A mom gave her six-year-old unicorn hair and people are freaking out

Unicorn hair—as in, brightly coloured locks—is all the rage nowadays. From brands like Lisa Frank to My Little Pony to Trolls, bright colours have always been used as a means of self-expression and that's why kids love it.

So when Mary Thomaston's daughter nagged her for months about dying her hair and shaving off one side, the Florida mom eventually caved. Being a hairstylist, Thomaston knew to use the non-toxic, temporary hair dye brand Manic Panic when creating her kid's look: a teal dye job with a purple, pink and yellow sun design on the shaved side. But now, Thomaston is being criticized for letting her six-year-old dye her hair and letting her kid to dictate what kind of look she wants.

Thomaston cleared the air for the "concerned" public by letting people know that a) the dye isn't permanent and no bleach was involved, b) she made sure her daughter's school was OK with it, and c) it was completely her kid's idea. When people questioned her decision and even her parenting skills on social media, she replied with “Really? Because when you’re a grownup with crazy-colored hair, people say that such things are for kids. It’s a contradiction. I say why not let them have fun while they’re young! Who knows what type of job she may end up with, but a lot of them won’t allow unnatural colors. When you think about it that way, it’s actually the perfect time to let them experiment with colour."

Expressing individuality is great—whether it be through hair, clothes or hobbies—and it's so critical to let kids do it. Unicorn hair might not be for everyone, but that doesn't mean it's wrong, especially when no harm has been done to anyone.

Have you ever encountered backlash for letting your kid express herself through her appearance? 

Read more: My five-year-old is already asking for bikinis and hair chalk! Should you let your kid get a manicure? The little girl in this music video is life