How do you wear your hair for clinicals?

Nursing Students General Students

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I've been hearing that our clinical instructors are super picky about our appearance at clinicals (As they should be!). Our hair cannot touch our collars but I'm afraid that a ponytail may be looked down on as being sloppy?! I want to look like I care about my appearance but I don't want to spend a long time in doing my hair when I have to be there at 5:30 am!!! Any ideas?

I chopped my hair off to an above the collar bob. It was great because at 5am the last thing I wanted to do was my hair. I just put a little gel in (naturally wavy) and pinned back the front with a couple bobby pins to keep it out of my face, and that was it.

My LPN program wasn't picky at all, most wore pony tails and some even wore it mainly down. When I did my leadership none of the actual RN's wore their hair up, which kind of surprised me. But then I even saw a few with fake nails, so...

Specializes in Subacute/Rehab, Surgical.

I wear mine in a pony. My RN program says if you have long hair it has to be pulled back. They aren't too picky. So everyday I have clinical it goes up in a pony. If you hair is shoulder length or shorter you don't have to pull it back. But that can be changed if the instructor says different.

just got it cut in a short bob, before that in a ponytail, this is so much easier

I wear mine in a graduated bob style which allows me to not have to worry about the back of my head, but on the sides I tuck one side behind my ear and the other side I just use a a little clip barrette. Kinda nerdy lookin', but that's how I roll. :smokin:

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

Same way I wear it every other day of my life. :p

Specializes in Emergency Room.

I was my hair the night before. I the morning it's either a pony tail or twisted into a clip. They have those stretchy headbands now that are comfy too.

I work at a hospital and for those with long hair, they do the same.

Practice before hand some looks that you can do quickly and put up with. Also, bobby pins are my friend. You might want to keep some on hand.

I have long, whispy bangs that I've been trying to grow out so I pull them to the side, french braid them off of my face and then pull the end of the braid back in a bun. It is functional and cute and slightly more interesting than your average bun!

Specializes in 5th Semester - Graduation Dec '09!.

I have a nice fade from the barber shop. Sometimes if I'm feeling wild I'll put a little gel in it. :clown:

Specializes in HCA, Physch, WC, Management.

I noticed SO many people wearing their hair down but it gets in my face and seems unprofessional. I wear my hair in a ponytail every time with my bangs bobby-pinned back in some fashion. I actually get compliments on how it looks quite often. Won't be like that for long because I am cutting it short again soon and then it will just be styled away from my face.

Specializes in IMCU.
Just my two cents worth here as an RN - I think anyone with long hair who wears it down just looks unprofessional - sorry to those who do it. When I'm a patient, I notice - believe me, I notice. Our line of work is not the place to be glamour girls (or guys - kudos to the guy on here with long hair who puts it up/back).

I have to say I agree.

Specializes in IMCU.

I rediscovered hairspray recently. I have this fine wispy hair and after an hour in a ponytail little baby hairs stick out -- after 2 hours I look like I have been pulled through a bush backwards (I kid not).

So a ponytail w/ hairspray for me. Better than looking like a hag!

A ponytail is sloppy?? Anyway....I just cut my hair about a month ago above my shoulders....not because of clinicals but because I needed a drastic change. So I'm glad I won't really have to worry about doing anything with my hair. :)

Specializes in Maternity.

i know someone already mentioned this but, i pull my bangs into a braid and then pull the rest of my hair into a bun. i get a lot of compliments on it plus, my hair stays in place in the entire time!

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