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AIBU?

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Original poster

...to have blue hair as a doctor?

257 replies

WiIdfire · 16/10/2016 08:22

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?

...to have blue hair as a doctor?
OP posts:
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NavyandWhite · 16/10/2016 09:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Imscarlet · 16/10/2016 09:33

We were always told to dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

I'm sorry, but if I were in an emergency dept and given a choice of two dr's, one who was conservatively dressed and one who had rainbow hair, I would choose the conservatively dressed one regardless of ability and experience. This is because there is a certain expectation, rightly or wrongly, about what a dr should look like, and I would feel that if you could misjudge that, you could make misjudgements in other areas such as the treatment of my condition.

The vast majority of the time, I couldn't tell you what a dr is wearing or what their hair looks like, and I think that's the way it should be, or that's what it looks like to me.

Again, a huge judgement, but if I saw you on the street with that kind of hair, I would stereotype you as young, possibly in college or just out, still in that 'experimenting stage' of life where you haven't settled down yet. That isn't the kind of image you want to portray as a dr.

I'm sure that many people will disagree with me and tell me how settled, old, career-centric and professional they are with rainbow hair, but that's not the point. The point is people make a judgement of you wishing 2 mins of meeting you, and how you present yourself influences that judgement. When your job involves meeting lots of people on a regular basis, often for a short time period, and you are a dr, you want their snap judgement to be 'phew, it's a dr' not 'oh god, look at her hair, I wonder if she's a med student and not qualified yet. She probably doesn't know what she is doing. She will probably have to go back to the dr in charge to run it by them. I'd be better off just going directly to them now and not wasting time.'

NoahVale · 16/10/2016 09:34

surgical registrar? so you deal with people in a lot of pain, waiting for surgery and/or recovering from surgery?
so they Do need to trust your judgement

NoahVale · 16/10/2016 09:34

when you are a consultant OP you may have more choices imo

elliejjtiny · 16/10/2016 09:36

I like it. I think it's fine for Drs to have dyed hair, piercings, tattoos etc. Ds's consultant has a nose stud and I think it makes her look normal and approachable. Not that there's anything wrong with a Dr who dresses more conservatively of course.

leghoul · 16/10/2016 09:39

it's surgical colours Grin

and you get to wear a little blue hat in theatre and hide it completely

OhTheRoses · 16/10/2016 09:40

I'm late 50s, I accompany DH to lots of "important" things with "important" people. I'm also very conservative. I've been covering up greys with blonde, gold, and brown highlights for years.

You picture and this thread has convinced me to have something more colourful done.

SpringerS · 16/10/2016 09:41

If your hair is like that in the picture all you have to do is buy a hairagami for £1. It keeps your hair in a bun in such a way that all the ends of your hair are curled in and hidden. At work you'd look like you had natural coloured hair kept neatly out of your face.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Women-Lady-Black-Hairagami-Hair-Bun-Wrap-Snap-Styling-Tool-Shaper-/272247847178?hash=item3f633c790a:g:xagAAOSw41xXPYLM

crje · 16/10/2016 09:41

I love it & think we need to move away from expecting people to 'be' their job.

Be yourself.

cosmicglittergirl · 16/10/2016 09:42

Some depressingly conservative views on here.

Giggorata · 16/10/2016 09:42

My (brilliant) GP has had his long jet black hair tipped with bright red over the past couple of years. He's got a more conservative style at the moment, which I think is a pity... it doesn't make lose confidence in professionals if they have an unconventional look, in fact, I find it makes them more approachable, perhaps indicates open mindedness. I'm an oldie, btw.

RachelRagged · 16/10/2016 09:42

Wouldn't bother me OP .
Its a lovely colour by the way , as is the shade of brown to be honest .

michy27 · 16/10/2016 09:44

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Wolpertinger · 16/10/2016 09:44

I think it would entirely depend on your specialty and your relationship with your bosses.

There are some GP surgeries where this would be absolutely fine and others in which the partners would decide you are frightening the horses.

Also as a trainee, you are quite dependent on the style of your consultants. So for me it would be a no, even though I think your hair looks ace and a surgeon could pull it off, purely because you are still a registrar and coming back from mat leave in a highly hierarchical and conservative profession can you tell I am a consultant and was heavily bullied as a registrar?

MistressMolecules · 16/10/2016 09:45

Wouldn't bother me at all if a dr treating me or my children had unusually coloured hair. As long as it doesn't impede your ability to do your job (which obviously it doesn't!) then go for it! That colour in the photo is lovely !

GreatFuckability · 16/10/2016 09:46

I'm sorry, but if I were in an emergency dept and given a choice of two dr's, one who was conservatively dressed and one who had rainbow hair, I would choose the conservatively dressed one regardless of ability and experience

then more fool you, really. i'd want the doctor who was most able!

mayaknew · 16/10/2016 09:47

I LOVE that!!! I'm a student mental health nurse and I'm desperate to dye my hair an exciting colour but as a student nurse I can't afford it. I will definitely do it at some point. It wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

In fact, I had DDs parents night last week and her teacher was young blonde and covered in tattoos. It made me like her more. She was fun and could relate to the children completely. Not just a stuffy teacher.

TiggyD · 16/10/2016 09:48

I would judge you.

And find you guilty.

Of having really cool hair!

QuodPeriitPeriit · 16/10/2016 09:48

I'm a surgical registrar

I was all ready to come on here and say go for it, looks great, it's subtle and patients don't own your whole life just because you're a doctor.

I'm an anaesthetist and would totally have hair like that.

Then I saw your update and have to say no way. Not because of patients but because you still need to impress potentially very conservative, establishment bosses and examiners.

When you're a consultant however, please have that hair - the profession can only become more progressive if people in positions of influence make it happen.

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 16/10/2016 09:48

I'd love to see a doctor with blue hair (same colour as mine! Grin ) I think it would help a lot of younger people feel more comfortable around their doctor.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/10/2016 09:50

So aside from hair/piercings/tattoos (which are long term)

There isn't a "Wear what you like" policy in most Healthcare.
OK , GPs in their surgery can write their own rules.
But in most clinical/hospital settings, the Uniform is there for Infection Control and for allow patients to Identify the person they are talking to.

So if I see someone in a long flouncy skirt ( it'll get caught in the wheels of the chair H&S issue) or a starppy vest top (I really don't want to see all their armpits, ta)
it'lll make me wonder what else they're lax about , if they CBA adhereing to Uniform Policy.

I don't think "Oh, aren't you whacky and out there. I can have a good chat about my bowels knowing that you're not stuffy and you're showing your personal side"
I'd be thinking "Fuck , did you just drag yourself in this morning? Are those your Nightclubbing Clothes"?

Hmm
Sara107 · 16/10/2016 09:51

My gp's hair turned a rather dramatic purple in the run-up to her retirement! If the doctor is clean, tidy, and professional in their manner I would not be too concerned about hair colour, etc. The few seconds that you get to try and explain your problem is a much greater problem IMO!

ChestyNut · 16/10/2016 09:52

I'm fully aware that hair colour wouldn't change the care you give but...,

As a HCP and a patient it's a no from me.

Runny · 16/10/2016 09:54

I'd imagine child patients in particular would love it. I work in a school and have purple/pink hair and the kids always comment on it.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 16/10/2016 09:54

I'm sorry, but if I were in an emergency dept and given a choice of two dr's, one who was conservatively dressed and one who had rainbow hair, I would choose the conservatively dressed one regardless of ability and experience.

HahahHhahHHahahAha at "choice" Grin

The last bit of that post is just plain stupid and I genuinely thought it was a pisstake at first.

Op I wouldn't care. You can barely see it and your manner and demeanour would count for so much more than what colour a bit of your hair was. I honestly can't imagine being so silly.