So I'm caucasian with dreadlocks... advice please

[the other Dr.]

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Thanks for doing a background check on me. But once again I want to welcome you to the internet where it's important to be lighthearted.

I agree with you and I appreciate humor as much as the next cyberego, but there is a difference between being funny and being an a$$hole. You may have intended the former, but you achieved the latter. Maybe that was your goal, but don't get upset if I point it out.

 

[N1DERL&]

I third for the wig. If you can pull your dreads back and wear like a stocking type thing, it shouldn't be too bulky. I'd hate for you to have to cut them off 🙁

 

[benelswick]

ROCK the DREADS!

Just don't apply to hick schools and don't ask your interviewer if he/she wants to get high before you start--not that you would. note that these boards are frequented by nerotic freaks--like me. and that most direct input from admissions people suggest that an applicant has nothing to loose by being themself truly and without pretense.--Ben.

 

[Long Dong]

Med schools adcoms are very conservative, just get the wig or undo them for interviews and application pictures. But as soon as you get accepted you can pretty much do what ever. There was a girl in my class who woar dreads for most of the first year. There is a girl at my school in the class below mine who has one arm almost completely tattoted. I plan on getting my whole back tattoted with the snake and medical cross thing when I graduate. It's not a big deal, but just make sure you get in first.

 

[ellehcim]

So many great responses, thank you to everyone!

Yeah, i'm not to offended by any comments, they're to be expected. The only thing that got to me was the guy who said that black people hate dreads on white people. Your class doesn't represent all black people everywhere so the generalization was not needed. And i hate using my boyfriend like this, but he said I could: he's black, he loves my dreads, as does his sister and cousin and nephew and .... but i suppose they're the only ones. I did like the rest of you post however, thank you.

I'm currently charging the batteries to my digital camara...i'll maybe get a pic on here in a bit..

I've actually considered a wig but haven't tried because I think the dreads will be way too bulky underneith...

It's up in the air.

Thank you though for all honest responses, I really appreciate it.

Hey there,

If I were you I would lose them. As shallow as it sounds, there are so many people competing to get in, sometimes interviewers are looking for an excuse to cut down the list. I know it shouldn't matter, and it sounds like a really stupid reason, but if you get an ultra-conservative panel it could make a difference, even subconsciously. If you get interviewed by a 70 year old doctor who remembers the good old days of everyone wearing suits everyday, and from experience and reading other's posts it does happen, I think you might run into a bit of trouble.

On the other hand, if you can pull them back tight and neat and you think they look professional/conservative enough and they make you comfortable for the interview then that's your call. Personally I think the fact that you have made this thread indicates you think they might effect how the interviewers perceive you, and regardless of whether or not it does, that thought in itself is one more stress I don't think you need to make you more nervous on the day.

 

[medicomel]

Wouldn't "losing them" constitute having to shave your head??? It's not as easy as unraveling them I don't think.

If that's the case, lose them now, or you'll be back on this forum asking members what adcoms would think of a shaved head.

I'm sad for you, girl. Dreads are a major time investment. 🙁

 

[SFAJess]

i have blonde hair that I highlight and i realize it has the potentially to give me that "dumb blonde" look but no way am i gonna dye it back to its mousey dirty blonde state for interviews. Its cut and styled nicely and its not worth it to me to compromise. I have faith that my sincerity, passion, etc will speak for themselves in the interview and overshadow any initial impression interviews may have of the blonde thing.

I'm glad you brought up the blonde issue....My hair is fairly light blonde and I was concerned about the "dumb blonde" impression and was considering one of those temporary 7 day dyes to make it a bit darker. Nobody has ever brought up the issue of blonde hair so I'm glad you mentioned it. How light is your hair?

Sorry to change the subject on the thread.

Jessica

 

[CheerChickMD69]

I'm glad you brought up the blonde issue....My hair is fairly light blonde and I was concerned about the "dumb blonde" impression and was considering one of those temporary 7 day dyes to make it a bit darker. Nobody has ever brought up the issue of blonde hair so I'm glad you mentioned it. How light is your hair?

Sorry to change the subject on the thread.

Jessica

Hahahahahahahahaha. When I first read your posts on my thread I had the suspicion that you were a dumb blonde. Looks like I was right. I don't think the dye will help you .

 

[CarleneM]

I'm glad you brought up the blonde issue....My hair is fairly light blonde and I was concerned about the "dumb blonde" impression and was considering one of those temporary 7 day dyes to make it a bit darker. Nobody has ever brought up the issue of blonde hair so I'm glad you mentioned it. How light is your hair?

Sorry to change the subject on the thread.

Jessica

is your hair bleached blonde or natural? if its natural I think it would be a huge mistake to dye it since it won't blend as nicely with your skin tone and it could end up working against you. Also, blonde hair mixes with dye in strange ways and you could end up with some odd color. my hair is naturally dirty blonde but i get it highlighted at a very good salon so people tend to think my hair is naturally lightish blonde. i have had some form of bleached or dyed blonde hair since seventh grade so it really would be a huge deal for me to change that. i did get it darker once and I felt less confident and comfortable so even if I looked less ditzy, the trade off is not worth it. i was back at the salon later that day begging the stylist to dye it back to blonde. for the fall/winter months, I usually go for a slightly darker but still definitely blonde look and so that is what I will have for interviews. i think if you are composed, articulate and well-qualified, any interviewer who initially makes assumptions about the dumb blonde applicant will be pleasantly surprised and you will actually stand out as the cute blonde who packed a punch (an intellectual-let-me-into-your-school punch, of course).


-carlene, (aka the elle woods of medical school, clinically blonde, perhaps? )

 

[mcjay]

Move to Boulder, Colorado. You'll fit it. But don't forget to buy Uggs, drive an SUV, and drink/smoke a lot. 👍

 

[dmoney41]

Just wear a hairnet.

 

[aparecida]

I don't know. Do you want to go to a medical school that would reject you due to your dreads? I mean, they're you. If you decide to keep them, I think the main thing of importance is to make sure that you look like "a professional person who happens to have a unique hairstyle," not "a hippie who put on a suit." This means, make sure everything else is completely proper. If you go in wearing a pantsuit plus bitten fingernails, no makeup, casual flat maryjanes or (god forbid) Doc Martens, you're going to look like a hippie in a suit.

If I were going to wear dreads to an interview, I would definitely pull them into a neat bun, but I would also be sure to have tasteful, professional makeup; a neat manicure with pale polish; conservative pumps; nice nude hose; a skirtsuit; and a black suit with a white, grey, or French blue tailored longsleeved blouse. (Which is what I'm doing anyway, but it would be particularly important if I were trying to compensate for having dreads.)

 

[ShyRem]

OK. I've read two pages of this, and I have yet to hear one simple question:

Do they look good on you? I'm not talking do YOU think they look good... get some other opinions. If they look good, find a good hairdresser and get some help on how to make them look "more professional" for the conservative suit-armored masses of med school admissions committees. Perhaps this should be the place to start... make an appointment with a GOOD hair stylist, and go in wearing your interview clothing. Make sure it's something you like, everyone else likes, that goes with your "interview look", and is something you can duplicate when the time comes.

Personally, I think without seeing how you actually look, it is difficult for anyone to form a reasonable opinion. I have seen dreads that look wonderful, and dreads that look.. sorry... gross. It's like blonde hair. On my daughter it's absolutely gorgeous (she is naturally blonde), but on me would look more than ridiculous. Laughable. As in point-the-finger-fall-down-laughing stupid. It's all about what looks good on you.

Good luck. 🙂

 

[Friday]

You can keep whatever hairstyle you like for your interviews/application process. After all, it is who you are, right?

However, if you do choose to keep dreadlocks, hope that you don't have any black interviewers. And thats just being real. When majority of black posters say they think it looks nasty on people who's hair isn't naturally African, believe they really think it looks nasty.

FYI, here's a reason alot of black people feel this way: for black people to grow dreadlocks, all they have to do is not comb their hair and let it grow. However, they can still wash it. Therefore, black people can't understand how someone with caucasian type hair can grow/maintain their dreadlocks if they actually wash it. The assumption is that the dreadlocks are maintained by not washing the hair (ever) and possibly adding some sticky substance (like honey) to keep the hair looking as it does.

And I'm not even hating....

 

[45408]

I'm a strong proponent for individuality etc, but I say lose the dreads for interview season and then, once accepted, regrow. Is this the time you want to push the envelope?

troof

Remember also - for everybody that gets dreads to be unique, there's somebody else who's getting dreads cuz it looks mad tyte, y0. You might just look like a typical stoner to the person interviewing you.

 

[SFAJess]

is your hair bleached blonde or natural? i think if you are composed, articulate and well-qualified, any interviewer who initially makes assumptions about the dumb blonde applicant will be pleasantly surprised and you will actually stand out as the cute blonde who packed a punch (an intellectual-let-me-into-your-school punch, of course).


-carlene, (aka the elle woods of medical school, clinically blonde, perhaps? )

Thanks a bunch! I have naturally dirty blonde hair as well with highlights....Thanks for your input! I couldn't really ask friends from my school were doing b/c they don't have blonde hair and don't have to worry about the silly stereotype.

BTW, love the elle woods reference! LOL! "It's scented, too! I think it gives it a little something extra."

 

[principessa]

By the way, how do you grow dreadlocks?

 

[Ypo.]

By not brushing your hair. A really good way is to go in the ocean and not rinse with fresh water. I know a lot of people who started them this way. Instant dreads. Also, its good to twist the individual locks around.

 

[Ypo.]

Hahahahahahahahaha. When I first read your posts on my thread I had the suspicion that you were a dumb blonde. Looks like I was right. I don't think the dye will help you .

This from Cheer chick 69. Please.

 

[on_the_fence]

I sympathize. I sadly made the decision to cut my hair prior to interviews. My take is this: The people who interview you do it very quickly and not necessarily fairly. They have to base a lot of their evaluation on gut feel. To give yourself the best chance you should try to avoid offending as many people as possible. This means you have to be conservative. There are going to be some people who think your hair is cool, some who think it is irrelevant, and definitely some who think it is unprofessional.

Anyway, the bottom line from my perspective is: Cut your hair if you really want to go to medical school.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with this. I had an interview today (not for med school acceptance), and I removed the bright orangy-red nail polish I was wearing to avoid looking like a secretary from the 80s... I wish your dreads could stay! I am always for people being totally honest about who they are, but I would hate to wager admission to med school on a haircut...

 

[on_the_fence]

BTW, love the elle woods reference! LOL! "It's scented, too! I think it gives it a little something extra."

LOL! Me too. During my occasional ditzy moments, I always think of Elle. 😀

 

[Jamaican MD]

Here's my .02 on the issue:

I have no problem with white ppl who choose to loc their hair or cornrow it. Yes, it catches my eye and makes me take a second look, but I definitely don't think "what the heck is s/he doing?" The fact is, yes, you are going to get a reaction. And it will range from curiosity to disgust.

You obviously put work and time into fashioning your dreds, because as someone else pointed out caucasian/straight hair does not loc naturally. My advice to you is to NOT cut your locs, rather wear a wig. It's not about selling out, it's just about getting into med school. Sometimes you have to play the game. At least the wig is not a permanent change, and you don't have to worry about regrowing them.

As long as your locs are neat and clean, I don't think you should have a problem in the future, being a white doc with locs. Just do you, and be true to who you are.

 

[Medikit]

Here's my .02 on the issue:

I have no problem with white ppl who choose to loc their hair or cornrow it. Yes, it catches my eye and makes me take a second look, but I definitely don't think "what the heck is s/he doing?" The fact is, yes, you are going to get a reaction. And it will range from curiosity to disgust.

You obviously put work and time into fashioning your dreds, because as someone else pointed out caucasian/straight hair does not loc naturally. My advice to you is to NOT cut your locs, rather wear a wig. It's not about selling out, it's just about getting into med school. Sometimes you have to play the game. At least the wig is not a permanent change, and you don't have to worry about regrowing them.

As long as your locs are neat and clean, I don't think you should have a problem in the future, being a white doc with locs. Just do you, and be true to who you are.

Should I read your post with a Jamaican accent? You sound more wise when I do.

 

[Jamaican MD]

Should I read your post with a Jamaican accent? You sound more wise when I do.

Do whatever you need to do to get it.

 

[Long Dong]

My dinkelberries get tied up in dreads sometime and I do fine in med school. 😀

 

[MEG@COOL]

Whats a girl to do, cut them?

Probably, but here is my case:

I got a 34 MCAT... so that kind of shows I'm not a stoner or an idiot..

my GPA is good, i've done 'serious scientist' things ..lots of research, bla bla bla...

my whole case is that I want an MD/MPH and practice abroad.. my EC's include working in health clinics in east africa and mexico..

so i'm kind of crunchy, but i have my $hit together.. I almost think my very clean but nappy hair would allow me stand out more...AND, i LOVE them.

Sacrifices are the name of the game, I know, but i wanted to get a feel for what people think, am I branded a pothead or a hippie because of my hair, can't my demeanor and credentials speak for themselves? Decision time is approaching to allow it to grow before interviews..

Yeah if I was an adcom member you would definitely get negative points for the stupid hairstyle.

 

[mesoderm]

NotburntYet,

Keep your locks!!!

BTW, no one ethnic group OWNS self expression. Remember when people who were not East Indian began wearing nose rings? I have seen white girls wearing Bindis on their foreheads, henna tattoos on their hands, pierced lips (origin: Africa), etc., so on and so forth. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

 

[Peterock]

It's not about selling out, it's just about getting into med school.

A white, wealthy female does not "sell out" by washing her hair and applying to medical school! LOL!!

 

[A.D.O.R.]

No, they can't be relaxed, i wish, i think they can in black people's hair, but mine is so straight and fine that it's a different story.

FYI, blacks with locs must also cut off their hair if they want to adopt the straight -- i.e. pressed or relaxed -- look.

The problem with your hair is that you can't claim that it's cultural. It just seems like something trendy that you're currently doing. Maybe a way to rebel against controlling parents or whatever. I'm trying to check my own personal biases and prejudices here but I think you should ask yourself how much your dreds mean to you. Are they such an integral part of your identity that losing a medical school acceptance, as a result of having them, would not trouble you? These are questions that you need to answer.

One more thing, I'm black with locs and I had to answer those questions before I headed out on the interview trail. I decided to keep my locs and risk rejection.

 

[PookieGirl]

You could post a picture for us and let us see?