What are your thoughts on unconventional hair colors (purple, pink, turquoise, etc.) in the workplace?
I'm 30 years old and I've always wanted to try out a fun, totally unnatural hair color but until recently I've always been far too timid to actually go for it. For a while now I've been dying to try out the gorgeous silvery lavender or baby pink hues I see on other people.
My nursing school had an explicit "natural human hair colors only" rule, but now that I'm working for an employer that has no set hair color policy in place (and is also not referenced at all in policies relating to hygiene, general appearance, etc.) I'm wondering if I could actually pull this off.
For reference, I work on a tele/step down unit in a moderately conservative area. I ran this by my favorite house supervisor (for generational reference she would be a gen-xer) and she wasn't excited about the idea. Her position was that the hospital environment is where appearing to be "professional" is paramount, and that a huge chunk of the patient population is 65+ and might not look kindly on it. In short, pink hair would undermine my professionalism.
I understand her reasoning there, but I also feel strongly that hair color (or tattoos, for that matter) have absolutely nothing to do with competence or professionalism. If everything else about my appearance is boring and conservative as usual what difference does hair color make? Additionally, I think she's underestimating the older generations she's worried about offending. It's a bit of a stereotype to assume that all of our older patients would be clutching their pearls or eyeing me with suspicion just because of purple hair, right?
I work in a LTC facility. I am a 50 something nurse who graduated four years ago. While I love the variety of colors on some of the youngish aides we have, our nurses don't usually partake in the different colored hair. At one point everyone with tattoos needed to cover them with either long sleeved shirts or bandaids in the case of a neck tattoo or whatever. They have recently eased up dramatically on that requirement. We do have one aide who works evenings and is tattooed from upper neck/ear area to fingertips in bright colored wording, stars, etc. Her hair is always several bright colors. She also has piercings. I sometimes wonder if residents wake up in the middle of the night and are scared by this aide helping them. Otherwise, I ask her what "the color of the day" will be next time we see her.
You show up at work with a 'unconventional Hair Color" or Hairstyle and you will be going home that day without pay, and not coming back until you look professional.
Last year had a employee come to work with a Mohawk, He tried to tell me it was a military thing. He got sent home that morning. He came back later that day with very short hair. I don't play.
Depends on where you work. My employer has no problem with funky hair colors.
I think you could get away with a very nice burgundy all over color. If its not your choice do the pee a boos for a while where its nice and natural on top and then under your hair its a fun oil slick color and just commit to keeping your hair done so that it covers the fun stuff while you are working.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
You could always try having just one highlight of light blue/pink/purple, rather than coloring your hair 100%. Subtle, but just enough to let you feel like you're different.
I'm really not one for crazy hair colors, and personally, I side with your supervisor, but I wouldn't get bent out of shape over one highlight.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Depends on where you work. My employer has no problem with funky hair colors.
The person you responded to isn't even a nurse. No idea why they come here and post about things they have no clue about, including policies on hair colors at another facility.
My employer does specify natural hair colors only in the dress code policy. Does that mean it's enforced? Not always. We have one ER nurse who has naturally very dark hair with deep purple highlights. We also have another nurse in another department with florescent pink highlights.
You are right, hair color or style does not dictate professionalism or performance, but unfortunately we
live in a society where people are judged by their appearance. Anything extreme or a shift out of the norm is viewed negative. I personally wouldn't do it. Their are hair color sprays you can experiment with on your days off.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Women's Health, Education.
I've worked in a hospital where there was no limit on hair color or tattoos/piercings etc. and it didn't seem to phase anyone, this was in the east village. And where I now work is run by a large corporation and the policy is very strict on all of the above. Only natural human hair color allowed. This is not in NY, that may be a factor. I think if it's done in a cute way, the patients don't mind. They're just happy you are there and being nice to them. I've seen a lot of elderly women doing the purple/pink hair deal these days as well.
It depends on the culture of the area you're in and the unit you're on.
When I worked in Colorado, I worked with an aide who had rainbow dreads, gauged ears, various facial piercings, and tattoos. She was an excellent aide and fit right in with the Denver culture.
Where I work now, you are more likely to see older women (60+) with bright hair. I've seen LOLs with pink, purple, and blue. I've seen a few middle aged men with green and blue. One of the unit secretaries has different color streaks every 4 weeks and she's 63. One of the aides has beautiful silver hair.
Since your supervisor isn't crazy about it, I would say start small and keep going until you get reprimanded. Then back it down a notch.
Although personally I wouldn't dye my hair, I admire people who go crazy and have fun with their hair. I work with someone who is close to retirement, and since they didn't have the "cool colors" back in her day, she died her hair purple!
To be honest, by the time the newest generations are in charge, companies will have done away with hair color rules (and tattoo rules)
I've worked with plenty of the "little old ladies" who have commented about coworkers various hair colors. Most say they wish it had been acceptable when they were young women, very few make derogatory comments.
I think you can absolutely add a fun color in a more subtle way to start vs coloring your whole head. Ex- if you have dark brown hair, color the bottom half a dark blue or dark purple. You'll be able to see it a bit if your hair is up in a pony tail or bun. Or see it mixed through if you wear a braid.
I think they make products you can spray on and wash out in a wash or two. Why not try those if you have a stretch of days off? If your supervisor seems leery of it, that's a sign.
As others have said, it's YOUR hair and your career. A colleague of mine bristled once that he had no intentions of "fitting in" when he was simply given sound advice from someone else. No one is trying to make you be cookie cutter or a lemming.
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,051 Posts
I can vouch for that. Old enough to get senior discounts at the liquor store, but I still get carded when I buy a bottle of wine.