Acceptable Mens Hair Styles

GHGoonette, BSN, RN · May 2, 2011

It is actually perfectly acceptable to go 2 weeks without washing your hair depending on your level of physical activity. People with braids/dreads that smell are a minority. I'm not sure what race/ethnicity you are, GHGoonette, and I'm not sure what hair texture you have. However, many people who have natural ("kinky") hair can't afford to wash their hair on a more frequent basis. Even people with relaxers can't always do that. I say this because I have been on both sides. If your hair is relaxed and you wash it frequently, you might have to blow-dry and/or flat iron it more frequently, which is extremely time-consuming. If your hair is natural and you wash it very frequently, you'll have to deal with tangles and knots and it's also very time-consuming.
So, back to my original point, people with "smelly" braids are a minority. If you live an active lifestyle like I do, you definitely have to take the extra steps to keep your hair clean if you can't always wash it. For example, I rinse my hair after each workout to get rid of the sweat and wash my hair once a week, so smelliness is not an issue.
Issues like these get me riled up sometimes because I feel like people who aren't Black don't always understand why SOME Black people don't wash their hair everyday. If you don't understand, ask and don't make assumptions.
And, yes, someone with cornrows can be a competent nurse, just as someone with a Mohawk can be a competent nurse.
GHGoonette, do you wear braids? Do you have dreadlocks? I'm trying to see where you're getting your ideas from that locks and cornrows smell.

If you read my post through to the end, you would realize that this is precisely the advice I gave the OP. I might not be black, but many of my friends are and I am fully aware of the hard work they put into keeping their hair well-groomed and clean.

As for knowing that braids and dreads can develop a smell, when you're a PACU RN, with a patient population of 90% black, of which approximately 45% have braids or dreads, you can't help but notice it.

I'm not saying all braids are dirty and smelly, I'm just advising the OP that he should consider washing his hair more often than his proposed two weeks, so as to avoid the possibility.

I recently had a 13 year old child, son of a practicing Rastafarian, with louse-infested dreads that reached halfway down his back. Understand, please, I work in a for-profit hospital, and most of my patients do not come from deprived living conditions with no running water.

stayhappy · May 2, 2011

I have no problem with people wearing their hair in styles that are neat and attractive; however, when we're talking about a style that remains in place for two weeks without being properly washed, you are still looking at cleanliness issues. Even if the head is "washed", it only cleans away superficial dirt, and grease still accumulates on the braided strands, causing it to smell. I have seen braided hair that harbors vermin, and no way is that acceptable.
Of course, the worst to keep clean are the dreadlocks; after a very short while they start to smell, and are frequently infested with lice.
OP, my advice is to bump up the de-braiding to once a week - don't leave it for two.

Thank you for your advice. I appreciate it and will consider that. It makes sense.

stayhappy · May 2, 2011

It is actually perfectly acceptable to go 2 weeks without washing your hair depending on your level of physical activity. People with braids/dreads that smell are a minority. I'm not sure what race/ethnicity you are, GHGoonette, and I'm not sure what hair texture you have. However, many people who have natural ("kinky") hair can't afford to wash their hair on a more frequent basis. Even people with relaxers can't always do that. I say this because I have been on both sides. If your hair is relaxed and you wash it frequently, you might have to blow-dry and/or flat iron it more frequently, which is extremely time-consuming. If your hair is natural and you wash it very frequently, you'll have to deal with tangles and knots and it's also very time-consuming.
So, back to my original point, people with "smelly" braids are a minority. If you live an active lifestyle like I do, you definitely have to take the extra steps to keep your hair clean if you can't always wash it. For example, I rinse my hair after each workout to get rid of the sweat and wash my hair once a week, so smelliness is not an issue.
Issues like these get me riled up sometimes because I feel like people who aren't Black don't always understand why SOME Black people don't wash their hair everyday. If you don't understand, ask and don't make assumptions.
And, yes, someone with cornrows can be a competent nurse, just as someone with a Mohawk can be a competent nurse.
GHGoonette, do you wear braids? Do you have dreadlocks? I'm trying to see where you're getting your ideas from that locks and cornrows smell.

Thanks. Its okay. Do not get upset. I appreciate your feedback.

stayhappy · May 2, 2011

All naysayers still have not addressed the fact that a competent nurse can wear cornrows. Yes you have your opinions, that's great. However, hairstyle doesn't dictate one's personality, skills, beliefs, etc.
And if you want to get into what society sees as professional then let's take a step back just a 100 years when the only 'professional' thing that was appropriate for women was staying at home and pumping out babies.

Thank you. My point exactly.

medpro32 · May 2, 2011

I have a general male nurse question regarding acceptable hair styles. By law employers have to have gender neutral regulations. If they are not gender neutral the employer has legal exposure. Having said that, my question is would it be acceptable for a male nurse to wear their hair in braids (corn rolls)?

In general, yes. You are correct about hair policies needing to be gender and race neutral (in reference to a case where a white cop with cornrows was fired, but black officers where allowed to have that style.)

This should carry over to any hair issue including color and length.

Also keep in mind how any written policy is actually applied. If it's done in a disparate fashion, it's probably illegal on a federal level. I once worked at a place that tried to prevent "colored" hair, in an attempt to stop a few employees who were sporting blue streaks in their hair. The blue streakers where all white, and they complained that black employees who colored their hair, red, orange or even gold, where not subject to the same application of the policy. It ended up getting dropped.

hopefulwhoop · May 2, 2011

GHGoonette, I did read all of what you posted and wasn't attacking you. I was simply curious about where you got the idea from that braids/locks smell. Gotcha, but I still need to point out to others reading this thread that not everyone with braids/locks has smelly hair :)

Laboratorian · May 3, 2011

First off cornrows is a woman's hair style. I wear them all the time and have the hair long and loose so I can wear it curly and down or pinned up in a bun. It looks really cute on a female.

Now these prison ground straight to the back NBA braids on a man. Hell no. It is not professional. Nursing is not a blue collar profession. This would be OK if a man was working on the back of a garbage truck or in the mines. There is no place for it in a professional environment.

For my caucasian friends here.... could you imagine your child showing up to a job interview at Smith and Barney with a mullet?!?!?! :rotfl:

Katie5 · May 3, 2011

Pony tail:D

stayhappy · Dec 8, 2011

Hello -

I am a nursing major and have a interview coming up for a ER Tech position with the Charge Nurse. What type of questions should I expect to be asked and what are some of the sort after answers for general open-ended questions.

Thanks,

Greg