Does hair color affect hiring decisions?

Published

Hi! Sorry this isn’t a very serious question.. I’m currently graduating nursing school and am planning to take the NCLEX this summer. I wanted to make a fun change and dye my hair blonde and was really excited, but my parents aren’t very supportive of it since I’m Asian and it wouldn’t look natural. I thought it would be fine since it was a “naturally occurring” hair color but they said I might have trouble being respected or taken seriously since it would be unnatural on me specifically. My parents aren’t in healthcare at all but what they said started weighing on me and now I’m getting worried, so I was wondering if anyone had any input on whether being blonde and Asian would affect my chances of getting hired? Thanks in advance!

edit: sorry if this isn’t in the right place! Please feel free to move or delete if necessary

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

I've never dyed my hair in my life. Because of my natural appearance, I kind of look a bit like an aging flower child, which also can be handicap. It makes me appear less mainstream, even though I don't have much grey.

Being a aged hippy, I'm fundamentally against hair dying. I'm suspicious of the chemicals. Also, it's a hassle.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
1 hour ago, Emergent said:

I've never dyed my hair in my life. Because of my natural appearance, I kind of look a bit like an aging flower child, which also can be handicap. It makes me appear less mainstream, even though I don't have much grey.

Being a aged hippy, I'm fundamentally against hair dying. I'm suspicious of the chemicals. Also, it's a hassle.

Haha that’s true, the bleaches and dyes can be pretty harsh especially if not done correctly. But I guess my question is, do you think being Asian with hair dyed a lighter color would look unprofessional enough to be a hindrance in the hiring process?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.
19 minutes ago, Pinkudesu said:

Haha that’s true, the bleaches and dyes can be pretty harsh especially if not done correctly. But I guess my question is, do you think being Asian with hair dyed a lighter color would look unprofessional enough to be a hindrance in the hiring process?

I have no idea.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

To be safe, I would delay dying your hair until after you start your nursing job. Although blonde is a natural hair color for Caucasian people, it would look "off" on an Asian person.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
5 hours ago, NICU Guy said:

To be safe, I would delay dying your hair until after you start your nursing job. Although blonde is a natural hair color for Caucasian people, it would look "off" on an Asian person.

Okay, as much as I didn’t want to hear it I’ll hold off on any major hair changes ? Thank you!

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Primary Care.

I agree with NICU Guy, hold off until you start working.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.

I'm going to take another position and say it depends on where you live. I live in San Francisco and it's not unusual to see professionals with dyed hair. For example, my clinical nurse supervisor has light pink hair and one of the hospital nurse educators has light pink hair as well.

I've also see tattoos and nose piercings on nurses at work. I have worked with plenty of Asian women with blond hair and no one batted an eye.

I do realize that California is a bit different than the rest of the country. So, take a look around you. Did you notice nurses during your clinicals with different hair colors, etc?

Personally, I enjoy working for a more inclusive employer who respects their employees' rights for self expression. But that's just me ?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Blond will be fine. Pink, purple, blue, green perhaps less so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Personally, I think blonde hair looks awesome on Asian women. A friend of ours who is Korean dyed her hair platinum, and it looked very striking. I mean, come on.... How many wanna-be redheads are running around with obviously fake reds? Or fake blondes? Or people with black hair whose roots are showing? It shouldn't matter. (Shouldn't.) As long as it's a naturally occurring color, it shouldn't be an issue with dress code policies. However, I think you are probably going to hate the maintenance once it's done! I am a natural redhead and I don't dye, but I did put black streaks in my hair and it was a pain to touch up the roots because my hair grows like a weed.

If you are concerned, you could wait until you are hired and celebrate your first RN job with a new cut/color. ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't dye now, wait til later.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion