Are Braids Professional?

[POB21]

Hi! I'm 21 years old and I'm in my last year of nursing school - graduating in May 2020. I'm mixed race (Black and some white), and currently have in braids like the picture I attached (this is not me, this is a picture I got off Pinterest ). I wear these because my hair is super thick and curly, and braids like these help my hair to be more manageable, and help my hair grow. I have gotten braids consistently for about 1 year now. Nobody has said anything to me in Clinical as of yet. I wear the braids up and out of my face for clinical, and obviously keep my hair and the braids clean. Since I will be starting to go on interviews soon, I was wondering if braids like these are considered professional - especially for a new grad looking to be hired. Would wearing braids like these stop me from getting my first job?

Thank you for reading!! All opinions welcome ?

[brownbook]

Living in a more liberal area of the country I think the person in the photo looks very professional. But that's just my opinion.

Ask your instructors what they think in regards to your applying for a job. They should have some insight.

[medic981, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

My hospital requires all bedside professionals to have their hair above the collar. That said, do all nurses comply? No. Keep in mind, if you are performing wound care, caring for a combative or disoriented patient, placing a foley, starting an IV, etc, etc... is your hair going to get in the way?

A co-worker of mine, with long hair, pulled back in a ponytail, was bitten in the face by a psych patient who as able to grab her hair and pull her to his face to bite her.

Long hair and braided is not so much a "professional image" issue as it is a "safety and aseptic care" issue.

For interviewing purposes, I would have your hair up and off the collar to show that you can manage this and there would be no question.

Personally, I was hired for my first nursing job by telephone interview and did not meet my nursing manager until my first day on the job. YEMV

[Wuzzie]

As long as they're pulled back in such a manner that they don't swing forward of your shoulders I think they look terrific.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

OP - the answer should be that yes your hair would look completely professional and shouldn't hinder you in job interviews at all!

However the reality is in the world and climate we live in, that is not always the case. As a stepmother of 2 mixed (African American/Caucasian) older teenage daughters, I say this from experience.

It completely depends on where you live. Areas that are more diverse and liberal will likely not even bat an eye at your braids. On the other hand, my daughters have had employment issues with having micro braids and box braids in other parts of the country, such as rural Texas. I've noticed a subjective correlation that cities/areas that tend to ban or restrict these type of protective styles in school districts also tend to not be as accepting with these styles in employment.

Good luck to you!

[POB21]

Thank you so much!! ❤️ I live in NY, so hopefully this won't be too much of a problem.

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

Professionalism, no problem (I’m in Connecticut). As someone else said, just be sure you can get it up off your face and neck when needed. But as far as for interviews etc it wouldn’t be an issue here.

[GoodNP]

They look clean and neat, to me that looks professional. Only thing is when you're bending down for example, it seems your hair would fall into the workspace and/or other people's personal space. But that would be the case for anyone with long hair regardless of texture and with or without braids. So pull it back when you're at work and voila!

(a little jealous here of your beautiful hair)

[MSO4foru, ADN]

( my 2 cents- I think it's beautiful). And i bet you could pull it up into nice bun or whatever if employer wants to make it an issue. Good Luck on interviews!

[JKL33]

Agree with the above. There should be no problem; it is a neat/kempt appearance. Nurses usually band/tie/etc at the back of the neck so that the braids cannot fall forward into a patient's space or sterile field, etc. - same expectation for all long hairstyles. Maybe a good idea to wear it tied back in an interview as well.

Good luck with your interviews!

[bubblefishez1989]

Yes box braids are professional so long as they are neat and tidy, however getting tight braids pulling at the scalp for a prolonged period of time can cause baldness and thinning. Also it's a miss conception that your hair is growing more rapidly it's just that it is less tightly curled because it has been weighed down and stretched out.

[amoLucia]

Just a comment - I travel by whch. A young man with neat, attractive, reasonable length Dreds assisted me. But his braids were whacking me my face.

Never told him, but I thought it was funny, altho others might consider it not so.

Just tie them up or secured in the back and you'll be fine. It is an ethnic hairstyle which is acceptable. But you don't want any undue negativity.

Good luck.