Black Hairstyles

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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??

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I'm a black female who has never had a relaxer. I tried to keep up a press-and-curl in high school, but I gave up after 2 years. Right now, my hair is in 2-strand twists. They're professional, and easy to keep out of my face. I've thought of getting dreads, but I work with the elderly, so I don't know how it would affect me professionally.

It really depends on the area. I live in the northeast, and most people (in cities, anyway) don't bat an eye at natural styles. In smaller, rural, or conservative areas, people may see things differently. My mother is from the south, and she has had the same press-and-curl since she was in her 20s. She even has the old-fashioned hot combs that have to be heated on the stove. Growing up, I though everyone had a hot plate in their bathroom. She has never accepted my natural hair.

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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.

O.m.g. It makes me sad and sick to my stomach that you even have this thought. No one should be offended by your natural hair, anymore than they are by the color of your skin or your height or the color of your eyes. You are who you are, and you have every right to wear your hair naturally! It's other peoples' problem if they don't like it, not yours.

I am so sorry that this is even an issue for Black women today. You've definitely just opened my eyes to an issue I never even knew existed. Thank you for making me a little less ignorant.

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I have curly hair. I have the habit of conditioning it most mornings. Since it holds a lot of water, I always pull it into a ponytail while wet. The result is that my hair looks straight pulled back while my ends are left out, (& curly). I knew that I was in the wrong place when a co-worker says that she loves my hair because only the ends are curly. The nurse chipped in that she has no idea how anyone can manage hair like mine.

To me, it all comes down to respect and perception. I intentionally wear my hair natural because I know that I can manipulate its history of representing women who will not be bullied. I love my hair.

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O.m.g. It makes me sad and sick to my stomach that you even have this thought. No one should be offended by your natural hair, anymore than they are by the color of your skin or your height or the color of your eyes. You are who you are, and you have every right to wear your hair naturally! It's other peoples' problem if they don't like it, not yours.

I am so sorry that this is even an issue for Black women today. You've definitely just opened my eyes to an issue I never even knew existed. Thank you for making me a little less ignorant.

BlugrassRN,

Natural hair vs Straight hair is a very big issue in the Black community today. I believe that these insecurities start at a very early age. Many Black women have no idea what their natural looks like because their mothers gave them a relaxer as early as the age of two, so for as long as they can remember they have always had this chemically altered hair. I believe as women we have a responsibility towards our daughters to help them with self acceptance. We have to tell them that they are beautiful as they are and help them to develop self confidence.

We could also go into details about the damaging effects of relaxers which results in permanent hair loss by the teens years causing young girls to turn to even more damaging weaves and hair extensions, but that would be a whole other post...

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I'm a black female who has never had a relaxer. I tried to keep up a press-and-curl in high school, but I gave up after 2 years. Right now, my hair is in 2-strand twists. They're professional, and easy to keep out of my face. I've thought of getting dreads, but I work with the elderly, so I don't know how it would affect me professionally.

It really depends on the area. I live in the northeast, and most people (in cities, anyway) don't bat an eye at natural styles. In smaller, rural, or conservative areas, people may see things differently. My mother is from the south, and she has had the same press-and-curl since she was in her 20s. She even has the old-fashioned hot combs that have to be heated on the stove. Growing up, I though everyone had a hot plate in their bathroom. She has never accepted my natural hair.

I'm a Southern girl and when I saw the word "HOT COMB" and I got CHILLS.

:eek:NNNNOOOooooooooooo:eek:

Perming is a choice, your Natural hair is not... This is not the rule which is so, so sad

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Good thread! I have relaxed hair that I wear in a bob. I tried to go natural by growing out my relaxer. It didn't work out. I think I need to do a big chop and start from scratch, but I'm too chicken to cut it all off!

NurseJackieIndy- your hair is gorgeous! I would love to wear mine like that.

The BC is the easiest/hardest way to do it. On the one hand you get the chance to see what "Your" hair is really like and it prevents you from turning back on a rough day. On the other hand cutting off 12 inches of what you are used to at one time can be startling (it was for me) but liberating. Do what's best for you. I have been natch for three years and have had sisterlocks for 4 moths now. My hair is growing like wildfire. Funny, all of the things I did to grow my hair over the years was actually preventing it from doing so. Whatup with that ? :confused: Nappturality is also a great site. HTH :)

On topic, dirty unkempt tacky colored hair is unprofessional on ANYBODY.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
I also got negative comments from people also,such as "when are you going to perm that" from people also.

Being a know-nothing white girl from a small farming town in the big-haired '80s, I was always perplexed about the word "perm." For white girls, it means going curly.

Many thanks to my black college roommate Audrey who looked at me like I was a--you guessed it--a know-nothing white girl from a small farming town, who said, "Girl, let me set you straight on perms." :yeah::yeah:

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I haven't read all of the posts past the first page, I am personally not a fan of dreads, (I have yet to see any ones that didn't look like stuff was hiding in them from white hair as well) anyway that is just personal for me. But I don't see how braids or a small afro would be a problem. If the afro was to big it could get in the way a lot. Like bending over a patient and hitting them in the face with it so I think that would depend on the size and that it's kept neat. Braids could be great and easy to maintain and look kept. I have seen plenty of "white hair" people that have crazy hair that needs to be kept under control at work.

There is a girl in my class that I don't think has ever heard of a hair brush.

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I am an African American RN (hence the username) and yes, I am all natural and my hair texture is curly. Yes, I do wear my hair in its natural state, I do wear my afro out, and I also wear it in a puff. Yes, I do wear extensions from time to time (ponytails and fake afro puff when I want to give my hair a break), and last week I wore it straight for the first time.

I have gotten nothing but positive feedback about my natural hair. When I wore it straight last week, I was told "when are you gonna wear your hair curly again" by one of my co-workers. I told her they will be back, trust me.

Never had an issue with my hair.

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:redbeathe Love this post! Embrace your hair! I wear my hair really big (1st pic) and in twists (2nd pic) and I get so many compliments! I love channeling my inner Teyana Taylor and Diana Ross.

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You and I have the same length and hair texture! You are my hair twin! I wear my hair like yours in the first pic all the time! I wish I could post a pic here, but dont want to do due to identity issues. I also wear Goddess braids with added hair from time to time.

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:hug::hug:I don't think it's unprofessional at all....I think afro, natural and braids are beautiful! I work with nurses of all races and creeds and love the diversity of my co-workers. I also love the bright red, pink, and blue colors! But I work in conservative SW Ohio and have been told my ear cartilage peircings are innapropriate....I just keep smiling and keep it movin' ! Good luck to you.

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Being recently accepted into nursing school....Ive been wondering what to do with my natural hair...weekly visits to the salon is no longer allowed due the cost of tuition, books etc..... I'm leaning towards a pressing/hot comb & ponytails

Keep it out of your face and not too big!

I too am a black girl with natural hair. I did a light perm once, in middle school after constantly being made fun of by all the other black girls in my school...and let me tell you...never again!

I've grown to embrace my curls and love my hair (for the most part). I actually even have friends who tell me that they love that my hair is natural :)

I start my nursing classes and clinicals in the fall, and I plan on doing my hair the same way I've been doing it for years: a puff with a headband. I like having a couple twists on each side in the front, but I'll have to get rid of that because I can't have any hair in my face. I've thought about doing braided extensions though because God knows I won't want to do my hair early in the morning (around 6am). Another possibility is two stranded twists on my whole head. That is how I used to wear my hair all the time, and now I do it on occasion. That would be cheaper than extension since I can do those on myself.

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