Schools ease make-up rules

Updated on: Monday, October 19, 2009

Kolkata: Rejoining school after the Diwali break has always been a huge issue among schoolkids, especially girls in senior classes.

With schools remaining strict on the issue of make-up, many students faced the dilemma of how to suddenly do away with traces of henna on their hands or the golden streaks off their hair. Even schools were unsure how to deal with the problem, but some of them have relaxed the rules somewhat.

Most schools have decided to allow the most common form of make-up — henna patterns on palms. Some school diaries have even mentioned this, carefully adding that girls need to be careful that the pattern doesn’t extend beyond their wrists.

Hair colour, however, is still taboo. Although they have received a lot of request from pupils, most schools have said that they will send offenders back home. The pupils will be allowed to rejoin only after the colour has faded away or until they dye their hair black.

Schools have also said no to multiple ear piercings and long nails — with or without colour — though the rule is not too clear about eyebrow shaping and waxing of limbs for girls till Class X. Beyond this stage, however, schools have decided to overlook both.

Girls of classes IX-XII at Mahadevi Birla Girls’ HS School had requested the school administration to postpone their half-yearly exams so that they can celebrate their Diwali with fanfare, but the school refused.

“We have strategically placed the exam so that they enjoy but not without restrictions. I am sure many would colour their hair and visit the parlour, but my rule is that the mehndi should not cross their wrists. This is also the time for ear piercings, long nails and colour, but all that is taboo,” says Malini Bhagat, the principal.

Modern High School, too, will allow mehndi and principal Devi Kar says that she has given strict instructions that this should be minimal. “No one should cross the limit. A balance ought to be struck

Schools ease make-up rules

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