A leading Jamaican girls’ school is facing pushback after banning styled edges—often referred to as baby hairs—reigniting a broader conversation about how Black hair has long been regulated in schools and workplaces.

St. Andrew High School for Girls (SAHS), one of Jamaica’s most respected secondary schools, shared a notice on Instagram  informing students that the popular hairstyle is no longer allowed on campus.

“Please be advised that the wearing of ‘edges’ is now officially banned on campus,” the message read. “Remember, curtains belong in the house, not on foreheads! Let’s keep our looks neat and school-ready. We appreciate your cooperation in upholding our standards of excellence as we continue honoring the legacy and inspiring the future.”

Founded in 1925 by the Presbyterian and Wesleyan Methodist churches, SAHS has long been celebrated for its academic rigor and discipline, producing alumni who have gone on to lead in fields such as law, medicine, politics, and business. Its motto, “Life More Abundant,” speaks to its mission to nurture students holistically.

But some argue the new rule contradicts that mission. 

“So now edges aren’t classy?? Chilli would like to have a word!!!!,” one user wrote on Instagram according to the Michigan Chronicle. Another questioned, “How does edges stop the girls from looking neat and ready for school?” 

Critics point out that regulating Black hair has deep roots in colonial history and continues today — from the Tignon Laws of 18th-century Louisiana, which required Black women to cover their hair, to modern-day battles that led to the CROWN Act, a U.S. law banning race-based hair discrimination. Many argue that policing edges, braids, or locs is not just about grooming standards but about controlling expressions of Black identity and beauty.