African American Hair Problems in Nursing

[desertstar6]

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?

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I'm confused what's unprofessional about that look? I think they look incredibly polished.

Nothing, however there are powers that be and others that have been ingrained that the "Western European Look" is the be-all end all, unfortunately.

[Red Kryptonite]

I have looked at nurses hairstyles at the hospital I want to work in, and yes, most hospitals in my area feature few AA nurses and I did observe more traditional hairstyles on them- no braids, mostly long ponytails.

"Traditional" for you....but what about them? For many cultures from which those we identify here in the US as African American are descended, braids, locks, twists, etc ARE traditional cultural hairstyles for them. We need to stop equating "professional" with "total assimilation into dominant white culture expectations" in this country.

[britt_possible]

DO YOU! The interview is about your personality and your skill set, not your hair. If they don't like your hair in box braids, you probably don't want to work with them anyway. Foreshadowing for many issues that could arise!

I big chopped immediately after I passed NCLEX. I had my job secured already, and I worked in a "uppity" hospital so my manager wasn't a fan, never complimented me but my patients did. Fast forward an entire year, I got offered a interview at my dream job (a very diverse, but not completely void of racial bias hospital), I wore my fro (post 12 hr shift) to the interview and I actually think it made me stand out as an individual, along with my personality and skills. I got the job!

Rocking my natural hair in a southern, corporate, predominately Caucasian area, has taught me this :You have to be true to yourself before you can be honest about doing anything else in life.

[Libby1987]

If it were me and it was my dream job I'd do anything short of selling my soul to improve my chances, as long as it wasn't something I couldn't live with for the long term. Hair style just wouldn't be something I'd dig in on.

I'm trying to think of a *white* hairstyle or any other appearance style that might weaken chances against a comparable candidate, there are certainly some I wouldn't wear despite not being casual, which I won't list. I don't think it's simply a racist issue.

I think box braids can look more conservative or more casual depending on length, quality, style. If I were to wear them, it would be of a length and style that would compliment business attire.

[passionflower, BSN, MSN, RN]

Sad that this is still an issue in 2015

[Fruit Sucker]

White lady here. In the area I live in, box braids would be a very normal hairstyle. (NYC.) I would hate to see you miss out on a job opportunity though, and I really don't know what your area is like. If it were me, I would go with the more average style for your area. It's so competitive right now, sometimes I obsess over things like the color of the shirt I wear to an interview and what it says about me.

[AspiringNurseMW]

Unfortunately, it's an employers market; once you are out there looking for a job after completing school, you will have these thoughts, especially if you encounter them.

Dressing the part of "professional" is essential to getting a job; even as nursing has been and increasingly diverse, long-held standards of what a professional looks like and the reality has yet to accurately correlate.

As Commuter pointed out, there is a thought process, one has been imbedded, sometimes to a point that it is instinctively ingrained; that evolution of the thought process is not something that can be switched off, especially when the powers that be may be inclusive, but still retain the "imagery"; it may be wrong, but that is the reality.

And I get that. So I think to the OP the answer depends on

- how competitive is the market in your area and how badly you want this job

-how people in your area perceive "traditional /cultural" hairstyles

-if it mattered to you that an employer would turn you down for something like that, as a pp said, I would also think it foreshadows what's to come and any biases, subconscious or not

[richardgecko]

This thread is depressing.

im natural and wore my shoulder length curls out to all six interviews. Got calls from four and took a position at my first choice.

[desertstar6]

I didn't want to make this post about race lol. But I did the interview with relaxed hair ( it went sure we'll).

I'm still going to get braids since I have 3 months till the job starts but by that I'd have to replace the braids anyway

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I didn't want to make this post about race lol.

Ahh, but that's the beauty of the Internet...posts have a life of their own one you out it out to this universe.

But I did the interview with relaxed hair ( it went sure we'll).

I'm still going to get braids since I have 3 months till the job starts but by that I'd have to replace the braids anyway

Did you get the position?

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Some employers won't mind, but you never know who you're interviewer (s) are or what biases they may have. Is it worth risking? If the jobs were plentiful perhaps.

[desertstar6]

Ahh, but that's the beauty of the Internet...posts have a life of their own one you out it out to this universe.

Did you get the position?

I won't know till they finish interviews its a program with 8 spots.