African American Hair Problems in Nursing

SeattleJess · Jan 23, 2015

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

SO much more than my greying, fine, flyaway hair. And if you're into the keeping hair away from patients, this in a ponytail is top of the line, I'm thinking. Hope this hairstyle question is not a really for real issue. Just seems so wrong.

Rntr · Jan 23, 2015

I know a lot of people feel this is "racism" but I can tell you that as long as I've been a nurse (40yrs) there have been many who would put their nose in the air if you didn't go along with accepted "professional" standards anytime, regardless of your race, sex or orientation. You would be criticized and don't think you would be the best choice for the job and/or promotion. It doesn't seem fair but it's what it is..

mhusen5 · Jan 24, 2015

RNtr,

Every job has its own requirements and expectations....

Secretaries are criticized for too much cleavage and/or thighs

Receptionists don't wear jeans and tee shirts ..if they want to keep their job

Bakery workers are required to cover their hair...with ugly hair nets

Flight attendants wear uniforms...some hate...

Policeman can't have tattoos visible when in uniform....

The military has required inspections and gives demerit for uniforms not worn properly or hair touching your collar.......

Lawyers wear suits in court...because it's expected/required.

Etc etc etc etc.......

All employers have expectations...some implied, some required.

It's simply a job requirement!! Don't make it more than it is!

You have to decide if you want a job that you like, or want to make a social statement!

The requirements of hair style, dress code..whatever, not considering your race or culture?

Look elsewhere!

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2015

Lets be blunt...most of the "job requirements" including those concerning hair style and including the nursing code of ethics were created/developed by whites. Given that hair is of nature you cant compare that to a lawyer requiring to wear a suit, by that reasoning African American women are what? Required to wear their hair straight? It was only later days that the uniqueness of the only hair on this planet is being recognized. Whites, indians, russians, chinese, Japanese, phillipinos...i mean no other race has this issue because ALL 99% of all other races have naturally straight hair. It silly to say this is not a race issue when the facts are steering you in the face.

Im hearing people talking stupid stuff like dreds is part of mariwana culture when its been a hair style choice of Africans since the beginning of time. I from the islands and many people wear dreads including one of our parliment ministers (like US SENATOR) wears dreads down to his waist and its clean and neat. There are many ways Africans can keep their hair and comply with whatever "requirements" without having to worry about it on a daily basis. What about the kid last year who got kicked out of school for wearing dreads, even though it was very neat. This assault has to stop and some people need to stop talking about things they got no experience with. Every time Africans cry out for injustices of our civil liberties people say we cry wolf, oh everything is fine we got a black president, blah, blah. We are all but forgotten as far as the civil rights movement but there is still a long way to go before Dr Martin Luthers dream is truly realized.

richardgecko · Jan 24, 2015

Lets be blunt...most of the "job requirements" including those concerning hair style and including the nursing code of ethics were created/developed by whites. Given that hair is of nature you cant compare that to a lawyer requiring to wear a suit, by that reasoning African American women are what? Required to wear their hair straight? It was only later days that the uniqueness of the only hair on this planet is being recognized. Whites, indians, russians, chinese, Japanese, phillipinos...i mean no other race has this issue because ALL 99% of all other races have naturally straight hair. It silly to say this is not a race issue when the facts are steering you in the face.
Im hearing people talking stupid stuff like dreds is part of mariwana culture when its been a hair style choice of Africans since the beginning of time. I from the islands and many people wear dreads including one of our parliment ministers (like US SENATOR) wears dreads down to his waist and its clean and neat. There are many ways Africans can keep their hair and comply with whatever "requirements" without having to worry about it on a daily basis. What about the kid last year who got kicked out of school for wearing dreads, even though it was very neat. This assault has to stop and some people need to stop talking about things they got no experience with. Every time Africans cry out for injustices of our civil liberties people say we cry wolf, oh everything is fine we got a black president, blah, blah. We are all but forgotten as far as the civil rights movement but there is still a long way to go before Dr Martin Luthers dream is truly realized.

All of this escapes many of the posters who are going on about rules and policy because they aren't subject to the racial nuances that non minorities are.

They don't understand that policies against braided hair, locs, and cornrows are inherently racist. These styles are common practice in the AA community and aren't necessarily a 'social statement' but rather convenient ways to keep AA hair neat and detangled for extended periods of time in small sections that are workable and easier to deal with due to the tangling nature of our hair.

Some posters got offended about me saying that the OP was better off asking this question on a message board more suited for AA hair needs but srsly who expects a non minority community to truly grasp the racial and social implications of african American hair? One of the most exhausting parts of being a minority is being tasked with constantly having to teach and orient non minorities into our culture. You know why? Because white mainstream culture is predominant in this country. I'm forced to learn white culture in and out just so that I can navigate through life as an American while non minorities can remain blissfully ignorant about my history and challenges and use that ignorance as an excuse for being obtuse, offensive, discriminatory, and racist.

richardgecko · Jan 24, 2015

RNtr,
Every job has its own requirements and expectations....
Secretaries are criticized for too much cleavage and/or thighs
Receptionists don't wear jeans and tee shirts ..if they want to keep their job
Bakery workers are required to cover their hair...with ugly hair nets
Flight attendants wear uniforms...some hate...
Policeman can't have tattoos visible when in uniform....
The military has required inspections and gives demerit for uniforms not worn properly or hair touching your collar.......
Lawyers wear suits in court...because it's expected/required.
Etc etc etc etc.......
All employers have expectations...some implied, some required.
It's simply a job requirement!! Don't make it more than it is!
You have to decide if you want a job that you like, or want to make a social statement!
The requirements of hair style, dress code..whatever, not considering your race or culture?
Look elsewhere!

The difference between all of those examples and black hair is that they are CHOICES. You choose to dress inappropriately. You choose to get tattoos. And you have to wear hair nets for cleanliness.

we are BORN with this hair. No matter how much we damage it with heat or chemicals to straighten it to appear more mainstream aka less black, it continues to grow in its natural curly kinky state because we are born that way. Box braids are not necessarily a social statement but rather a styling preference that makes our hair easier to deal with. It can be pulled neatly into a conservative bun and worn in conventionally accepted professional styles recommended for job interviews.

the issue here has less to do with whether or not the style is professional but rather if the style will keep her from getting a job because often times traditionally African American styles are frowned upon in mainstream American aka white culture. Sad but very true.

SubSippi · Jan 24, 2015

Honestly, I think that if someone is stupid enough to judge you based only on the the way you have your hair styled...they are probably making judgements based on your race. With these sorts of people, I doubt that box braids are going to make or break your chances.

FWIW, our policy has something in it like, "All microbraids and cornrow must be well maintained."

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2015

Oh and FYI guys concerning the bad stereotypes of dreads, marijuana use is not solely associated with dreads. Dreads is associated with Rastafarians which is a legitimate religion in the caribbean with Jamaica its biggest following. American movies always put the men in dreads as criminal gangs, and big drug users with guns in reality A big part of their religious beliefs is to,preach non-violence and non use of drugs like cocaine and meth. The use of marijuana is actually a spritual one It actually surprising that so many American states pushing to legalize its use. Many great people were Rastafarians including the popular Bob Marley. Because USA finally realizing it benefits and states legalize it Jamaica has recently pushed through laws to get it leagalized. Again it does not mean everyone with dreads is a Rastafarian nor everyone who uses marijuana is following the religion.

richardgecko · Jan 24, 2015

Oh and FYI guys concerning the bad stereotypes of dreads, marijuana use is not solely associated with dreads. Dreads is associated with Rastafarians which is a legitimate religion in the caribbean with Jamaica its biggest following. American movies always put the men in dreads as criminal gangs, and big drug users with guns in reality A big part of their religious beliefs is to,preach non-violence and non use of drugs like cocaine and meth. The use of marijuana is actually a spritual one It actually surprising that so many American states pushing to legalize its use. Many great people were Rastafarians including the popular Bob Marley. Because USA finally realizing it benefits and states legalize it Jamaica has recently pushed through laws to get it leagalized. Again it does not mean everyone with dreads is a Rastafarian nor everyone who uses marijuana is following the religion.

Although locs are closely associated with the rasta movement, they existed in Africa and other parts of the world centuries before the rasta movement began.

Libby1987 · Jan 24, 2015

OP had a concern about how her hair style could affect her hiring potential for something she's always wanted.

Can't speak for everyone but advising to play it safe for some hiring team doesn't equate our feeling about AA hair and traditional styles.

When I interview I will try to look as young as possible because I don't want to miss an opportunity due to ageism, even if it shouldn't matter as long as I'm otherwise qualified for the job. If I came to this board to ask if I should cover the gray, temporarily dress more current or whatever, I wouldn't want people to falsely advise me that age won't be held against me by some unknown hiring manager. I know it's a very loose analogy but I think most of the comments here were meant to support OP in getting the job against some ignorant held stereotyping that she thinks herself she may run into.

Honestly before this thread, short of long loose swinging braids of any kind, I never would have thought it an issue. I'm sorry it is, shouldn't be that way.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Jan 24, 2015

Some posters got offended about me saying that the OP was better off asking this question on a message board more suited for AA hair needs but srsly who expects a non minority community to truly grasp the racial and social implications of african American hair?

I believe I was one of the few to address this. To be clear, I'm not opposed to the OP seeking advice wherever she can find the best advice. My exact words were:

"I also would like to express that reading this thread has really enlightened me and helped me understand things I would never have known about, considered or even thought about; if it had been kept on an exclusive African-American hair care site"

I know my knowledge and education is not the focus here but just letting others know that one effect of having the discussion here is that some of the non-minorities were having an opportunity to expand our possibly limited point of view.

I used to have a poor view of dreadlocks, thought they were dirty. I had a kind minority co-worker that explained how most people in developed countries cared for dreadlocks. I thank that co-worker for not dismissing me as an ignorant bigot but rather someone who really had a knowledge deficit.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 25, 2015

I believe I was one of the few to address this. To be clear, I'm not opposed to the OP seeking advice wherever she can find the best advice. My exact words were:
"I also would like to express that reading this thread has really enlightened me and helped me understand things I would never have known about, considered or even thought about; if it had been kept on an exclusive African-American hair care site"
I know my knowledge and education is not the focus here but just letting others know that one effect of having the discussion here is that some of the non-minorities were having an opportunity to expand our possibly limited point of view.
I used to have a poor view of dreadlocks, thought they were dirty. I had a kind minority co-worker that explained how most people in developed countries cared for dreadlocks. I thank that co-worker for not dismissing me as an ignorant bigot but rather someone who really had a knowledge deficit.

^THIS is why I concur that this discussion is appropriate here on this message board.

You don't know who's lurking behind the computer that understands and is willing to educate or be educated-that is the beauty of this site. :yes: