A mum of five boys has been forced to defend her sons' choice to have waist-long hair - with some trolls claiming she keeps it long because she wanted a daughter instead.
Rachael Cresswell is a proud mum of boys, and all her children have beautiful blonde hair.
The family, from Torbay, Devon, share their beach-side adventures on Instagram, but the luscious, long locks of two of her boys have caught the attention of some outspoken followers.
Rachael, 42, is a stay-at-home mum to Jaxon, nine, Noah, seven, Cole, six, Bodhi, three, and Leif aged one.
Jaxon and Bodhi have chosen not to cut their hair, and whilst they have never experienced any negative comments from other children, adults online have voiced unwanted opinions about the young boys' growing longer hair.
Rachael said: "I'm told to cut their hair and strangers say they look like girls and that I'm suffering from gender disappointment, which I have never had.
"I find it crazy that people are so bothered by the length of a child's hair, the judgement from grown adults about a child they don't know is ridiculous."
Rachael's eldest son, Jaxon loves his waist-long hair, and revealed that she knew he would be born with a full head after suffering badly with heartburn during her pregnancy.
Laughing, she said: "I was overdue with Jaxon. He was born with so much fluffy blonde hair and it grew really quickly.
"He looked so much older than bald babies, but it just really suited him.
"By age two, it was to his shoulders, and when he was younger, he sometimes was mistaken for a girl, but now he can correct people himself and he's not bothered at all.
"He has never experienced any negativity from other children, but adults have often asked when he is going to get his hair cut.
"Older generations seem to have an issue with the length of his hair, simply because he is a boy."
Rachael added: "Given where we live, he has a real surfer dude persona and his hair is part of his personality.
"When Jaxon was old enough, we told him it's his choice if he wanted it cut, but he wanted to keep it long and we are fine with that."
Rachael added: "I believe it's really important to raise them to follow their own choices and allowing their own personality to develop."
While Rachael admits she would be a little sad if Jaxon cuts his hair, she stresses that it's his body, his choice.
She said: "Part of me would be sad, only because I've always known him with long hair, but we actively promote body autonomy.
"He said he would donate it if he did cut it off, and then just grow it again."
Rachael has been married for 10 years to husband Daniel, 39.
The dad-of-five works as a sea fisher and enforcement officer, and the couple were shocked when each of their sons was born with fair hair, despite their dad's dark-haired genes.
Rachael was shocked her five blonde boys all have her fair features.
She said: "My husband Dan is so dark-haired. We always assumed our children would look the same. After all, it is the dominant gene.
"Jaxon's hair has a slight wave and is the same shade of blonde as mine, yet Bodhi's hair is poker straight and is a lot lighter."
Both Noah and Cole have shorter hairstyle - Leif is just one and has yet to decide on his.
Day to day, Jaxon is happy to tie it back in a low ponytail for school or swimming, and Rachael said the boys have no specific haircare routine.
She said: "I'm always asked about what products we use and our haircare routine.
"I just wash their hair every other night and ask the boys to try not to get food in it."
Shutting down some of the criticism online, Rachael said: "TikTok can be brutal, but I am happy to be a boy mum, despite some ridiculous online comments claiming I must be desperate for a girl, or wish one of the boys was a girl."
"Their hair is part of their body, and it suits them perfectly.
"The boys like it and want to keep it long - and that's all that matters."
