African American Hair Problems in Nursing

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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?

Specializes in Emergency, ICU.
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!

Absolutely! It's not about this one job interview. This is about the bigger issue of discrimination based on a person's biological appearance. No one should change their natural appearance to get a job. That is the only way to change things. Be actively true to yourself. I have crazy curls and I would never straighten my hair for an interview. I'll be clean. Professionally dressed, and wear my curls as I would on the floor (ponytail). But that's it. Activism by virtue of not changing to meet some judgemental person's idea of "proper" (ie, white with straight hair).

Sent from my iPhone -- blame all errors on spellcheck

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Specializes in Family Practice.

I was interviewed with dread locks. I am not going to press, relax, and weave up my natural hair because of what is deemed professional. Why is it our hair has to be questioned of being professional when it is natural growing out our scalp? I have not experienced any discrimination regarding my hair I would like to think my professionalism and character would play a major role in landing a nursing position.

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I've had dread locks for 8 yrs and been a nurse for 6 of them. I have gotten 99% of the jobs I have interviews for. I was one of the first persons in my graduating class to pass boards and land a job 3 months before graduation. My hair is now in past the middle of my back and I love it. My challenges are that random people want to touch it or assume I don't wash or care for it or that because I am of an Afro Caribbean descent with an accent that I'm Jamaican or smoked weed at some point. If I do interview I pin my locs to the back of my head in a tight bun helping the interviewer not to be distracted by my hair. Some of the changes we are looking for will not happen in our lifetime. Ignorance and intolerance is a thing that is socialized from a young age. I promise you. If you are a qualified candidate who is a great fit for the floor you'll get the job. The challenge is practicing in an environment where you are the minority and your peers lack cultural competence. Knowing when to be angry or passionate about such sensitive issues is another story. Play up why you are a good fit;demonstrate your leadership and clinical experiences to the interviewer. If the job is meant to be yours you shall have it.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

This topic is something I never thought about much before and this discussion has been thought provoking .

I am a white woman of Irish descent. I was trying to imagine how I would feel if I had to do some kind of chemical process to my hair just to be offered a job and it really angered me.

It angers me that anyone would expect people of other racial and ethnic groups to conform to some kind of generic conservative hair style to obtain work as a nurse. In 2015!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

I would never relax my hair for a job interview. Get the braids and wear them in a professional looking bun. If that is offensive to your potential employer, it is probably best you find out ahead of time. Also, I speak from experience; I have been natural for 12 yeas now and I have worn every natural hairstyle you can think of including full afro.

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Something like this would be really nice...

Picture her in scrubs!

African-American-French-Braid-Updo-Hairstyles-005.jpg

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I wish I could offer help, I love the braids look ! Not sure about an interview ?? who knows but as long as you shine with your positive attributes it may not matter.

( Btw, After watching "Good Hair" I had a new knowledge & respect about hair... :)

Best of luck to you !!! :up:

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@ Anna S, RN

I love this!!!!! It looks great

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
Something like this would be really nice...

Picture her in scrubs!

African-American-French-Braid-Updo-Hairstyles-005.jpg

That is beautiful, and sure I could picture it with scrubs. I am not at all familiar with ethnic hair, so forgive me please if this is a crazy question. What I would like to know is long does that look take to achieve? If it's as complicated as it looks I sure wouldn't want to spend a ton of time doing that every day.

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She has dreadlocks so this style wouldn't be difficult to do...it's basically a fancy bun.

I've been natural for a minute and I've done interviews (non-nursing jobs...not a nurse yet hehe :) ) with twists, puffs, and buns. If I ever had a hard time (which was rare) it was with a black person. So I just look at the culture of the company and usually I can tell if I'll have an issue or not. My current job (case management) is a black department and almost everyone here is natural or weaved up. I don't think natural hair is AS much of an issue as it was ten yrs ago or so.

IDK if you did the interview already OP but I am confident box braids will suffice.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
She has dreadlocks so this style wouldn't be difficult to do...it's basically a fancy bun.

I've been natural for a minute and I've done interviews (non-nursing jobs...not a nurse yet hehe :) ) with twists, puffs, and buns. If I ever had a hard time (which was rare) it was with a black person. So I just look at the culture of the company and usually I can tell if I'll have an issue or not. My current job (case management) is a black department and almost everyone here is natural or weaved up. I don't think natural hair is AS much of an issue as it was ten yrs ago or so.

IDK if you did the interview already OP but I am confident box braids will suffice.

The OP went on the job interview and got the job.

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Did the interview, got box braids and got the job.

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