"Manbun/Top-knot" Hairstyle

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
S

StevensBibi

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2015
Messages
36
Reaction score
9
i'm a guy that has a manbun/top-knot hairstyle and am not sure if I need to cut my hair to something more conservative before starting medical school

Sorry if this sounds silly. My hairstyle could fly in basically any other industry but I know medicine is more conservative so i wanted to know what i should do
Members don't see this ad.
 
It's the same thing as tattoos - sure, it's possible to get by with tattoos, nose rings, ear gauges, long-hippy-weed-hair (this includes your "manbun") but it's ill-advised. Medicine has lots of conservative old men that will hold this against you. Let's not also forget that a lot of the public also thinks this way, and no one wants a doctor treating them who they think looks like an idiot.

I feel you man, I've always wanted to grow my hair out super long too, but once I got into med school I realized that's gonna have to happen in another life.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
StevensBibi said:
i'm a guy that has a manbun/top-knot hairstyle and am not sure if I need to cut my hair to something more conservative before starting medical school
Click to expand...
Ideally, you'd cut it before med school interviews. If a Thom Browne suit is worth -5 MCAT points, I'd bet this hair style would stand out similarly. @gyngyn @DokterMom @Winged Scapula
 
Catalystik said:
Ideally, you'd cut it before med school interviews. If a Thom Browne suit is worth -5 MCAT points, I'd bet this hair style would stand out similarly. @gyngyn @DokterMom @Winged Scapula
Click to expand...

So actually I have been accepted to med school and am more concerned about whether or not I should cut my hair before beginning school. I was actually going to cut my hair before interviews but for whatever reason I didn't. Now I'm getting pressure from family and friends to cut it so I look more "professional and doctorly."
 
I have a man bun except I don't always bun it up. Sometimes I leave it out cause it's very curly lol. I'm not cutting my hair at all. If a place doesn't want to accept me based on my hair, it's probably a place I would be unhappy at in some other facet as well.
 
Our man-buns are proceeding with no serious setbacks in years 1-3. I will recommend a haircut for sub-I's and residency interviews. It's not worth SOAPing over.

Addendum: our man-buns are nape-buns, not top-knots.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
StevensBibi said:
So actually I have been accepted to med school and am more concerned about whether or not I should cut my hair before beginning school. I was actually going to cut my hair before interviews but for whatever reason I didn't. Now I'm getting pressure from family and friends to cut it so I look more "professional and doctorly."
Click to expand...
Congratulations on your acceptance. To be honest, you might be fine with keeping it for awhile, so long as you have zero patient or physician contact. Once you begin having clinical interactions, having a more doctorly appearance keeps you from standing out in a negative way.
 
Depends on where you go to school, but if you've already been accepted, I think you'd probably be ok to keep it. It might have made a more negative impression during interviews, but I'd be shocked if somebody tried to rescind your acceptance or kick you out because of something like this.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
StevensBibi said:
So actually I have been accepted to med school and am more concerned about whether or not I should cut my hair before beginning school. I was actually going to cut my hair before interviews but for whatever reason I didn't. Now I'm getting pressure from family and friends to cut it so I look more "professional and doctorly."
Click to expand...
You'll be fine until at least third year when evaluations become subjective and about how much people like you/your impression on them. Until then you are graded almost solely by your performance on multiple choice tests, and can dress/look however you want as long as you meet dress code for specific events (eg osces, standardized patient encounters, shadowing).

Several people in my class starting growing out their manbuns after acceptance, but I am expecting some big whacks post step 1. Although, depending on what you want to go into you may not need to bother cutting it for third year either.
 
This thread again. You will be judged by attendings, patients, and just about anyone on your looks. I have recently witnessed a patient at the hospital where I volunteer complain to her physician about his medical student not looking professional. The student is first year as the school has early patient interaction in the curriculum. I don't believe in accomodating silly requests for each and everyone, but certain things are just not worth fighting.

I should probably note that attitudes vary geographically (although while we are not in a conservative area by any stretch, it is irrelevant as it only takes one person to drop that kind of bomb on you).
 
Last edited:
it is so funny that I thought about posting a similar thread recently.

i am currently in the works of growing one, but with potential interviews...i gotta cut it off. the re-growing phase will be back!
 
It's all been said -- But as a liberal west coast native, and now a relative old-timer I'll chime in for whatever it's worth. They all say "I'm unconventional and don't want to bow to the status quo. If I don't like your rules, I won't follow them cheerfully." Between the two styles: top-knot and nape of the neck, my reactions are as follows:
  • Top-knot says this is a fashion choice. It's in-your-face obvious. Maybe it's a religious thing (but what religion?). If you're drop-dead gorgeous and also have a beard, you may be able to pull it off, but it's a high risk look. In general, the negatives will far outweigh the positives.
  • Low nape of the neck pony or man-bun is a much more conservative choice. It says "I want my hair long, but am flexible enough to pull it back and restrain it for work, meeting the intent of the regulation if not necessarily the letter of it." It's a much safer look. And the neater the head-portion looks (short of lots-of-product slick), the more safe the look will be. You still need to have the face for it - chiseled jawline and high cheekbones.
As a hair style choice, it generally reads either sexy and dangerous, metro vanity, hippie, rebel, or sloppy. Which one are you going for?
 
Catalystik said:
Ideally, you'd cut it before med school interviews. If a Thom Browne suit is worth -5 MCAT points, I'd bet this hair style would stand out similarly. @gyngyn @DokterMom @Winged Scapula
Click to expand...
Although this thread and topic has likely been played out, since I was asked for my opinion I thought I would give it.

Disclaimer: I like well-dressed men with longer hair. In fact I badgered my ex to grow his Shoulder length hair even longer. It got down to waist length but because he had that silky Asian hair, it never held a bun very well. However, we both agreed that when it came time for fellowship interviews, he needed to cut it.

Since you've already been accepted to medical school, this is not likely to be a problem until your clinical rotations. There will still be people who see the longer hair and find it unprofessional.

The difference will be based on the rest of the package, as has been mentioned in this thread. If your look leans more towards dirty hippie, with unkempt and ill fitting clothing and suspect personal hygiene, then this is much more likely to work against you than someone who looks like they belong in Men's Vogue.

You'll likely be well advised to cut it for residency interviews as there are a few exceptions to the perception in medicine that longer hair on men is unprofessional.
 
Last edited:
ChrisMack390 said:
Fortunately for OP, the man bun will no longer be in vogue 3 years from now when his clinicals begin.
Click to expand...

Yes, but by then it will be "retro" and you'll earn instant cred with people living wherever it is that former Williamsburg residents are living now.
 
If I was ever treated by a sexy man-bun wearing doctor, I would probably plotz. Which would mean I could hit my head and inadvertently create a reason for more interactions with said doctor. So there are some pluses and minuses i suppose.
 
I love that this thread was brought back because I got to learn that wingedox didn't know what this was before.
 
ok, in the interest of fairplay....I wish I could pull this off
1436319.jpg
but no stupid scarf thing
 
I've already had observership experience and so far so good. I wear a nape bun, not a top knot. Google Orlando Bloom for a better description. A couple of doctors have threatened me with cutting my hair before I'm allowed to continue further, but I've found most doctors to be either supportive or not bothered at all, so I guess it depends on the environment and to a several extent, I think it also depends on your attitude. I'm sure some doctors are willing to let it slide if you show seriousness about it, if you choose to be discreet instead of flaunting, and above all if you're a competitive student and not just among/below the rest. So far I've had no trouble with patients, most say nothing about the way I look and some have gone as far as complimenting me and actually asking for a hug (old ladies, which is funny cause they say old people are the most conservative) cause I'm a "fine looking man".
 
DocThorG said:
I've already had observership experience and so far so good. I wear a nape bun, not a top knot. Google Orlando Bloom for a better description. A couple of doctors have threatened me with cutting my hair before I'm allowed to continue further, but I've found most doctors to be either supportive or not bothered at all, so I guess it depends on the environment and to a several extent, I think it also depends on your attitude. I'm sure some doctors are willing to let it slide if you show seriousness about it, if you choose to be discreet instead of flaunting, and above all if you're a competitive student and not just among/below the rest. So far I've had no trouble with patients, most say nothing about the way I look and some have gone as far as complimenting me and actually asking for a hug (old ladies, which is funny cause they say old people are the most conservative) cause I'm a "fine looking man".
Click to expand...

I think if you balance it with otherwise impeccably professional appearance it would be both acceptable, professional, AND sexy
the holy trinity and fine line to walk with your professional image
 
For whatever it is worth, 3 of my friends have man buns and 2 of them just matched to their 1st and 2nd choice residencies and the other one is starting at a DO school this month.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

PickaGodnPray
Top institutions removing DEI from admissions
Replies
5
Views
923
PickaGodnPray
PickaGodnPray
P
Top 20 schools that have rural focused programs?
Replies
8
Views
683
kangler024
kangler024
E
Letter of Intent "Top 3/Top 2"
Replies
12
Views
3K
Emh_omega-323
E
D
Do top schools accept MCAT updates?
Replies
3
Views
666
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
angryeggtart
B+ in "organic chemistry" for Top 10/20
Replies
4
Views
1K
AsclepiusAdvisingLLC
AsclepiusAdvisingLLC
Top