I am curious if those of you with dreadlocks have faced any difficulties in finding jobs or fitting the professional image required. Do you wear a head covering while at work?
I do not have locks now but have had five sets throughout my life and would love to knot my hair up again. I am slightly concered by some comments I have recieved from my friends and family such as 'Now that youre starting nursing school you can't do that with your hair again' and 'Nurses can't have dreadlocks, it might offend someone'.
Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.
I've worked in hospitals and seen folks with dreds and white guys with ponytails. Not a big deal. Just secure it in a neat pony-tail and go on about your business.
Same as with women. I've long hair and I have to pull my hair back with a clip. Everyone does or should. You don't want your hair falling into anyone's 'business'.
A nice, neat and professional look. It's all that's desired.
Anyway, I was on my way to class one day and saw a girl in school scrubs with a pink mohawk. She was promptly sent home by admin. LOL
I was like, "What is this a Rave?'" Yes, it was cute but I don't know what possessed her to wear her hair like that. This is a professional setting.
BTW, as another poster stated, you wouldn't be able to get away with dreds if you're a man in the military. No long hair allowed. You have to have a 'shaving waiver' to not have a chin that's baby butt smooth. The rules are very stringent for men.
For females? In basic training, I wore braids. They were in a nice neat bun. There was a girl in my old unit who wore 'sister locs'. I live in Texas, btw.
I work in a internationally known facility and the employee population is very diverse. I suspect as long as the dreads are clean and tidy and out of the face, and in keeping with the wearer's persona/culture, they are permitted. But I rarely see them on management or on House staff. Ethnic braids, head coverings are more common.
Specializes in Rehab, Neuro, Travel Nurse, Home Care.
There is 3 nurses on my unit that have locs and I never heard a problem about it. Personally I think if the unit and region is culturally diverse then it won't be a problem.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
The only reason I can see a problem with dreads is if they are full of dandruff (or worse) and stink. Which unfortunately a lot of them are and do. Neat, clean, back from the face (like any other hair should be in an acute care setting) then I don't see what the problem would be.
There is the basic sanitation, safety issue and then there is the issue of them being acceptable in different nursing environments.
I can see how neat and clean dreads that are pulled up and out of the way can be a lot better than loose hair for either men or women.
As far as being accepted by either collegues or patients, it really depends on the region, population served and culture of the company you work for. If a lot of your patients have dreads, it could be an asset because they might trust you more or feel you are approachable.
When I did my community health rotation at a specialty outpatient clinic that primarily serves immuno-compromised people in a dense urban center, the social worker had purple hair, the RN had tatooes and the case manager had multiple ear piercings. Everyone wore street clothes, including the MD (jeans) no lab coat. What mattered was that their patients had undetectable viral loads, were healthy overall, had the social supports they needed and the patients absolutely loved the clinic. The staff was super dedicated and would actually knock on patient's doors at home if they missed their appointments to make sure they were okay.
I loved the "there are dreads and then there are dreads comment" HA HA!!
Having had a few sets of dreads in the past I have found the comments on here insightful and hilarious. Right now My head looks like those frzzy rodent - homeless person type of dreads! But in a couple of months once they have matured (dreadlocks are not instant they are a process) they will be tight and tidy looking. I suppose that is why I am starting them now by backcombing in time to look normal for fall semester. Of all the people I have known with dreadlocks, those with natural 'neglected' ones actually washed them the most because only clean hair will lock up, if there is dirt in it it just puts space between the hairs preventing it from knotting. Anyways I really do appreciate all the feedback and opinions on here. I'm thinking I will be able to manage having dreadlocks while in school and hopefully beyond. Although I am going to scool in a rather backwoods redneck area so that might be more of a problem than I currently assume since where I live I encounter someone with dreads nearly daily.
I am in nursing school and I have locks. I wash my hair every other day and I keep my hair pulled back for lab and clinicals. I usually receive a lot of compliments about my hair and I honestly feel like my hair looks more professional than most people because it's always in a defined style. It's never just wild, dirty, uncombed, neve rlooks like bed head like how I see some people wear their hair.
Gotta say this is one of the more disgusting threads I've had the misfortune to stumble on in awhile.....bug suffocation? Imbedded dandruff and odors??
It seems to me if your hair looks like something took hold and is nesting in there, or perhaps worse, it looks like nothing living wants to go near it, there's a problem, Mission Control. I don't care what kind of hair style you have, if it involves peanut butter, Crisco or frizzy-ratty locks, it's a NO in nursing.
If you want to ever be taken seriously it would not be in your best interest to have dreadlocks, now in NS or in your future nursing career. Just my honest opinion.
I guess it depends on the area, but as long as its pulled back and clean, should not be a problem. I like the idea of a scarf. I think they're cute. I had some of my hair highlighted either pink, purple or hot red. I work at a catholic hospital. But I made sure when I did it, it didn't look "tacky", like so many people today do. they just do this awful faded blue streak on blonde hair. I can't stand it. Theres ways to make hair look totally acceptable but still funky. I never had a complaint. Only compliments. But then I pierced my lip recently, it just has a tiny pink stud, but my manager was like, you should cover that up. I will for now, but the thing is, nose piercings, eyebrow piercings, and I have seen other lip piercings.....they are rampant in the hospital. Its not just me, but I tend to work throughout the hospital so I'm seen everywhere, so I get it, its all about impression, but my plan is to "wean" them back on to the silly lip stud over period of time, while wearing the the clear stud for a while.
I think as long as things are neat and tidy, shouldn't be an issue, but I guess it just depends on where you work.
Tidy, well kept dreads are fine. I'll be honest here - and this will may start a war... if you are white, please don't wear dreads. I say this as a white person, our hair is just not designed for it and you end up looking like a castaway from a Phish concert. It would be hard for me to focus on how excellent of a nurse you are if i'm too distracted by scraggly looking dreads. White people dreads just never look well kept to me.
MedChica
562 Posts
I've worked in hospitals and seen folks with dreds and white guys with ponytails. Not a big deal. Just secure it in a neat pony-tail and go on about your business.
Same as with women. I've long hair and I have to pull my hair back with a clip. Everyone does or should. You don't want your hair falling into anyone's 'business'.
A nice, neat and professional look. It's all that's desired.
Anyway, I was on my way to class one day and saw a girl in school scrubs with a pink mohawk. She was promptly sent home by admin. LOL
I was like, "What is this a Rave?'" Yes, it was cute but I don't know what possessed her to wear her hair like that. This is a professional setting.
BTW, as another poster stated, you wouldn't be able to get away with dreds if you're a man in the military. No long hair allowed. You have to have a 'shaving waiver' to not have a chin that's baby butt smooth. The rules are very stringent for men.
For females? In basic training, I wore braids. They were in a nice neat bun. There was a girl in my old unit who wore 'sister locs'. I live in Texas, btw.