Mom forbids 18-year-old daughter from buying $5 hair clips online, daughter buys them anyway: 'I am literally a legal adult trying to buy $4 hair clips.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Mar 3, 2026 12:00 PM EST

She's a legal adult using her own money to buy a product…her mother should have no involvement in this process. 

At what point does a parent stop telling their kids what to do? It really depends on the family that you're in. Some parents never tell their kids what to do, even when their kids are really little. They frame things in terms of choice, asking their toddlers, "Do you want to brush your teeth first, or read a bedtime story first?" This can be a risky strategy, especially when you're giving your kid choices that they shouldn't have. You can't ask, "Can you eat your broccoli?" without "No" being a valid answer. 

At the other end of the spectrum, some parents never stop telling their kids what to do, even well into adulthood. They will criticize and instruct their adult children on what they should be doing with their careers, relationships, and money, even though their child is 35 and should know what to do in those areas by now.

In my experience, my parents stopped telling me exactly what I could and could not do after I graduated from high school. There were still some things that they forbade (driving in Downtown Dallas was one of them), but it wasn't like I had to ask them permission every time I wanted to hang out with one of my friends. Even before I turned 18, I could get fast food without asking my mom first. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01
    A woman with curly hair has a bunch of hair clips on her head
    via Andrej Lišakov (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The 18-year-old in this story may be an adult in the eyes of the law, but she's 8 years old in her mother's eyes. Her mom freaked out when she ordered cheap hair clips online without her permission. She was beyond controlling, demanding that her daughter buy hair clips from CVS instead. Why does she care so much where her daughter buys accessories? 

  • 02

    Am I the bad guy for buying hair clips despite my mom saying no?

    Literally the title. I (18F) don't even know why this is an issue. I have been growing out my hair and trying cute hairstyles to experiment with my look, and wanted these cute hairclips from amazon to put in my hair.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 03
    Nothing crazy, just a $5 set of tiny fingerpad-sized claw clips to clip my bangs and etc.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 04
    I was going to buy them with gift money my grandma gave me for Chinese New Year, but my parents have amazon prime and get angry if I order things without consulting them and allowing them to question me about non-harmful things such as a refill of my face moisturizer.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 05
    A person holding white and black plastic bottle
    via Poko Skincare

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 06
    I have had such a stressful week and honestly just wanted to treat myself to something nice, so I go to ask my mom for the clips.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 07
    Right off the bat she starts screaming at me about how I "already have so many hair accessories" (random hair accessories she buys me from the target sale section that I never wear that are pretty din ugly) and that she doesn't trust the 200+ reviews on the product.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 08
    She screams at me to go to CVS and instead buy from there, but I tell her that I already checked the brand that CVS has and the reviews stink.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 09
    I ask her why she doesn't trust hundreds of reviews. on an online product but trusts walking in to a store and purchasing a product with no idea how it performs.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 10
    She ignores me and screams about how wasteful I am, how I need to leave her alone, how I need to stop arguing with her, etc.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 11
    Mom screaming at her daughter about hair clips
    via engin akyurt

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    I don't really know what I did wrong because she started screaming immediately. Also, I am literally a legal adult trying to buy $4 hair clips and I don't really know why that's an issue.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 13
    So I buy them myself (with my own money ofc), and when the package arrives my mom just blows up.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 14
    I get the same speech about my wastefulness and how wrong I was to go behind her back, but I just told her if she let me spend my own gift money this wouldn't have been an issue.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 15
    Also, I don't really know why this purchase was a big deal because she orders so many random things off amazon such as RGB light up stud earrings that she wears once and breaks because she doesn't read bad product reviews before buying lol.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 16
    Was I wrong? I guess the only offense was going behind her back despite her saying no but I feel her reasons for saying no were flawed anyhow.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 17
    My clips are very cute by the way I am wearing them as I type this and have been wearing them for the past week.
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 18
    DJ_Too_Supreme_Mk3 INFO: Did you pay for it with your own money? EDIT: NTA. You're 18 and you paid for it with your own money. Whatever problem your mom has is irrelevant. Also, why should you need permission to buy something with your own money?
    via u/DJ_Too_Supreme_Mk3
  • 19
    BreakfastOne5341 Original Poster's Reply Yes!
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 20
    BlondDee1970 NTA for wanting to buy the clips - you're 18 and using your own money. BUT your mom had a right to control her own account. She actually doesn't have to allow you to use her prime account even if her reasoning is petty.
    via u/BlondDee1970
  • 21
    BreakfastOne5341 Original Poster's Reply I didn't use her account, I just made my own account to buy the clips
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 22
    Valuable-Release-868 I am confused - did you use your mom's Amazon account? If so, how did you pay for it - using her stored forms of payment? If so, YTA. If not, then NTA. But you are 18. You should get your own account if you don't have one. And like others suggested - use a PO box or have it delivered to a friend.
    via u/Valuable-Release-868
  • 23
    BreakfastOne5341 Original Poster's Reply I just made an account and ordered the clips lol
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 24
    Disastrous_Role_202 YTA, honestly listen to your mum or move out
    via u/Disastrous_Role_202
  • 25
    BreakfastOne5341 Original Poster's Reply I can't really do that... My parents don't let me have a job so I am kind of forced to be dependent on them. Also I'm going to college in like 6 months idk why I would move out now lol
    via u/BreakfastOne5341
  • 26
    JuniperBlueBerry Get your own Amazon account. Also, when you're mom raises her voice, you get up and leave the room. Boundaries
    via u/JuniperBlueBerry
  • 27
    Dramatic_Tale_6290 NTA. I recommend renting the smallest PO Box (or having items delivered to a locker) then getting your own online accounts to purchase items for yourself. You might even be able to use a pre- paid card from a gas station. As a person who had controlling parents (but not THIS controlling... yours are extreme), the sooner you can get some independence, the fewer issues you will have later. You should not have to consult anyone about some dumb things like why you trust reviews, w
    via u/Dramatic_Tale_6290
  • 28
    EbonyDr17 The problem is much deeper than some $4 hair clips. You've transitioned into adulthood, and these parents want to maintain control like you're still a child. You're going to have to learn to navigate this with them as well as how to stand your ground when you need to. Otherwise, this will never change.
    via u/EbonyDr17
  • 29
    Sweeper 1985 I don't understand why you even asked her in the first place over a $5 purchase when you had the money.
    via u/Sweeper1985
  • 30
    Alisome44 NTA: you are an adult and used your own money. My 8 year old determines how his chore allowance is spent after 20% goes into his savings account. We might advise "remember vacation is 2 months away and you might want extra $" or "that's not a good deal" but ultimately his decision.
    via u/Alisome44

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

hair online shopping parenting clips daughter mom adult children money argument discipline
Scroll Down For The Next Article