Clinical Hair

[VampsGal2009]

Hey everyone, I am currently new to allnurses.com and am also a new student enrolled at Dallas Nursing Institute. I start school in three days and am unbelievably stressed about the hair code for our school. The booklet just says "up and off the collar". I have extremely thick hair down to the middle of my back and it is virtually impossible to do anything with my hair other than place it in a ponytail. Even a high ponytail will eventually droop lower and lower because of how heavy and thick my hair is. I have an intense passion for nursing and medicine in general. Going to nursing school means everything to me, and I would hate for my years of schooling to be filled with horrible memories because of hair disputes. Would you consider a ponytail to be "up and off the collar" if the ponytail is still under the collar? Do they just want my hair out of the way of the patient and off my face? If you could please offer your advise, it would be greatly appreciated. Remember I have extremely thick, long hair. I could place my hair into a bun, but the only problem is that in order for me to do it and look professional, I'd have to curl my entire hair before hand (which takes 2 hours to do) and then pull it into a bun. Seems like a lot of extra work considering I start school at 5am sometimes.

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

I have extremely thick hair down to the middle of my back and it is virtually impossible to do anything with my hair other than place it in a ponytail. .... I could place my hair into a bun, but the only problem is that in order for me to do it and look professional, I'd have to curl my entire hair before hand (which takes 2 hours to do) and then pull it into a bun. Seems like a lot of extra work considering I start school at 5am sometimes.

I'm thinking that you haven't learned the gazillion and one different ways to put hair up into a bun. I have curly hair that is pretty long and moderately thick, and I usually brush mine out and apply oil to it to straighten it out before bunning it.

This is what my hair looks like on its own:

This is what my hair looks like when brushed and oiled:

And this is what my hair looked like about sixty seconds after the previous photo:

My recommendation is to watch some YouTube tutorials on different types of buns, and learn how to use hairsticks and/or Spin Pins. Once you get the hang of it, I think you'll find that you CAN make it work for your hair.

You might want to consider cutting your hair a little shorter and adding layers so that it is a little thinner. ... So my advice would be to cut and thin your hair so that you can put it up in a pony tail above your collar, or a bun that won't fall out. Either that or get used I using several hair bands, clips and pins to keep your hair up.

You may want to think about having your hair texturized (thinned out).

It never ceases to amaze me that people think you have to butcher your hair to make it reasonable to work with. Long hair is easier than short hair, IMO!

I can go from bedhead to hospital-approved hair in under five minutes if I want a smooth bun, or under 20 seconds if smoothness doesn't matter. No blow-dryers, curling irons, flat irons, mousse, or hairspray needed. I'm thinking that not too many with shorter hair can say the same thing.

[livelifeloveRN]

I have super thick long hair also; and as the previous posters said...a bun is the only way to go! Super easy (check out youtube)

[bewitched]

I use this method for my bra-strap-length hair and it makes a beautiful, perfect sleek bun!

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

You can also do a long low braid then twist the braid into a bun.

Regardless of what the school says, I recommend finding some way to get it completely up and out of the way. You'd be surprised how easily you ponytail could wind up falling into a messy wound during a dressing change, or falling into the sterile field during a cath. Trust me, find a way to get it up and out of the way!

[Miss_Piggy.RN]

I'm thinking that you haven't learned the gazillion and one different ways to put hair up into a bun. I have curly hair that is pretty long and moderately thick, and I usually brush mine out and apply oil to it to straighten it out before bunning it.

This is what my hair looks like on its own:

OMG girl! I LOVE your hair!!!

[mangopeach]

You can also do a long low braid then twist the braid into a bun.

Regardless of what the school says, I recommend finding some way to get it completely up and out of the way. You'd be surprised how easily you ponytail could wind up falling into a messy wound during a dressing change, or falling into the sterile field during a cath. Trust me, find a way to get it up and out of the way!

Yup - and if you have skills checkoffs or validations - you don't want your hair getting in the way when you check off. People have failed a skill checkoff at my school for this and at my school - fail a skill 3 times and you are out of the program. You don't want to fail for something like your hair getting in the sterile field.

[Isabelle49]

OMG girl! I LOVE your hair!!!

Ditto! Gorgeous!

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

OMG girl! I LOVE your hair!!!

Ditto! Gorgeous!

Awww, thanks!

Wish I could take credit, but God did the hard part!

(and it's not really THAT red -- my bathroom lighting really brings out the red!)

[Clovery]

can you do a french braid and then wrap the dangling part into a bun? or don't even braid it, just do a series of smaller ponytails, sort of like in layers... like pull the bangs and front sides into a pony, band it. then the lower sides and middle, band it, then the lower hair and band it. then whatever's hanging down, double it up and wrap it into a bun? hard to explain, but do you know what i mean?

i have long thick hair too but it's naturally wavy/curly and i think that does make it easier to get into a bun. i can imagine naturally thick, straight hair would be a little heavier and harder to keep up.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

Hmm..I'm not sure.

Is your hair thick?

[Asinda, BSN, RN]

I have extremely thick hair as well, a little past my shoulders. I understand how it can downright hurt to have that much hair up in a bun, and a pain to keep it there. Depending on your personal style, you may be able to pull off what I call my "piggy-buns". I part my hair slightly off-center towards the front, bringing more towards the midline as I get further back. Then I bring my hair down behind my ears and secure them into two small messy buns. The key is to place them low and midway between your ears and the center part. This keeps you from looking five years old, LOL. Then you secure each messy bun along the edges with pins to make it neater and stable. Twist and pin any bangs or tendrils back cutely, and voila! Super-cute, easy hair that stays put. Once you get the hang of it, it takes about ten minutes tops.

[milzer2012]

Oho Boy,

Been right with you - thick curly hair that has a mind of it's own.

This worked for me till I got tired of all of the timeit took.

Wash with conditioner every other day.

Gel in the shower when drippin wet, then plop/plunk

( see naturalycurly.com for the technique )

and diffuse to get the drips out

then I put up the top, then the back, finally the front.

I used as many hairpins as I needed,

A harinet or 2 to keep the "satellites" in place -

the spin pins are good too,

as are multiple buns or ponytails close together,

My School is very strict - we even have to life up the back of our all-white uniforms.

At 5:00 AM this was taking too much time, an I had a headache before Noon, so I

went to an upscale salon, told the stylist what I needed and why, Now I

have an A line Bob - I chose this because it requires minimal drying, NO putting up,

Now when I have clinical, I can be out the door in 20 minutes if I need to be, if I want to I can

make it fancy, I just hated the way I looked and felt every day.

Good luck, for those of us with this kind of hair - it's more worry than many tests!