The debate over whether children should wear makeup at school or not is rife. So, what are the key debate points? Take a look…

Wearing makeup to school is a much-contended subject. For many young girls and boys, wearing makeup is a key part of being a teenager discovering themselves. However, some argue that it is a distraction; schools are not a beauty pageant, after all.

Although education law advice is not very clear on school rules regarding makeup, exclusions and school complaints surrounding this issue are not over. Petitions have been signed, media debates have been tackled, and schools have been exposed for their unfair practices.

With this in mind, should schools allow their students to wear makeup or not? The key pros and cons of the debate are reflected in this article.

Pros Of Allowing Children To Wear Make-Up At School

Starting with the many pros surrounding the makeup at school debate, some of the key reasons it should be allowed include:

• Confidence Boosting

The thing about living in a world of social media is that made-up faces are everywhere, and beauty standards have never been higher. This means that many young people might feel inadequate.

Although, this is certainly not an ideal mindset, as children, we are all trying to figure out who we are. Having the added stress of fitting in and meeting the high beauty standards might be too much for some. Especially if puberty has caused acne, makeup can really provide that added bit of self-assurance.

By allowing children to head to school with their insecurities covered, and their natural beauty enhanced, it can only be a good thing. It is the same mindset as when we adults head to work with a full face and a power suit. Similarly, school kids can head to school with confidence, ready to ace their daily studies.

• Self-Expression

Self-expression has become a key part of life nowadays, and children under the age of 18 should be allowed to experiment with this. Being a teenager is all about figuring out who you are, and what better way to do this than through makeup? A school that restricts this is a school that rejects individuality, in many ways.

• An Outlet For Creativity

The truth is, make-up is an art form, and is a genuine hobby that can lead to job opportunities and life enjoyment. By allowing children to experiment with it at a young age, you are giving them the opportunity to enhance their skills. You are also potentially allowing doors to be opened for them in the future.

Despite The Rules, Kids Will Still Wear It

Ultimately, no matter what sort of rules you enforce, kids will always break them. They may even take it to the extreme and wear crazy make-up just because they are not allowed to. Instead, by setting rules to allow make-up but limiting its usage, you can provide them with an outlet for their creativity and self-expression in a controlled way.

Cons Of Allowing Children To Wear Make-Up At School

Despite these important pros, we have to look at both sides of the coin. So, with that, let us take a look at some of the cons of allowing children to wear make-up to school:

• Some Kids Might Not Be Able To Afford It

The unfortunate truth is that some children might not be able to afford make-up. If the school rules allow for children to wear it, it is sure to create a divide between those who can and cannot buy it, making those who cannot feel left out. It might, therefore, exacerbate their insecurities.

• Not Looking Smart

For many schools, especially those where uniform is worn, school children are part of the face of the school, setting an example when they leave the premises. If children cake their faces with makeup, this might come off as somewhat “not smart” for onlookers of the school.

• It Could Be A Distraction

Some argue that wearing make-up is a distraction in school, and to some degree this is certainly the case. Constantly checking one’s make-up, and heading to the bathrooms to touch up, might be distracting to some children, of course.

What is more, the constant comparisons between one another’s make-up looks might be a little distracting too. It all depends on how the school enforces these rules.

You Have To Draw The Line Somewhere

At the end of the day, you cannot have children coming into school with orange faces and spider lashes, as many of us will have done back in the day. Although these sorts of looks are not so “in” these days as they were back in the 2000s, that is not to say some children will not go a bit mad with bright eye shadow and dramatic winged liner.

Once you open the can of worms of letting kids wear makeup, how can you limit the amount of makeup worn? Of course, make-up is all about self-expression, but children are heading to school to learn not to take part in a fashion show. Ultimately, once you have said yes to makeup, setting limits might then be tricky.

Should We Allow Kids To Wear Makeup To School?

Clearly, the debate is still very much heated and alive. In reality, it seems only right that a compromise should be met. For example, allowing makeup, but limiting the amount of it, could set people on the way to a much happier schooling environment. 

It is certainly a tricky topic, so what side of the argument do you fall into? Be sure to leave your thoughts and ideas in the comments down below.