Should 11-Year-Olds Be Getting Salon Highlights?

When was the first time you went to a salon to get a hair treatment besides a haircut? Tammy Currin, the owner of the Toadly Kool Me (a children's salon) tells theNew York Times her youngest client was six years old, but it usually averages from 9 to 10.

Lexi James, an 11-year-old, got her first treatment after seeing her older sister (who's 13) get her hair chemically straightened. For $45, Lexi had her dark brown hair styled with six chunky caramel streaks and a blow out/flat ironing for what Lexi called a "punky" look.

It's certainly not the latest trend for young girls to want highlights. It used to be something that girls did at home through DIY kits. But now, girls are salon-bound for their perfect look. Mark Goodman, who's the VP of a salon, estimates that tween girls made up about 25 percent of his clientele.

A lot of stylists are now familiarizing themselves with teen celebrities. Why? Girls always want to look like their teen celeb idols like Ashley Tisdale and Miley Cyrus and some parents are willing to fork over up to $400 for a copycat look! "Girls as young as 10 come in with little support groups of friends who wait with them hours," Ouidad, a stylist at a Manhattan salon tells the NYT. "And when I turn them into Hannah Montana or whoever they want, they literally jump and cry and scream."