African American Hair Problems in Nursing

Nurses Professionalism

Published

I'm not sure how many people can help me with this problem but here it is. I can't keep up with my relaxed hair and want to get box braids for low maintenance . There are other people at my job that have box braids; however, I got an interview with my dream job. I'm worried that is I get box braids that I'll look unprofessional. So would it be ok if I went to the interview with the braids or keep my hair relaxed till I landed the job?

Employers have a right to ask for a certain dress code and this includes hair, tattoes, inappropriate or overdone jewelry, perfume (totally out of place in the workplace). To ask you to show up on time and not abuse the "sick" benefit... there could be more and this should all be in a policy. It's upfront, not hidden and.....

You have a right to not work there.

I personally am glad there are certain standards that apply to everyone. Get over it and quit making such noise out of nothing.

This is not the point. This is not about what's policy, that's a completely different issue.

What we are talking about here is being judged for and/or denied a job for wearing certain cultural hairstyles to an interview (especially when there are no specifics in policy) . The potential of being denied a job because of the interviewer's individual prejudice is the issue. How is one to know if that prejudice permeates the whole unit?

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I can appreciate both sides of the issue as I am bi-racial. However, it's not exactly the time to question or debate hairstyles when you're looking for work. This is an employer's market.

Why not make things easier and wait until you're hired? I guess I don't understand the whole debate. And yes, society should be more forward-thinking and open minded, but we know that isn't the case.

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I can appreciate both sides of the issue as I am bi-racial. However, it's not exactly the time to question or debate hairstyles when you're looking for work. This is an employer's market.

Why not make things easier and wait until you're hired? I guess I don't understand the whole debate. And yes, society should be more forward-thinking and open minded, but we know that isn't the case.

I guess for me and a few others that have posted, we wouldn't even want to work at a place that would discriminate based on hairstyle and possibly it's attached culture. I wouldn't find out AFTER I take a job that aside from all the regular stresses of being at a new job with new people is to find out my new coworkers/superiors are prejudice, overtly or unknowingly (maybe after braids are done after I get the job)

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Specializes in geriatrics.

You'll never know the real reason you weren't hired, and the interviewer may have a subconscious bias that he/she/ they do not even realize.

In this job market, it's just not worth it. You need to put your best foot forward. It's the same as me taking out my nose ring. I should have the right to wear what I please, by that logic. But no, because it's not widely accepted. However, in the urban setting where I was previously, nobody cared.

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***update**

I got the job!!! So excited. The job won't start till about 3 months which gives me enough time to rock my braids before the job happens ;D

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Congrats!!! So glad you got the job.

ps the braids will be great!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Congrats!!! So glad you got the job.

ps the braids will be great!

THIS.

Congrats! :up::anpom::up:

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***update**

I got the job!!! So excited. The job won't start till about 3 months which gives me enough time to rock my braids before the job happens ;D

We expect nothing short of pics!!

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I do not see a problem with your chosen hair style as long it is clean and neat and not too over bearing. That is your hair, and you do not have to straighten it if you chose not to. Appearance count a lot in interviews and first impressions are lasting. Within the first five minutes, the interviewer will create an impression of you and whether you are a good fit for that job. Also, remember that how you dress counts a lot as well as your body language, how you answer your questions. Only give the information asked for. Do not make jokes, use nick names, and turned your cell phone off, keep make up low, smile and give good eye contact.

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I read someone say to basically "get over it" but they should I have to change what comes naturally? I have had someone tell me that I needed to "tame" my nature hair. Why should I have to change the way my hair grows out of my head? How would a natural red hair or blond feel if a employer is basically telling them we don't find these colours professional.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

Is this a troll thread or something?

I have an armpit length kinky/curly fro. I rec'v compliments from everyone.

Even I didn't - I doubledog dare anyone to look me in my eyeballs and call it 'unprofessional' -- suggesting that I "do something about it".

No. Braids, dreds, sisterlocks, fro's, etc... are not fads. They're black hair styles. It's deeply cultural.

As for my curls -- this is how my hair naturally grows from my frickin' scalp. Hell, yeah - it's BIG! LOL I don't need to 'do something' about it. OUR hair doesn't need to be 'fixed'.

I'm not going to alter the very structure of my hair shaft to fit some idiot interviewer's WARPED beauty ideal.

Should I change my skin color,too? Maybe, get the fat sucked out of my lips...or butt ( could be lucrative considering all of these 'boxy'-looking pancake *expletive* females getting butt augmentation these days). LOL

I've enough to spare!

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.
Employers have a right to ask for a certain dress code and this includes hair, tattoes, inappropriate or overdone jewelry, perfume (totally out of place in the workplace). To ask you to show up on time and not abuse the "sick" benefit... there could be more and this should all be in a policy. It's upfront, not hidden and.....

You have a right to not work there.

I personally am glad there are certain standards that apply to everyone. Get over it and quit making such noise out of nothing.

We're talking about judging someone for something that CANNOT be controlled. It's a problem when you tell a group of people that what is natural about them is wrong -- that they should change a natural feature to fit.

No, they shouldn't be told to 'get over it'.

They don't have the problem. You do.

...but this isn't an issue that affects you so, of course, you'd be all obtuse and "dismissive" about it. Who cares, right?

Ugh. Does this site have an "ignore" feature?

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