To think red hair is not "unprofessional"

[HelpTheresPooballsInMyBed]

Obviously I'm not talking about natural gingers .

My colleague at work has today been reprimanded by one of the junior managers for having "inappropriate hair colour". It's not pillar box red or anything, more brown with a deep red shine, although obviously not natural, it's not "in your face", it's just purple/red/brown hair! If you're not sure what colour I mean google red purple hair.

What's the job?

He's an arse. She should have laughed in this face

Legal secretary so office based role!

Ask if they find a shaved head to be more professional.

Client facing or not? Legal profession does tend to the conservative.

I have, obviously, assumed that the manager is a male arse.

Our deputy director has post box red hair.

Loads of people have that colour now, so can't see what the big deal is. What does she work as ? I used to work for a very stuck up insurance company and one weekend decided to dye my platinum blonde hair red. It came out pillar box red and I was getting a few odd looks but they didn't say anything.

Also when I worked in Boots last Christmas one of the staff asked if she could dye it bright red and she was told no. I found this pretty strange as the shop sells that type of dye ! Also Boots are always going on about trying something new !

Hmm, some professions are very conservative, want to portray conservatism quite actively and care a lot about what their clients think of them.

She's be perfectly well aware of that by the normal style of dress and personal presentation in her and similar offices, so should be in a good position to know whether her hair colour is normal or eccentric in that particular situation.

What does your uniform policy state?

Mine currently is pillarbox red. I am entirely aware I may have to re-dye it when I change jobs. Obv. I'd prefer not to, but if that's what you sign up to...

Generally colours which do not occur naturally are not considered conservative, which I think is the norm for legal professionals.

of course it doesn't affect her work, although given some of those who appear in the images it may not be a good look.

however if her office states an appearance code that covers this, she's out of luck.

If you chose a career that involves working in a very conservative environment, it's best to only have hair that is a naturally occuring colour. I haven't met anyone with naturally red-purple hair.

While they aren't in a formally client facing role, depending on office lay out they could come into contact with a lot of clients or be on show a lot, and if they are in a senior position, they need to set an example.

Technically no. There is nothing wrong with the hair colour, I mean it's not like it's green. However, the fact that the question has to be asked, shows that we all know there are some archaic types who will look down their nose at her. And she knows this too.

These archaic types are a pain in the arse, but, if they form part of the client base, the management expect her not to cause (however unjust) raised eyebrows from those clients. No, it's not fair. It's also silly to pretend this is not how the real world works.

Replace red hair, with tooth gem. Not the image they want, or the image they want to be "seen to allow" in their professional work place.

My manager has proper purple hair, its awesome, as is she.

God, I am so glad I work in a job where people actually understand what "professionalism" involves.

Hint: it isn't about whether or not your lipstick is a certain shade....

Jesus wept.

When I saw the first OP, I thought it wouldn't be ok in a legal setting. I used to work in that field and that kind of hair colour would have been frowned upon. Not fair, but it's the reality of life in the archaic world of law.

I work in the legal profession and often get complimented on my blue, purple and/or red tones in my hair. One of the solicitors working where I work used to have proper purple hair framing her face (not just a few strands but really noticeable).

It is slightly sad that there are still people who judge professionalism on how a person looks.

It wouldn't be acceptable at ours either (legal office) tattoos have to be covered up and must not be visible skirts should be knee length. At the end of the day its a client facing business with an image to portray so anything beyond the conventional won't be acceptable.

This drives me mental. I can't dye my hair red due to work (I work in media!) as it's not a natural colour. there is a disproportionatly large number of nordic ladies in my office then with the amount of obviously natural platinum blondes complete with manky roots

What in the bloody hell effect does my hair colour have on my job. I did have someone (male) comment on the fact that I tend not to wear makeup too. I commented on his lack of eyeliner and no one has brought it up since.

I am a solicitor and my hair has been various shades of red over the years - some very bright. I have never had any complaints from the partners, nor in court from judges, about it being unprofessional. I don't think any clients have been bothered by it. A lot of my clients come to meetings in jeans and it doesn't bother me or make me think lesser of them.

A legal secretary isn't likely to see clients or go to court so it should be even less of an issue.

Then again, some people still have quite old fashioned views of "appropriate" office wear. A colleague told me he couldn't believe I "get away with" wearing my DMs to work. They are black boots, worn with a black trouser suit - what on earth is wrong with that?

and they keep my toes warm in winter when my train is delayed!

Tell her to wear a funny white wig with a pigtail to work one day and see how she gets on.