...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?

Lol. I have turquoise hair now (previously purple) and have volunteered with the elderly. It's the, who give the most compliments! You've got to realise these people saw the sixties and seventies - they won't be shocked.

I was watching a programme the other day and there was a doctor on it with bright red hair and a nose ring. IMO she didn't look unprofessional at all. If you're allowed to have it at work, I say go for it.

Ladyspratt - I love your idea that the true colours can only be seen when you are walking away at the end of the consultation! That made me laugh. To answer your question, I'm ST6 so can't claim junior ignorance sadly. I just wanted to see whether opinions had changed since I graduated. Fair to say, the responses are far more positive than I anticipated, but we're not fully there yet. As 'Roasted' pointed out, when you're patient is anxious and stressed, perhaps that isnt the time to be making a stand about diversity and acceptance.

I don't have a photo of it up, sadly, but there are lots of lovely examples of rainbow hair via google - thats where I got the inspiration from. Those of you who have been persuaded to do it - come and share the pictures!

Its lovely, go for it

Tons of doctors & other medical staff at our local hospital with far more outrageously coloured hair, tattoos & peircings. If you can do your job well. Who cares

Oh god - 'your', 'your', not 'you're'
Sorry!!!!!!

You could probably tie it up in a way that hides it.

Can you do your job? If yes, I couldn't care less what colour hair you have!!! Personally, I think it looks great

Given that 'older ladies' used to have a pink or blue rinse and be considered perfectly acceptable in polite company, then I don't see why you shouldn't have what you want.

I just want a doc who listens to me, takes what I say on board, and helps to get me fixed. If the doc has sky blue pink hair, swings from the ceiling, has tattoos and bovver boots, is of no bovver to me so long as I'm fixed :)

It wouldn't bother me at all. I think it looks fab in your photo. I'd probably compliment you on it if I was a patient.

Just seen the picture - love it and can't see how something so subtle could be questioned.

*Lots and lots of posters asking for a photo of it tied up "as it would be for work".

Are GPs with long hair supposed to tie their hair back?

I've never seen that before. confused* The Xfactor.

op is not a GP, she is a surgical registrar, on the wards, in theatre, in out patients. so hair up, or covered as occasion warrants it

Looks amazing Wildfire, a pity you dyed it back to brown. IMO you shouldn't have felt you needed to.
Coloured hair wouldn't bother me at all and I echo what Sara107 said '...as long as the Dr was clean, tidy and professional in manner'

I understand some might find issue with multicoloured hair but there are far more important issues than coloured streaks. Dyed hair in any colour does not effect how a professional carries out their duties.
Heaven forbid a Dr should have a personally as well as a working brain

The nails however would make me

• Coloured long nails

Dh's GP has bright pink hair. All her office accessories are pink and she drives a pink car. I think it's rather fun.

If you would judge a doctor on their appearance, there is always the option to turn the treatment down. It's a shame how small minded some people can be.

I am a civil servant and have to visit stakeholders in a regulatory capacity, sometimes to discuss the start of formal proceedings against them for non compliance (which can be serious). I have bright pink hair which I offered to change when I moved into this role, as previously I had been office based and non customer facing so it hadn't been an issue. My director told me that my hair wasn't giving bad news to stakeholders, my hair wasn't analysing financial returns, and my hair didn't have to justify a recommendation to a minister, so as far as he was concerned it could be all the colours of the rainbow and it still wouldn't affect how I performed at work. He also said that if anyone saw me as frivolous or unprofessional, they would be pleasantly surprised when they actually spoke to me.

I think your hair looks subtle, I would go for it.

I'd rather coloured hair than my GP who never wears shoes or socks. I find myself staring at her bare feet the whole appointment.

If you were treating me, I would only be interested in whether you're good at your job.
However, MN is the wrong place to ask, because surely your employer has a dress code?
I'm a teacher, and our dress code includes a clause about hair - it can be dyed but not an unnatural hair colour. I sometimes go 'unnatural' during holidays, but stick to the rules in term time. In certain professions there are so many nuances about the interactions you have with the public, so I can see it makes sense to have some level of regulation.

My next hair appointment is 19th November. Then I'm off to the Mnet winter meet-up. I am having this done. In time for DH's chamber's and client parties too!!!!

I think it looks lovely! If you are the sort of GP that would actually listen to me about my mental health problems/know anything about child health unlike my current doctor please look however you like to look and come and be my GP?!

As a person who spends a lot of time with doctors and in hospital, there are many things I notice about doctors and other health care professsionals e.g. their mannerisms, how rushed they are, if they remember my name, if they give me eye contact. What they look like is completely irrelevant. When you're ill and needing support, you need a human, not a robot. If you can be that human, I don't care what you look like. I think it's sad that so many judge.

Yeah it those horrible nails are a hygiene issue, init.

Thanks OP, I thought you'd get it!
All I can say is "Exit exam, Exit exam, Exit exam".....

I would love to go and see a GP and find they have coloured hair, piercings or tattoos I'd consider them to be creative and more approachable.

D