they were designed for.

(The idea of pantsing said child is very hard to resist)

This too shall pass. As long as he keeps it clean, I wouldn't complain too much. But don't take too many pictures. He'll just be embarrased later.

Get him some hair wax and you can turn that helmet into a straight eye-blocking do in no time. Just steer him towards sport-coat-emo and away from tight-black-jeans-emo. Then you both win a little.

Emo? At least he's not gone for an Elmo...