Will they make her cut her hair?

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jul 30, 2005

Your handle says "heartswideopen" but clearly your mind is closed shut. You have a lot to learn and hopefully some of it will be in the area of diversity and culture.

I do have an open heart, that is why I was asking. I am concerned for all, including patients. These dreads are not the nice conformed ones that many are use to. These are the messy ratty, smelly ones that result from not washing the hair, I do know the difference, there are different types of dreads.

chattypattyCRNA2B · Jul 30, 2005

I do have an open heart, that is why I was asking. I am concerned for all, including patients. These dreads are not the nice conformed ones that many are use to. These are the messy ratty, smelly ones that result from not washing the hair, I do know the difference, there are different types of dreads.

Well if they smell, that's another matter and she definitely needs to wash them. The messy part....hmmm well that may be just a matter of perception. If they are indeed "messy", she could always tie them back.

prmenrs, RN · Jul 30, 2005

Please be careful w/your replies: debate the issue, not the poster. How one wears one's hair is a sensitive subject, even more so when the style has an ethnic connotation. Please try to keep this discussion flame free. Thanks a lot.

chattypattyCRNA2B · Jul 30, 2005

Please be careful w/your replies: debate the issue, not the poster. How one wears one's hair is a sensitive subject, even more so when the style has an ethnic connotation. Please try to keep this discussion flame free. Thanks a lot.

I totally agree!

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 30, 2005

Your handle says "heartswideopen" but clearly your mind is closed shut. You have a lot to learn and hopefully some of it will be in the area of diversity and culture.

I remember that phrase from nursing school. What was it again? Oh yes! "There are no stupid questions".

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 30, 2005

I remember that phrase from nursing school. What was it again? Oh yes! "There are no stupid questions".

You are right about that....there aren't any dumb Q's :)

live4today, RN · Jul 30, 2005

why should she have to cut her hair? as long as it is up off the collar/contained, who cares? and just because a person has dreadlocks doesn't mean that their hair is dirty. people with dreads wash their hair like everyone else. if they don't allow her to wear them, i say that they need some training in cultural sensitivity and/or diversity.

BINGO!!! I agree completely! Just because someone is "uncomfortable" with the way another person chooses to style their hair doesn't mean it should be banned from clinical sites or any other work environment. If that person wants to embrace her culture by wearing dreadlocks, then she/he has the right to do so. No one should put them down or snub their noses at another just because they "differ" from the "norm" society is "comfortable" being around. :rolleyes:

live4today, RN · Jul 30, 2005

I do have an open heart, that is why I was asking. I am concerned for all, including patients. These dreads are not the nice conformed ones that many are use to. These are the messy ratty, smelly ones that result from not washing the hair, I do know the difference, there are different types of dreads.

Okay...then embrace her as she is and invite her for a woman to woman "heartfelt" talk in regards to her unclean hair. As a nurse, we often times must do this with our patients, and yes...sometimes with one another. You do not know her home situation, so embracing her, getting to know her, learning about her is the way to go. Never know what you both might educate yourselves on. :)

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 30, 2005

Okay...then embrace her as she is and invite her for a woman to woman "heartfelt" talk in regards to her unclean hair. As a nurse, we often times must do this with our patients, and yes...sometimes with one another. You do not know her home situation, so embracing her, getting to know her, learning about her is the way to go. Never know what you both might educate yourselves on. :)

That is such a wonderful advice. :icon_hug: However. the only thing is that many people will take it the wrong way and say it is a racial issue etc. (especially if you aren't the best of buddies). Maybe you should just leave it as it is and let the program directors deal with it if it gets to be untolerable.

After all if you say her hair smells etc, then I am sure they'll tell her follow a more in-depth personal hygiene or something. :)

pickledpepperRN · Jul 30, 2005

About 20 years ago an orientee had a mild underarm odor. She was from the middle east and had worked in Italy.

Because some were calling her "stinky" I felt I had to tell her privately that in the US we bath daily and use deodorant.

She is now a valued colleague, a citizen, and a joy to work with.

OK - now I am SO glad for the posts telling us there are no dumb questions because I have one.

What are dreadlocks?

I have had the tight corn row braids that hang down. It is easy to wash your hair with them.

I thought dreads were the twisted tangled dirty messes. I guess I was wrong.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jul 31, 2005

From what I know the hair is teased down to the scalp in uniform sized sections. There are waxes etc that are not petroleum based so the hair stays in place and can be washed like you would a sponge. This is from my son's friend who is a beauty college instructor. I probably have left out more than I remember.

The ONLY time I was ever warned about my hair was when I had it cut from almost waist length (braided and wound across) down to a "shag" Then the wanted it off my collar.

Butterfly3001 · Jul 31, 2005

This is my boyfriend and he has dreads, this is what they can look like for those of you who did know what they looked like, and his hair is clean. He works at the college in the admissions office for all types of people to see. He usually keeps it back out of his face and noone has a problem with it.