...to have blue hair as a doctor?

[WiIdfire]

I got hidden rainbow hair while on maternity leave, and it was fab. When I went back to work, I dyed it back to a boring brown.

As a doctor, it's always been fairly accepted that you should dress conservatively, that it's not acceptable to have bright hair, visible tattoos, eccentric clothing etc. and I've always stuck to that. However, since going back, I've seen 6 other members of staff (non-doctors, but patient facing, nurses etc) with blue or vivid pink hair, it seems to becoming much more mainstream. My husbands non-medical colleagues were baffled that I would even consider going back to brown just to go back to work.

So, would I be unreasonable to have blue hair as a doctor? Is it socially acceptable yet?

Well one of the best judges I've come across has purple hair
Really??? which judge? This would not fly in most courts.

I think that you have beautiful shiny healthy hair. This is age related.
I have to dye my horrible thinning white hair now and I always feel sad when I see a young thing ( as you are) putting dye on their hair. It makes it go dull IMO? It is difficult to replicate the quality of totally undyed young hair.

I have nothing against you having coloured hair as a Dr, except for the above opinion,
However I do find it hard to accept dietary advice from a Doctor who is obese or is a smelly smoker.

I honestly wouldn't judge.
Would never care what a doctor looked like

That being said,
There's a doctor in my local practice who has bright hair and has some visible tattoos and has a bit of a punk style similar to my own and I absolutely love it when I get her. Feel a lot more comfortable being open, frank and honest with her.

Who cares? Lucky to get care on the NHS. They can take it or leave it

Thats not how NHS workers are viewed or how they view things.

I'm 50 and not a GP but I have a patient facing role.
Our H&S policy is clear on things like earrings (one pair studs, no hoops, no danglies) no wrist jewellery/watches, one plain band ring, no nail varnish/false nails.
No excessive make-up
No excessive body odour (I wonder what they class as acceptable )

So as a Patient myself and as an HCP, no I don't think bright colour hair is acceptable in a Clinical role.
Yes it would need tied back so in the OPs case most would be hidden.

But, I kid yea not, patients DO judge on appearance.

"Oh she was nice but I didn't like the tattoos"
"Oh he was nice but a bit scruffy "
"Oh he was nice but I couldn't understand him for the lip piecing"

And YY, if most of your contacts are to vunerable or older patients you have to take it on board.

I think it looks fab, and the people you will be judged by will be your colleagues not your patients.

I agree it looks great but I have two children with sensory issues. One is diagnosed ASD they would both have issues with it.

It looks great. If somebody doesn't want to see you because you have blue hair, let them get an appt with someone else.

I wouldn't mind. I'm mid-50's so no spring chicken. Buuuut - I worked with older people and often accompanied them to GP/hospital appointments. I think that a lot of them would find some contemporary hair fashions - blues/pinks/rainbow hues, undercuts etc very puzzling indeed and feel less confident in whatever diagnosis/treatment they received. Of course appearance has no bearing on competence, but that won't stop a lot of more conservative/older patients finding such a hair style, problematic.

Yes, I agree butterflymum. My grandma was the epitome of respectability. She took great pride in her rinses: blue, pink and a lavendery one. She had them all through the 1960s until she was too ravaged by alzheimers by about the age of 80. She'd be 105 now!

Have to say I'm pretty shocked at the amount of people who would judge a professional for something as trivial as hair colour?
What is it about the hair colour that makes you judge them? Because they're different to you?

I don't get it!

Just showed dp- he said he'd think 'nothing.....why would it make any difference?' And was actually baffled it was an issue. (We are in our 40's)

It wouldn't bother me at all. I think it's subtle enough that no one would notice. I get the point about it looking frivolous but it's so subtle that I really think it would be ok.

I don't usually register doctors looks apart from occasionally thinking that that they look young enough to be at school. . I also noticed an anesthesiologist s dirty finger nails. I was much younger at the time and I didn't say anything so I was mad at him and myself.

I have worked with doctors with nose rings, dreadlocks, tattoos and pink stripes in hair and even a consultant with a head covered in conditioner (Emergancy situation she was called in and just forgot about it). Honestly it would be fine in my work setting (paediatrics). Just do it and enjoy!

The Right Honourable Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, Minister of State for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has blue hair. She gets to meet foreign dignitaries and everything.

BTW my Mum is older and has her hair all sorts of coloured. Most recently she had soft rainbow stripes. She would love your hair.

I wouldn't care. not even a tiny bit.

I do love your hair I keep looking at thepicture rather enviously is there a way to hide it when necessary? presumably meant to be tied up for most clinical work anyway?

Unusually for a doctor, you sound fun. I'd try to get an appointment with you

Personally, I'd feel a lot more comfortable talking to a doctor who dressed more casually, but I don't necessarily feel that someone who dresses 'professionally' makes them better at their job.

My ILs on the other hand would definitely judge you, as they do feel that way.

Unhelpful answer, sorry!

Studies show that people with visible tattoos, piercings and similar are more disposed towards honesty, openness and more trustworthy. The CIA I think are one of those who have stated this in profiling.

Good attributes for a doctor!

If I was in my last few days, being tended my a HCP, who was not mainstream (their technical capabilities are a given), someone with a bit of sparkle about them, it would make me happy to know that long after I have gone, life really does goes on.

First, I love your hidden mermaid hair, it looks really good! And I am a boring, stuffy, fussy person.

Creative dress doesn't bother me, and wouldn't put me off as a patient. There's all kinds of hair, tattoos, piercings, etc. Some can look aggressive and scary, others not. It all depends on the whole package and a person's general demeanour. Your hair looks soft and pretty, not hard and intimidating.

is it more obvious when you put it up? how do you put it up?

I'm a surgical registrar so no paediatric excuse here, and I still need to keep the bosses happy.

Leghoul - ironically it is much more obvious when tied up, although fine under a hat of course.

It wouldn't bother me either - and patients will make judgements however doctors are dressed,even if that is in a conservative way.
Also wondering about the doc I work with ( actually more than one... ) who wears killer heels? The consultant who wears killer heels and leggings? Or the male docs with vivid,vivid,ties?!
All excellent at their jobs.If someone is giving you bad news you aren't going to be looking at their hair,it will be their manner and professionalism that's important.

Your hair is beautiful. I want a competent doctor for myself or my family. I don't care about their hair, I care whether they know what they're doing!

Some people might be sniffy. I suppose it might be more readily accepted by some in an area such as Paeds or OBGYN?