Nursing student hair color change for more respect

[Vonqiqi]

Hello,

I am fixing to start nursing school and I didn't know if I should change my hair color or not. Currently, I have platinum blonde hair from the ears up, and chocolate brown underneath. I'm a little concerned about how blondes are stereotyped as "dumb" or "incompetent" and I don't want my peers or others thinking that I am less of an intelligent person just because of hair color. I am thinking about adding brown highlights or going all brunette. What are your suggestions? Should I keep my current hair color or change it? Also, did you or someone you know get treated differently based on their hair color, etc...?

Thank you for reviewing my post.

[PHhopeful]

I agree the OP asked a good question, and I also concur that you should choose a hairstyle that is easy to maintain and that looks natural (be it blonde or brown). I actually feel uncomfortable in my program sometimes because blonde seems to be the norm here in Colorado among nursing students! Literally, I am surrounded by a sea of blonde (I'm a black-haired beauty). But that's a different story. The two-tone layered thing, on the other hand, did cause me to raise my eyebrows. Unless it is well blended and actually looks like natural highlights, I would change it to be a uniform color. You don't want an extreme hairstyle to be the first impression a clinical scholar has of you.

[floridaRN38]

I had tons of blonde highlights back in the day when I was in nursing school. I graduated at the top of my class!! Stay blonde!! 😜😜😜

[canigraduate]

"I am fixing to start nursing school..."

My hair has been blue, purple, red, etc, and I never noticed anyone treating me any different for it.

Your comment doesn't match your name. "Fixing to" is a regionally accepted term that means "getting ready to." Just because you aren't impressed by it doesn't mean it's bad.

PS - Your post is really ironic, because while the OP was grammatically correct, you weren't. (Different should be differentLY.)

[am27]

OP, I actually have an answer for you. If it looks like a cheap, trashy, bleach blonde job (I'm picturing Christina Aguilera's hair 10 years ago that coordinated so well with her sketchy spandex onesies), dye it all brown.

NOT SAYING THIS IS TRUE, but hopefully you know what I mean. Which you probably do, or you wouldn't have asked about it.

If it's not uneven or blotchy or yellow, then don't worry about it.

Regardless, your hair is a way to express yourself and you should be comfortable with staying who you project yourself to be even if you are going to pursue nursing. But keep in mind that REGARDLESS of hair color, others do judge on appearance without even trying, so do your best to look trustworthy and professional and intelligent.

I'm not going to comment on the "dumb blonde" thing because enough people already have.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

You should worry more about your grammar .......

[canigraduate]

You should worry more about your grammar .......

The OP's grammar was perfect.

If you're referring to "fixing to," that is a regional term. It is still proper English.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

The OP's grammar was perfect.

If you're referring to "fixing to," that is a regional term. It is still proper English.

You keep telling yourself that.....If I am fixing to start nursing school on go a job interview I am going to avoid it.I"ll also avoid flashy hair,clothing and make up in favor of looking like a professional adult.

[JustKeepSmiling, ADN, BSN, RN]

Yall are all wrong... It's fixin' to. Drop the "g" at the end.

Buncha yankees. 😎

[2k15NurseExtern4u, BSN, RN]

You should worry more about your grammar .......

It's not that deep.. no need to be rude.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

It's not that deep.. no need to be rude.

Actually I was cracking a joke,I laughed.....

[serotas]

Interesting question ! I have worked with many blonde peers( I am a brunette) and I don't think I've ever heard them state it is a problem. You have to prove yourself , no matter what !

[Mittenz123]

I just wanted to say that for one I'm sorry that everybody on here tried to make you look silly, when really this is a valid question. I have worked at a hospital for 2 and a half years now and have always thought about this. I have naturally dark hair which I tend to keep in the winter, and very blonde hair in the summer. I can without a doubt say that I get treated with way more respect and competency when my hair is dark than when it is blonde. In my experience, I have made it a goal to prove myself despite my hair color, as I'm sure you'll do the same thing, but just by first impression, I often am not taken seriously and get ignored frequently. Just do you and prove yourself, that's all that really matters, eventually people will get past your hair color.