Police Called Over Pink Hair At Playtime, Babysitter Left Shaken As Parents Confront Family Fallout

A good babysitter doesn’t just keep kids safe, they also know how to make sure they’re having fun.

So when this Redditor offered to dye the hair of the 3- and 5-year-old girls they were watching pink (with their parents’ full permission, using temporary, washable dye), it seemed like a harmless way to play dress-up.

But the kids’ grandma didn’t see it that way. The moment she saw their new look, she completely lost it, accusing the babysitter of crossing a line and calling both the police and CPS.

Scroll down to see how everything unfolded—and how the babysitter decided to respond.

The grandmother’s reaction in this story feels entirely disproportionate to what actually happened, especially considering the babysitter had full permission from the parents to dye the girls’ hair pink.

But with more people becoming open to letting their kids experiment with hair color, it raises the question: is any kind of hair dye really safe for children?

Let’s break it down.

Starting with the obvious: permanent hair dye can be quite damaging and is generally not recommended for kids. And it’s not just about whether dyeing is age-appropriate or if it might conflict with school rules.

“I really don’t think it’s safe to dye or bleach a child’s hair until after puberty, and ideally not until their late teens—at least 16,” Dr. Sejal Shah, M.D., a New York-based dermatological surgeon, told Good Housekeeping.

The reason is that children’s hair is typically finer and more delicate than adult hair. This makes it much more vulnerable to the damaging effects of dye and bleach.

Because kids’ hair goes through so many changes from birth to puberty, Dr. Shah also points out that both their hair and skin are more sensitive, and is therefore more prone to negative reactions.

These reactions often stem from the harsh ingredients in traditional hair products.

“The chemicals are harsh and can damage hair,” explained Dr. Margarita Lolis, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, in a conversation with Good Housekeeping. “Ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and a chemical known as paraphenylenediamine that's commonly used in permanent hair dye can cause very bad reactions.”

Beyond irritation, these chemicals can even alter the texture of the child’s hair, meaning that what started as a fun color change might end up permanently affecting the way their hair looks and feels.

So what is safe? Temporary, washable dyes are considered the best option. And that has a lot to do with how they work.

“These temporary colors just coat the hair shaft and do not penetrate it as a dye would,” Dr. Shah explained, adding that there are also natural alternatives like herbs and tea that can tint the hair more gently.

If parents still want to go the permanent route, experts recommend techniques that minimize damage as much as possible.

“The same rules apply for kids’ hair as for adults. Don’t apply dye to the root of the hair to ensure it does not touch the scalp. Sit in a well-ventilated room. Don’t overly process the hair, because it can lead to breakage. And apply an ointment to the skin around the hairline to make sure the dye does not touch the skin in those areas,” Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a New York-based dermatologist and the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital, told Today.

Also, never skip the patch test, especially for kids. While adding color can be a fun way to express creativity, any kind of allergic reaction can quickly ruin the experience.