It’s widely known that some individuals go to great lengths to conform to perceived ‘beauty standards,’ and for JoJo Siwa, this drive began in her early childhood.
JoJo initially gained notoriety on the Lifetime TV shows Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition and Dance Moms.
Now 21 years old, she made her television debut at the age of nine and subsequently became a YouTube sensation, creating a channel that garnered an impressive 12 million subscribers.
JoJo has since deleted her original channel and launched a new one as she shifted her focus to her music career.
On April 5, 2024, she released her latest song ‘Karma’ through Columbia Records.
Fans of JoJo Siwa know that she has always sported blonde hair, but this isn’t her natural hair color.
While it’s common for children who were blonde to become brunettes as they grow older, JoJo’s mother Jessalynn Siwa wanted to prevent this change.
Consequently, Jessalynn has been dyeing JoJo’s hair for many years. A recently resurfaced clip from the second season of Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition shows her dyeing nine-year-old JoJo’s hair.
“Nothing is off limits when it comes to doing what I think will benefit JoJo,” Jessalynn states in the clip.
She also tells her young daughter, “You know, your hair is getting really dark. We’re gonna’ need to lighten this up.”
While the idea of a nine-year-old having her roots dyed might already be surprising, JoJo has claimed that she has been dyeing her hair since she was around two years old.
In light of JoJo’s age, many have criticized Jessalynn for bleaching her daughter’s hair.
“I found out today that jojo siwa isn’t a natural blonde and her mother has been bleaching her hair since she was 2 years old,” someone tweeted in April.
Another person responded, “Isn’t this like some form of abuse?”
“Can you imagine how damaging all that bleaching and wearing her hair in a high pony for years is,” remarked another.
A third person argued, “Y’all are talking about hair damage but uh.. I think it might be a bit more serious than that.”
Generally, it is recommended to wait until the age of 16 before dyeing hair.
New York-based dermatological surgeon Sejal Shah, MD, explained that a child’s hair continues to develop until puberty, which is why she advises against bleaching until ‘at least 16’.
“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,” she told The Independent.