Kenny Jamieson was told the hairstyle was unacceptable

Kenny Jamieson was told by his head teacher the braided rows were unacceptable, newspapers reported on Tuesday.

Kenny's father Don told The Times: "There are plenty of girls at the school who have braids but the head teacher told me it was inappropriate to have such a hairstyle.

"That is ridiculous and I will not put up with it."

The head teacher of Savio High School in Bootle, Father Mageean, said the issue "had been resolved" last Friday.

Kenny was on study leave on Monday and Tuesday, and due to return to school for exams during the rest of the week.

Hairdressers across the UK were bracing themselves for an influx of young men requesting cornrows after Beckham revealed his new look this week.

"Children always copy whatever hairstyle Beckham has and soon the school will be overrun with boys with braids.

"They can't ban all of them," Mr Jamieson told the Daily Express.

Imitators may suffer for their style

Kenny was told not to return to school until the braids had been removed.

Hairdressers and doctors were less than welcoming of the new look, saying it can be painful plaiting the hair tight enough to hold, cause headaches and the risk of premature balding if the hair breaks at the base.

Fine blond hair was particularly susceptible.

Hairdresser Kim Johnson, whose salon specialises in Afro-Caribbean styling, said cornrows "can be a bit painful".

"It has to be quite tight for it to hold," he told BBC News Online.