Black Hairstyles

[Emile]

Is it unprofessional to wear afros, natural hairstyles, or braids as a medical professional? Many of my friends want to get rid of the relaxer and wear their natural but are afraid they won't be accepted in fear that straight hair is the most accepted hairstyle in America??

[Moogie]

I don't see how you would be offending someone by wearing your hair the way it naturally grows out of your scalp. I use to have the same concern, but I have learn to love and accept myself and everything on my body as God naturally made me. I keep my hair clean and neat but I refuse to hide it or continuously put damaging chemical and heat in it just to avoid affending others. I dont get offended when I see people where their naturally straight hair, so why should they be when I wear mines naturally curly? Keep you hair clean and neat, Be Proud, Have Pride, exude confidence, And walk with your head high when you wear your curls and others will accept you for who you truly are.

Emile

Emile, you have written words of wisdom for every woman. Thank you for this post. All women are beautiful, just as God made them. That's something few of us hear often enough.

[PurpleLVN]

Hi southernbelle,

The are many easy to do natural styles that you can accomplish on your own. Some of my favorites include two strand twist, twist out, braid out, bantu knot out, etc. Keep in mind that frequent use of hot/pressing combs can be damaging to the natural hair as well. The are tons of of web sites, blogs, you tube tutorials/videos, and facebook groups, dedicated to maintanance and styling natural hair.Here are a few to get you started :

www.curlynikki.com

www.afroniquelyyou.com

I LLLLOOOOVVVVEEEE Curly Nikki's website. Her natural hair is gawdeous!!!!

[Tait, MSN, RN]

We have a phlebotomoist that wears her hair in the most beautiful natural afro. I think the only unprofessional thing about it is I can't help but run up to her most every 4am morning and touch it! I love it!

I agree with previous posters that there are all kinds of styles, and as long as maintained and done well they are all appropriate.

Tait

[smartnurse1982]

I wear my hair in a style similiar to chaka khan and diana ross,and no one seems to mind. I get compliments from all different types of people,but I live in the northeast where attitudes about natural hair are a little more relaxed.

[PurpleLVN]

I wear my hair in a style similiar to chaka khan and diana ross,and no one seems to mind. I get compliments from all different types of people,but I live in the northeast where attitudes about natural hair are a little more relaxed.

I wish I had BIG, NATURAL HAIR!!!!! You're so lucky!!!:redbeathe

[Moogie]

Oh my goodness Emile, you must've been reading my mind. I was just online looking for some sort of professional ,natural or press-n-curl style for nursing school.I 've been natural for three years and usually wear my hair pressed out or in a weave. But I'm very concerned that my very thick/coorifice hair will not hold a press during nursing school clinicals and I don't want to offend anyone by wearing it in its natural state. I live in a very conservative part of VA and only about 4 out of 40 NS are african american.

Are there any women who can speak on this situation from experience, and give suggestions.

Jayjo, that just torques me off that people can be so obnoxious as to be offended by natural hair. Honestly, I think people who are "offended" by the beauty of racial diversity are pigs. (However, those same people probably get offended by a chunky white nurse or student, too...sigh...)

When I was a clinical instructor, one of my students had the most gorgeous braids. She'd had a very slight bit of maroon weaved into her hair and not only did she look pretty, she looked professional. My former physician wore a close-cropped natural and she, too, looked very professional and attractive. As a CI, my only concern would be if someone (regardless of race) was sloppy in his/her appearance. A nurse or student who looks like he/she just rolled out of bed looks far less professional than one who wears his/her hair in a natural style. And I did have to discreetly talk to one student whose purple thong was visible through her white uniform pants (on the other hand, it was the school color...)

BTW, congratulations to all of you on getting into nursing school and best wishes for success along the journey ahead of you!

[rnlately]

I had loose (unloced, unbraided) hair for half of nursing school and locs for the other half. No one ever made a big issue about my hair; in fact, I inspired one of my preceptors to go natural. I've been a nurse for 3 yrs and currently have bra strap length locs; still haven't had any problems finding work or retaining work. Almost everyone always tell me that I am one of the most neat and polished nurses that they've ever met. Like someone else said, there is nothing wrong with what grows out of your head naturally. As India Arie put it: "I am not my hair". Hair shouldn't define you; you define yourself.

BTW, I'm in the deep, deep south where you would expect negativity but I've only received praise for the most part.

[southernbelle225]

Thanx SOOOOO much for the websites...Im actually looking forward to tryn some new styles....kitchen beautician is not my best role!!!

[Ftr_NurseJackie]

Oh and that big style is hardly big.....it gets bigger! lol

[R. S.]

Im currently in nursing school in Texas if i can get away with it you can too. :lol2:

[fungez]

I am always trying to talk my (black) adopted daughter to go natural. She has the most beautiful mahogany colored hair. You do what you're comfortable with. If other people don't like it, that's their problem.

[studentnurseteika]

Why on earth would you think wearing your hair as God intended would be offensive. Your hair is a part of who you are and there is nothing offensive about it in its natural state. I am in my last semester of nursing school and I have worn my hair in its natural state the entire time. Sometimes I twist it, but most of the time its pushed back with a strap that is close in color to my hair so it's not so noticeable. I have gotten so many compliments from nurses and patients, of all races. Just as everyone else has said, keep it neat, clean, and combed and it is as professional as any straight hairdo.