Utah girl, 15, removed from classes over dyed hair color

ST. GEORGE, Utah – A southern Utah student has been removed from classes after administrators found her dyed hair color too distracting.

Rylee MacKay, a 15-year-old student at Hurricane Middle School in Hurricane, said she was sent to the office Wednesday after an administrator said her hair looked purple and pink in the sunlight.

Under Washington County School District policy, hair "should be within the spectrum of color that grows naturally," and administrators can decide whether a color is too distracting.

Rylee told The Spectrum of St. George that she has been dying her hair the same red color since September.

"They brought me into the office and told me (my hair) had to be changed by the next day," she said. "They told me I could finish my week's worth (of schoolwork) in the office so nobody could see me."

Hurricane Principal Roy Hoyt said parents sign a district policy disclosure form and agree to review policies with their children before the beginning of the school year.

"We try to consistently and fairly uphold district policies," Hoyt told The Spectrum. "When students are out of compliance with the dress code, we attempt to find a resolution. Students are welcome to return to class when the issue has been satisfactorily resolved."

Rylee's mother, Amy MacKay, said she plans to have her daughter take action so she can return to classes Monday.

"I think I'm just going to have her wash it a few times this weekend. It's so fresh that maybe if she washes it, it will tone down," Amy MacKay said, adding there are no plans to return the hair to its original brown color.