Teen 'forced to dye hair black' for school in Japan

The girl is now suing local government for damages. Photo / Getty

A Japanese teenager was allegedly forced to dye her hair black to attend school.

The 18-year-old is suing the local government for being made to dye her naturally brown hair black to attend high school near Osaka.

She alleges the dye damaged her hair and scalp.

Kaifukan School reportedly told the girl she could not attend unless she had black hair but reports that they have a policy to ban students who dye their hair.

The girl's mum reportedly told the school her daughter's hair was naturally brown.

She has not attended the school since September last year.

The Osaka school is not the only one with strict policies on students' appearance in Japan.

A reported 60 per cent of high schools in Tokyo alone ask students with light coloured hair to prove that is their natural colour.