Will they make her cut her hair?

Hairstylingnurse · Aug 6, 2005

Yes, I agree. There is huge misconception about them not washing their hair, but it isn't true. You can wash your hair and pat dry. :)

Well honestly most of the ones I've seen do look dirty. But honestly if they are clean and put in a ponytail or in a clip neatly and off the neck (like we did on nursing school I don't see where it should be an issue.)

NannaNurse · Aug 6, 2005

I agree with most of the post here..........nobody can 'make' you cut your hair............unless it's 'uncle sam'....... :lol2: I happen to think dreads are sexy. But really, 'hair' doesn't make the person. My hubby complains about losing his........daily, but I told him I didn't marry him for his hair :kiss

I work with some nurses who change their hair color/style almost daily. One of the comes in with hair that matches her scrubs!!! I think it looks cute and she has the personality to pull it off. Nurses have weaves, extensions, wigs......whatever. If it's clean and out of the patients face and yours......do what ever you like. Well, I really don't like that long 'spike' stuff, it looks scary and dangerous too :lol2:

chattypattyCRNA2B · Aug 6, 2005

When my daughter was 10 she and her friends all got head lice.
The metal comb used the remove the eggs (nits) has teeth with no space between them.
There was no way to comb my daughters hair with that comb! After the three daily Kwell shampoos I took her to the shop for an attractive short cut. Her friend with straight thin hair got to keep it long.
I am told the oil and other hair dressing products used by Black people makes it impossible for the louse to attach her eggs to the hair strand.
I don't know for sure.
The picture is my daughter last new years eve age 37 now.
She's not a nurse.

That's what I was told too. You have a beautiful daughter as well.:)

chattypattyCRNA2B · Aug 6, 2005

proper hygiene is the key issue here.
and i hope this doesn't get into a tug-of-war of who gets more head lice now.
i think we all agree that dread locks are appropriate if tied back and/or kept neatly and clean.
if there were offensive comments, i did not note them; rather i saw a lot of educating.....please, let's keep it on a positive note.
leslie

ITA!

edited because I wanted to say I agree that no one should be giving offensive comments. The part you stated about dreadlocks being "appropriate if tied back" I don't agree with.

chattypattyCRNA2B · Aug 6, 2005

Well honestly most of the ones I've seen do look dirty. But honestly if they are clean and put in a ponytail or in a clip neatly and off the neck (like we did on nursing school I don't see where it should be an issue.)

Well... even though most of the ones YOU'VE seen look dirty... doesn't give much validity to dreadlocks overall being that way... and whether or not they are put in a ponytail should be up to the wearer's discretion... I'm sure every nurse does not wear his/her hair in a bun or ponytail everytime they go to work... :D

lowpdnrse · Aug 6, 2005

The basic issue is ETHNICITY. It's an ethnic and cultural thing. People assume that dreadlocks are dirty. Try to understand an individual's culture and their ethnic background before assuming anything. A person's hair does not determine if they are a good nurse or not. Skill and knowledge should be the determining factor. :nurse:

proper hygiene is the key issue here.
and i hope this doesn't get into a tug-of-war of who gets more head lice now.
i think we all agree that dread locks are appropriate if tied back and/or kept neatly and clean.
if there were offensive comments, i did not note them; rather i saw a lot of educating.....please, let's keep it on a positive note.
leslie

underwatergirl · Aug 6, 2005

Hey they should be pulled back, a friend of mine had dreads, she turned her head quickly it left welt on my face...it is can be dangerous and also hair when performing nursing duties left down runs a risk for infection, where clean or not...doesn't matter ethnic bachground either.

Just out of curiousity, everyone keeps saying it is ethnic...well tell me where dread locks started and their history, I am just curious...

Annette

chattypattyCRNA2B · Aug 6, 2005

I found this poem on another website and decided to share it because I think it speaks volumes about this thread. Yes, dreads are the topic for discussion here, but I feel it goes beyond that. I hear from others and experience first hand people not accepting or finding professional hairstyles that promote black hair being in its natural state. Especially those whose hair is very kinky/curly in nature. There have been those who are discriminated against and deemed unprofesssional because of it. One poster on another BB stated that her supervisor told said to her "Why can't you fix your hair normal?" She replied to him, "This is normal!" In this day and age this should not be a problem anymore but it is. And the fact that this is even being discussed on a healthcare thread (where most have had A&P and should no better) is very disconcerting.

It Is

(author: Yoshi)

It is a blessing from God.

It is a part of me that should be loved.

It is bold - it grows up and out,

demanding to be seen by all.

It makes no excuses for what it is,

and yields to no one. It is thick, strong, free from elements which break its natural bonds. Its roots are a time of unity, comfort, appreciation. It is no doubt dark in color, but some consider it dark in character. For it is that part of me that is so often hated, loathed, despised - even by my own mind in the past. It is that part of me that is not accepted in the majority because it is the minority. It is that part of me that is not often affirmed... unless, of course, it helps to put money in the pocket of someone who doesn't realize its true beauty, using it to push a product. But let's be honest - this affirmation lacks not only from the dominant mind, but also from those who possess it. And so it is changed, hid, abandoned. It is thought of as something regressive in this ever "progressive" world. It is ritually killed every 6-8 weeks, resulting in a feel of relief. It is what keeps many from feeling beautiful, professional, normal. It is what keep a confused majority of us from looking like what we think (or are told) we should look like. Well, it IS beautiful, professional, normal. It IS what we should look like. It doesn't matter what others (anyone) may think - what is important is that I accept it, affirm it, love it. God purposely created me the way that I am and He is pleased with His work (even called it good)! Therefore I WILL see it as a blessing from God and, despite the resistance against it, I WILL love it as He does! How wonderful it is - my natural, thick, kinky hair!

yoshi

SharonH, RN · Aug 6, 2005

I found this poem on another website and decided to share it because I think it speaks volumes about this thread. Yes, dreads are the topic for discussion here, but I feel it goes beyond that. I hear from others and experience first hand people not accepting or finding professional hairstyles that promote black hair being in its natural state. Especially those whose hair is very kinky/curly in nature. There have been those who are discriminated against and deemed unprofesssional because of it. One poster on another BB stated that her supervisor told said to her "Why can't you fix your hair normal?" She replied to him, "This is normal!" In this day and age this should not be a problem anymore but it is. And the fact that this is even being discussed on a healthcare thread (where most have had A&P and should no better) is very disconcerting.
It Is
(author: Yoshi)
It is a blessing from God.
It is a part of me that should be loved.
It is bold - it grows up and out,
demanding to be seen by all.
It makes no excuses for what it is,
and yields to no one. It is thick, strong, free from elements which break its natural bonds. Its roots are a time of unity, comfort, appreciation. It is no doubt dark in color, but some consider it dark in character. For it is that part of me that is so often hated, loathed, despised - even by my own mind in the past. It is that part of me that is not accepted in the majority because it is the minority. It is that part of me that is not often affirmed... unless, of course, it helps to put money in the pocket of someone who doesn't realize its true beauty, using it to push a product. But let's be honest - this affirmation lacks not only from the dominant mind, but also from those who possess it. And so it is changed, hid, abandoned. It is thought of as something regressive in this ever "progressive" world. It is ritually killed every 6-8 weeks, resulting in a feel of relief. It is what keeps many from feeling beautiful, professional, normal. It is what keep a confused majority of us from looking like what we think (or are told) we should look like. Well, it IS beautiful, professional, normal. It IS what we should look like. It doesn't matter what others (anyone) may think - what is important is that I accept it, affirm it, love it. God purposely created me the way that I am and He is pleased with His work (even called it good)! Therefore I WILL see it as a blessing from God and, despite the resistance against it, I WILL love it as He does! How wonderful it is - my natural, thick, kinky hair!

yoshi

Oh brava!!!! I love it! Thank you for posting this. The day I decided to accept and embrace my natural hair was truly a watershed moment for me. I have never been happier with my appearance, and I will never again allow someone else to tell me that my hair is not "normal".

bluiis923 · Aug 6, 2005

The basic issue is ETHNICITY. It's an ethnic and cultural thing. People assume that dreadlocks are dirty. Try to understand an individual's culture and their ethnic background before assuming anything. A person's hair does not determine if they are a good nurse or not. Skill and knowledge should be the determining factor.

If the issue is ETHNICITY, then why did you bring up who gets the most head lice ? Just wondering....

pickledpepperRN · Aug 6, 2005

I saw a nurses long blond straight hair graze a patients trach once. Yuch! No matter the gender or type of hair I think no member of the nursing staff should let their hair touch or hang over a patient.

There are so many devices to restrain it when at work. I have quite a collection given as gifts from children. My favorites were made by kids.

One barette is decorated with cartoon character band aides.

I grew up in a family of girls. I was the one with so called "good hair"

I think it is "sort of". Sort of curly, sort of thin.

The oil or glycerin based products that made my sisters hair shin made mine look dirty.

Mom gave them lots of braids when we were kids. I got two.

I do have my natural hair. Except for two times I let my sister cut it it is shoulder to bra strap length and greying. It is curly but not thick when short. The weight makes it hang straighter when long. I've always worn a bun at work since I was a nursing assistant.

My sisters do all kinds of un natural things to their thick kinky hair. Hot combs, colors, straighteners, curlers, and anything you can imagine. If you's seen it my sisters have done it. They do their own. AND you should see their nails! I've rarely been part of the kitchen beauty bonding they do. I read a book or play on the computer.

I'm attaching a photo with my sister on the right. My DIL, son, & daughter are left to right. You can see my sister doesn't look strange. If I had her hair I think I would have shortish natural hair and BIG earrings.

lowpdnrse · Aug 6, 2005

I brought up the headlice issue because it is often thought that dirty hair harbors not only microorganisms, but parasites as well. Just because hair looks dirty, doesn't mean that it is and vice versa. Dreadlocks are thought to harbor both, especially by people who are not in that particular ethnic group. It's all about stereotypes and ethnicity. None of this should have been relevant to that student's ability to do her clinicals. It's all because someone took offense and assumed that dreadlocks harbor everything imaginable.

QUOTE=bluiis923]If the issue is ETHNICITY, then why did you bring up who gets the most head lice ? Just wondering....