Would you dye your hair for an interview?

[maristella]

This is of course, theoretical as I do not have an actual interview scheduled...YET. 🙂

My hair has ahem, streaks of a color in it that are not normally found in nature. I like it, it's tastefully done and adds character, however, a lot of people suggested I dye over it for an interview.

Would you do something like dying your hair, taking out a piercing, or covering a tattoo for interviews? just wondering...

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[bigman123]

This is of course, theoretical as I do not have an actual interview scheduled...YET. 🙂

My hair has ahem, streaks of a color in it that are not normally found in nature. I like it, it's tastefully done and adds character, however, a lot of people suggested I dye over it for an interview.

Would you do something like dying your hair, taking out a piercing, or covering a tattoo for interviews? just wondering...

this premed kid i know has a bullnose ring. what do you suggest he do?

 

[maristella]

that's hot

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Just get a wig.

 

[MsGujilicious]

I would think dying your hair would be a good idea, because you have to look professional and impress the interviewer, don't you? If it has unnatural colors..
As for piercings, I guess it depends... You wouldn't want the interviewer to be distracted by a humungous nose ring... It just doesn't look very professional.. (not saying there's anything wrong with nose piercings!) ...but you might be able to take it out just for one day? 😵
Hmmm, lol I really have no place to talk, I'm no where near even applying yet..
But just saying.. Ignore if i'm being dumb

🙄

 

[mbe36]

You have to think "conservative" for the interview appearance. I would eliminate any questionable things. Even if they do not think anything of it, which they probably will, you will be thinking about it. Aside from impressing them, you also do not want to make yourself nervous.

 

[eel800]

I have to respectfully disagree with the above posters. I think you should be yourself, dyed hair and all. Med schools can smell phoniness a mile away. Being conservative isn't always the best route.

 

[HispurposOnCall]

I know someone who did not get accepted because her hair color did not follow the schools dress code "no unnatural colors." Her bang was dyed red. Something to think about...

 

[Haro4130Frame]

I asked this question awhille back...

I have a lip piercing which I took out for the day. Wasnt a big deal.
My hair though was much longer than normal for guys and all. I had it dyed but let it fade until it wasnt really noticable at interviews. Immediately after accepted, I have dyed it dark brown, bright blonde and some red in it. I would say if its looks decent, leave it in. What colors are in it exactly??

 

[VoiceofReason]

shave yo' head

 

[Textuality]

Eh, I'd err on the side of caution. If you can tell it's strange colors from 2 feet away, it's probably too noticeable to be "professional". I feel like you have more to lose than to gain, so why risk it? Unfortunately, this profession does make some demands on us in terms of outwards appearance, and understandably so. You wouldn't want your interviewer to interpret your hairstyle as your unwillingness to fit into part of a team, or inability to recognize what is appropriate/professional in a hospital work environment etc.

I'm actually waiting until after my interviews to get my tattoo (it's going to be just under my wrist). For me, tattooing has always been a personal form of spiritual/creative commitment and something meaningful. But there are still people who automatically associate tattoos with unsavory things, and I don't want somebody else's prejudices to sabotage my shot at medical school if I can help it.

Personally, I'd say why risk medical school admission over hair color? It's nerve wracking enough without worrying about things like that, lol.

(Haha...I really shouldn't talk though since I'm the girl who refuses to wear pantyhose with skirt suits, it just seems unreasonably outdated and kind of sexist. Oh, and I actually had to stop dying my hair blue since I now work at a hospital and my boss wouldn't approve.)

Good luck!

 

[erica31]

I think the word "doctor" is synonomous with the word "professionalism." I think any hairstyle that might cause a patient to pause (such as a doc with blue hair) would also cause the interview team to pause. (Now of couse, I'm sure there is a fantastic doctor out there with 20 tattoos and 4 colors of hair that has a huge volume of happy patients-- I wasn't being absolute, just generalizing).

I may be being superficial, but sometimes you the way you dress gives people an impression of you. Would you want to get your hair done at a hairdresser's with a really bad hairdo? I wouldn't. That is why many hairdressers have "the cutest style" and their "hair is always perfect." Because they know how good they look may cause people to think how well they can perform.

Finally, its obvious that medical schools want their future students to excude professionalism-- that may be why we interview in suits and not sweats. I'd recommend having your hair a neutral tone for the interview-- if nothing else than to keep the interview team solely focused on the ideas coming out of your mouth rather than the color on your head.

G'luck!👍

Eh, I'd err on the side of caution. If you can tell it's strange colors from 2 feet away, it's probably too noticeable to be "professional". I feel like you have more to lose than to gain, so why risk it? Unfortunately, this profession does make some demands on us in terms of outwards appearance, and understandably so. You wouldn't want your interviewer to interpret your hairstyle as your unwillingness to fit into part of a team, or inability to recognize what is appropriate/professional in a hospital work environment etc.

I'm actually waiting until after my interviews to get my tattoo (it's going to be just under my wrist). For me, tattooing has always been a personal form of spiritual/creative commitment and something meaningful. But there are still people who automatically associate tattoos with unsavory things, and I don't want somebody else's prejudices to sabotage my shot at medical school if I can help it.

Personally, I'd say why risk medical school admission over hair color? It's nerve wracking enough without worrying about things like that, lol.

(Haha...I really shouldn't talk though since I'm the girl who refuses to wear pantyhose with skirt suits, it just seems unreasonably outdated and kind of sexist. Oh, and I actually had to stop dying my hair blue since I now work at a hospital and my boss wouldn't approve.)

Good luck!

 

[drlisa0318]

This is of course, theoretical as I do not have an actual interview scheduled...YET. 🙂

My hair has ahem, streaks of a color in it that are not normally found in nature. I like it, it's tastefully done and adds character, however, a lot of people suggested I dye over it for an interview.

Would you do something like dying your hair, taking out a piercing, or covering a tattoo for interviews? just wondering...

Yeah, I'll dye my hair....to cover up the gray!

 

[skyeblue0610]

Absolutely! I had highlights but they've grown out now.
Personally, I would not want to look in my doctor's face and see an eyebrow piercing and any others.....but that's just me.

It's not professional

Is there a way you can put your hair up where the highlights don't show

 

[aaj117]

I would definitely go the cautious conservative route... And i don't think it's being "phony" like another poster said before. How is it phony to try to look professional when trying to become a professional? Luckily my tatoo is in a fairly hidden place, but i always take out my nosering even though i wear really tiny ones, because facial piercings aren't exactly professional either.

 

[beachblonde]

get rid of any colors not found in nature. you can dye it back AFTER you get in.

A lot of med schools and hospitals have dress codes under which hair must be a normal, natural color. I wouldn't want to present myself in a way that already doesn't fit in-because the whole point is that they're looking for people who are a good fit.

(and I just don't see how weird colors can be "tastefully done." it sounds like an oxymoron to me)

 

[coralfangs]

i shaved my head for interview
no jokes, everyone i know (including my bossman whos the chair of the department) told me that i look like a crackhead
so i shaved my head and looked like a skinhead instead
i still think i made a good decision

 

[nka1985]

This is of course, theoretical as I do not have an actual interview scheduled...YET. 🙂

My hair has ahem, streaks of a color in it that are not normally found in nature. I like it, it's tastefully done and adds character, however, a lot of people suggested I dye over it for an interview.

Would you do something like dying your hair, taking out a piercing, or covering a tattoo for interviews? just wondering...

Change it to a natural hair color. Interviewers are people too, and you don't want to miss out on an acceptance because somebody didn't like your hair.

I'm actually waiting until after my interviews to get my tattoo (it's going to be just under my wrist). For me, tattooing has always been a personal form of spiritual/creative commitment and something meaningful. But there are still people who automatically associate tattoos with unsavory things, and I don't want somebody else's prejudices to sabotage my shot at medical school if I can help it.

You might want to check on your schools/hospitals dress code, etc before you do this. My school's professionalism code and the hospital's dress code do not allow visible tatoos or hair colors that are not natural. I have 2 tattoos-on my back and ankle so they are easily covered up by wearing pants. Depending on the school they might make you wear long sleeves or cover it with a bandage, which can get tiring.

 

[Textuality]

Haha, did I say after interviews? Make that after acceptances (and checking out of school dress code)...assuming I get an acceptance! Yeah, it's unfortunate that some superficial stigmas and prejudices still exist against things like piercings/tattoos/hair color but oh well. We can change it from the inside when we get there, right now, lets worry about the "getting there" part!

 

[alwaysaangel]

Yeah, I'll dye my hair....to cover up the gray!

Same here. I'm 50% gray and I'm only 23 - I'm sure stress will make it 100% by the time I finish med school. At least if I grow the gray out as an intern everyone will think I'm old and experienced.

 

[Jolie South]

Same here. I'm 50% gray and I'm only 23 - I'm sure stress will make it 100% by the time I finish med school. At least if I grow the gray out as an intern everyone will think I'm old and experienced.

ah, sorry, that's a tough break.

the grandmotherly look will make you look wiser than your years though.

 

[alwaysaangel]

ah, sorry, that's a tough break.

the grandmotherly look will make you look wiser than your years though.

Haha thanks - no big though. I started going gray at 16. I'm used to it by now. It doesn't really bother me or my bf. And even if I don't dye it for a while most people are too polite to say anything.