Acceptable Hairstyle?

[Traxx222]

I am a Caribbean female of African descent. I currently have my hair in dreadlocks. I am applying for the match next year. Will this hairstyle work against me in interviews? My hair is very neat and well-maintained. I usually wear it pulled back. It does not smell and never has.

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[Winged Scapula]

I would say that it depends.

It depends on what you're applying for. Some fields are more open to "alternative" lifestyles, forms of dress, etc. than others.

It depends on where you're applying. Some programs and areas of the country are more open than others.

It depends on the rest of your application. If you are a superstar, it probably won't matter. If you are below average, then the dreds are just another reason to say you won't "fit in."

And I would ask others who will give you an honest answer - often we aren't the best judge of how we appear to others. For all you know, your colleagues think your hair is messy and that you have a foul odor but are afraid to tell you.

 

[C5toC9]

if you have to ask, it's probably not a good idea because you will always wonder "what if (i didn't have dreads)?"

 

[OBandWifey]

I am a Caribbean female of African descent. I currently have my hair in dreadlocks. I am applying for the match next year. Will this hairstyle work against me in interviews? My hair is very neat and well-maintained. I usually wear it pulled back. It does not smell and never has.

As long as your hair is neat and you are presentable I say don't change yourself. You don't want to do something that you'll regret in the long run. As a person of African decent, I've found that people are quite knowledgable of our hair and the styles we can do to them. It's not an "alternative lifestyle"...it's your HAIR. Being a black person isn't alternative...it's who you are. Just present yourself very neatly...I mean a person with straight hair can have it unpresentable right? It's how you carry yourself and present your hair at it's BEST...no matter what texture or style.

 

[Winged Scapula]

As long as your hair is neat and you are presentable I say don't change yourself. You don't want to do something that you'll regret in the long run. As a person of African decent, I've found that people are quite knowledgable of our hair and the styles we can do to them. It's not an "alternative lifestyle"...it's your HAIR. Being a black person isn't alternative...it's who you are. Just present yourself very neatly...I mean a person with straight hair can have it unpresentable right? It's how you carry yourself and present your hair at it's BEST...no matter what texture or style.

This is NOT about race.

No one said the hair choice was an "alternative lifestyle" - I said some programs and fields are more open to alternative choices in dress, hair, lifestyle, etc. No one said anything about being black as being an alternative but you have to admit that wearing dreds are not seen as mainstream in US medicine.

And yes, we are well aware of the variety of hairstyles out there. But the OP is aware that there may be a problem hence the post. It would be naive to think that every faculty member and program and patient accepts things that they see as different. As far as I'm concerned, having dreds falls into the same category as facial piercings. Keep them if you so desire, but don't expect that everyone will be able to see past them and that MAY impact your residency experience (but highly dependent on all the things I mentioned in my first post - field, program, applicant's qualifications).

 

[beyondcategory]

So, I too wear my hair in locs, and I am applying this cycle, but I have not even thought about getting rid of them! Did you just start locking your hair? Or have you had it for a while? If you have had it for a while, you have to think, well I got into medical school with this style.

I honestly don't think that if you're hair is professional, that if it is in locs it is the same as "facial piercings". I also think that if a program doesn't take you because your hair is neat in locs, then you have think did I really want to be there anyway?

I think that's the beauty with this whole match process. Just like everytime you interview places, you are checking out places while they are checking you out. If you feel like you don't mesh with a place for whatever reason you have the ability to rank them lower- or not rank them at all!

I just hope that your performance as a student and your attitude with the people you interact will be more important than the twist of your hair...

 

[Buzz Me]

I've seen residents in many fields (some traditionally more conservative) with dreadlocks...but they happened to be stellar residents as well. Coincidence? Who knows.

I'm all for expressing your own character...but just be cognizant of the field you're entering, and what that entails...traditions, customs, etc. Asking around might not be a bad idea.

I know, I know...21st century and we're still talking about this.

 

[turquoiseblue]

i saw a Rastafarian guy in dreads in concert...he was good...i thought the dreads made him who he was and didn't think he looked bad at all and thought he was mighty talented. but for residency interviews you may want to be more on the safe side. i found some previous posts on this subject for you that may help you....http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=720450

i was recently thinking of getting purple, turquoise, or hot pink highlights......i originally have dark hair..is any of that acceptable? I'm afraid to do anything to my hair in case of an interview though, but some of my friends are pushing me to get highlights and they think it will make me look more professional...they're just streaks though...

 

[Winged Scapula]

i was recently thinking of getting purple, turquoise, or hot pink highlights......i originally have dark hair..is any of that acceptable? I'm afraid to do anything to my hair in case of an interview though, but some of my friends are pushing me to get highlights and they think it will make me look more professional...they're just streaks though...

Where do your friends work - tattoo parlors?

I don't know anywhere in the medical world where purple, turquoise or hot pink hair highlights/streaks make you look *more* professional.

 

[turquoiseblue]

no they don't work in tatoo parlors..they're pretty conservative..one's a med student and the other is about to go to law school....im not into tatoos either....they including my own mother want me to get subtle highlights, but i want something more interesting if im going to do that at all..i saw a picture of dark hair and dark purple highlights and it looked amazing to me....but apparently it must not be acceptable.. i didn't want to do it in the first place so maybe i'll leave it at that.

Here's a pic:
http://www.sodahead.com/entertainme...2344335784_662aa653b7.jpg&q=purple+highlights

 

[ladybug7]

To the OP-keep your locks. It's a part of who you are, plus it's not like you can just get them back after the interview is done. I plan on rocking some twists.. maybe a 'fro.. who knows but whatever it is it will be presentable.

Just keep it neat like beyondcategory said!

 

[dmal]

I agree with Ladybug. I don't think it will matter.

The key words to your locs as you stated are "neat and well maintained." There's a difference between neat and manicured locs vs free form, bob marley-esque type of locs. So long as they're neat, and you wear them tied back, you should be fine.

 

[killerleaf]

Also, just a little something to think about. Some institutions have really strange dress codes, and I have seen some that do not allow dreadlocks at all, no matter how well maintained. Personally, I think that it is a stupid rule, but something to check out.

The main thing is, you want to be in a place that you are comfortable. How comfortable will you be if you have to change your hairstyle to even work there?

 

[Winged Scapula]

no they don't work in tatoo parlors..they're pretty conservative..one's a med student and the other is about to go to law school....im not into tatoos either....

The comment about tattoos was a joke, as those who work in those environments tend to have a different defintion of what "professional" is than say do, physicians or other white collar workers.

they including my own mother want me to get subtle highlights, but i want something more interesting if im going to do that at all..i saw a picture of dark hair and dark purple highlights and it looked amazing to me....but apparently it must not be acceptable.. i didn't want to do it in the first place so maybe i'll leave it at that.

Here's a pic:
http://www.sodahead.com/entertainme...2344335784_662aa653b7.jpg&q=purple+highlights

Hey, I think the purple highlights are cute, but they do not fit the current definition of "professional" in the medical field. Subtle highlights are fine - most of us have them (although some wankers try and claim that my highlights are really gray hair ; ) ). I don't think the picture you've linked above was subtle. My ex had dark black hair and we used to do a blue or purple rinse...it would only show when the sun hit it. That was subtle.

 

[peppy]

Yeah, purple highlights are very cool but I can't imagine them being acceptable in the medical world. 😕 If they were, I'd have them too.
Dreadlocks I could see as possibly causing a stir in a very conservative institution like say Mayo. If you are a strong applicant and feel confident that you will have some choices about where to go, then it may be for the best to just be yourself and see where you fit in. If you are not so sure, then it might be best to play it safe for now.

 

[Apollyon]

Yeah, purple highlights are very cool but I can't imagine them being acceptable in the medical world. 😕 If they were, I'd have them too.
Dreadlocks I could see as possibly causing a stir in a very conservative institution like say Mayo. If you are a strong applicant and feel confident that you will have some choices about where to go, then it may be for the best to just be yourself and see where you fit in. If you are not so sure, then it might be best to play it safe for now.

At Duke, a woman a year ahead of me had tight braids (but not long enough to be dreads - although I believe people are misidentifying braids and dreadlocks, which are not the same), but she was at Duke, so she was clinically strong, and that is what mattered. Clinically weak, then the whole thing gets questioned.

 

[chocomorsel]

Rock your dreads but keep them neat. I'm a 3rd year resident who started growing her dreads 5 years ago. Wore them to interviews and had no problems getting in. Mine are thin, and neat and many people don't even know they are dreads. Just assume they are braids. Never been a problem for me. My closest friend from medschool is a 3rd year surgical resident who wears dreads. When I was a medical student one of my surgical residents wore them. One of the pain fellows I know wear them, and his are not the thin, neat kind either. They are big and messy Honestly, I think it's about the person you are.

I personally don't equate dreads to facial piercings. Not even close, but I am black and have been in cities where there are lot's of black folk wearing natural styles so I'm used to it. Although now I live in a city with very few black folk and you won't see my type of hair too much.

Keep it clean and neat and you will be fine. No crazy beads, funky highlights, styles, and you will do fine.

 

[Apollyon]

See, chocomorsel crystallizes it. I've lived in the Caribbean and in NYC, and I've seen real dreads. The guys never wash their hair, but they never ever stink. Ever. However, real dreadlocks on white guys? Don't get me started. Here in Hawai'i (where there are two speeds of white people from the mainland - the achieving, contributing, very high functioning members of society, and the biggest losers), the wannabe surfers (who think they're all thug) and their dreads come around, and they smell like goats; you can't get within 5 feet of them without cringing.

 

[dragonfly99]

If you are applying to some traditionally conservative specialty (like maybe neurosurgery or general surg, etc.) in perhaps a traditionally conservative institution in the South or Midwest or Northeast, you might get away with less in terms of hairstyle than you could at perhaps some urban community IM program in California. However, one would hope that if you are neat, clean and have the hair tied back, it should not matter. However, I know that beards were definitely banned at my IM residency. It was said to be about getting the respirator/Tb masks to fit right, but I also think it was about the image the institution wanted. Some places also require that male residents wear a tie, and Duke used to require all the interns to wear white pants.

It's like a lot of other things in med school and residency. It's about how much of yourself you are willing to subvert to the will of the collective "bosses" and/or the hospital or med school institutions themselves. How important is the hairstyle to you, or do you just not care that much?

Overall, I think that interviewers not "liking" things like a hairstyle is probably going to decrease over time, because a lot of the older docs are more conservative and they keep retiring. Younger people tend to allow more leeway in terms of dress, etc. Not always but usually.

I have a question, though. Isn't it necessary to wash dreadlocks? I can see how a thicker type hair would not need washing as often, but it still needs to be washed, right?

 

[chocomorsel]

If you are applying to some traditionally conservative specialty (like maybe neurosurgery or general surg, etc.) in perhaps a traditionally conservative institution in the South or Midwest or Northeast, you might get away with less in terms of hairstyle than you could at perhaps some urban community IM program in California. However, one would hope that if you are neat, clean and have the hair tied back, it should not matter. However, I know that beards were definitely banned at my IM residency. It was said to be about getting the respirator/Tb masks to fit right, but I also think it was about the image the institution wanted. Some places also require that male residents wear a tie, and Duke used to require all the interns to wear white pants.

It's like a lot of other things in med school and residency. It's about how much of yourself you are willing to subvert to the will of the collective "bosses" and/or the hospital or med school institutions themselves. How important is the hairstyle to you, or do you just not care that much?

Overall, I think that interviewers not "liking" things like a hairstyle is probably going to decrease over time, because a lot of the older docs are more conservative and they keep retiring. Younger people tend to allow more leeway in terms of dress, etc. Not always but usually.

I have a question, though. Isn't it necessary to wash dreadlocks? I can see how a thicker type hair would not need washing as often, but it still needs to be washed, right?

Yes, it's necessary to wash dreadlocks. You just don't need to wash it that frequently because it remains dry and not oily. I wash mine every 2-3 weeks otherwise it get's itchy and flaky. When my hair was straight I washed it weekly. Either way, black folk don't have to wash their hair daily as it would likely lead to damage.

The people who let their dreads grow out out just letting it get matted together via being unkempt; combing their hair usually aren't too keen on washing it regularly. And that can tend to smell I'm sure. You know the difference when you see it. Neat, usually even dreads verses messy, uneven sometimes different lenght is usually what gives it away.

 

[dmal]

^^^

Yes, like with any other type of hair, it is necessary to wash dreads, for the main purpose of keeping the hair clean. Doesn't matter whether the hair is thick or not.

I think its a common misconception that dreads aren't washed or aren't supposed to be washed. Majority of loc wearers wash their dreads. The ones who don't choose to do so simply because they don't want to (for whatever reason, laziness or whatever), not because it is a requirement to maintain the dreads.

 

[Apollyon]

I think its a common misconception that dreads aren't washed or aren't supposed to be washed.

Just going on what I was told in Grenada, St. Vincent, NYC, North Carolina, and South Carolina. (Me and the brothers with locs got along much better than I EVER did with "the man" (although I WAS "the man").)

 

[azzarah]

If I were interviewing you, I would only care about the strength of your application.
As someone else pointed out, would you want to go to a program that looked down on you because of how you style your hair? Of course, that may happen. This is the real world. There are bigots everywhere on both sides of the equation.

 

[sweetmelody]

Yeah, purple highlights are very cool but I can't imagine them being acceptable in the medical world. 😕 If they were, I'd have them too.
Dreadlocks I could see as possibly causing a stir in a very conservative institution like say Mayo. If you are a strong applicant and feel confident that you will have some choices about where to go, then it may be for the best to just be yourself and see where you fit in. If you are not so sure, then it might be best to play it safe for now.

Friend at mayo is an intern in internal med, nw 2010 grad...has dreds, had them on her interviews....no probs

 

[bigDinLV]

If I were interviewing you, I would only care about the strength of your application.
As someone else pointed out, would you want to go to a program that looked down on you because of how you style your hair? Of course, that may happen. This is the real world. There are bigots everywhere on both sides of the equation.

Guess I could rock a 2 foot high green mohawk and be just fine then?


I'm glad everyone would be so supportive of me doing this!!!!! It's just hair, right?

 

[gutonc]

Guess I could rock a 2 foot high green mohawk and be just fine then?

At my institution? Outside of Neurosurgery? Probably.

But you're being a little pedantic don't you think?

 

[turquoiseblue]

At my institution? Outside of Neurosurgery? Probably.

But you're being a little pedantic don't you think?

maybe it is just me, but i thought neurosurgery was one of the main fields where they would especially want to sport a crazy hairstyle.

 

[Winged Scapula]

maybe it is just me, but i thought neurosurgery was one of the main fields where they would especially want to sport a crazy hairstyle.

Only for the patients.

 

[gutonc]

Only for the patients.

And I'm not sure a halo or a shaved spot over a skull flap really qualifies as a crazy hairstyle.

 

[Winged Scapula]

And I'm not sure a halo or a shaved spot over a skull flap really qualifies as a crazy hairstyle.

Yeah, but the ventric would probably disqualify you from being ranked.

 

[witchbaby]

2 additional points:

If you're interviewing in places in the country where the staff don't like your dreads, it's likely that your patients also won't like them. (Patients in most hospitals being significantly more conservative than staff, due to age if nothing else.) Do you want to train for 3+ years in a place where you will either be judged for your dreads, or not be able to have them? Not that you should be judged, or should care, but just the day to day tedium of having people comment disapprovingly would be unpleasant. As the many of us who look "too young to be doctors" or have some other noticeable, un-changeable physical attribute can attest to.

For those of you with more "alternative" hairstyle wishes, remember that you can do whatever you want once you've signed that contract. If you're a good resident in a program with any sense, they're not going to go to all the effort to fire and replace you over a hair choice unless it's crazy to the point where it somehow compromizes patient care. And as far as looking professional, how many post-call residents look like someone you'd want making medical decisions? I recommend waiting until you've proven yourself to be a competent MD in intern year and are a more senior resident to do really crazy stuff, though. I had bright pink highlights at the beginning of year 3 of residency. I had plenty of pink clothes that it coordinated with, and wore it in a way that wasn't super noticeable or in your face, and it was well received. (Which is to say that no one told me it was unprofessional, though I'm sure some people thought it was, and multiple people told me it looked good.) And it was just the pick-me up / self expression / indulgence I needed to get on with 3rd year in good spirits. (And yes, people thought I was too young to be a doctor _before_ I had pink hair.)