Hayleigh Black from Hunstville, Alabama, was sent home from her first day of school because her bright red hair was deemed 'too distracting' to other students.

The 16-year-old told her local news station, WAFF News, that she never received any complaints or comments over her hair colour before the incident.

"I have never had anybody come up to me and say, 'Maybe you shouldn't have this colour,' or, 'Do you think that's a bad colour,'" she said.

Her mother, Kim Boyd, was shocked when she received a phone call that informed her to pick her daughter up from Muscle Shoals High school right away.

"Nothing was ever said last year. Never got any calls, never sent home, anything saying it had to be changed up until today," she said.

Hayleigh Boyd is an A and B student and a member of the school marching band who was represented the school in several competitions, all with her 'distracting' red hair. 

Muscle Shoals City School Superintendent Dr. Brian Lindsey, responded to the incident saying that the school rules specifically dictate that 'bright or distracting' coloured dyed hair will not be permitted and student's will be refused admission to classes if they defy the rules. 

Hayleigh has agreed to change her hair colour in order to avoid missing more classes.