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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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DaveMinion · 16/10/2016 17:14

We have an obs/gynae reg where I work with blue in her hair. Looks awesome. Actually I think it's bright pink at the moment.

Loads of us in theatres have crazy coloured hair. We are usually wearing a hat so you can't see it. General surgeons and orthopods tend to be a lot more serious though where I work and don't have bright hair.

littleprincesssara · 16/10/2016 17:35

Personally it would actually make me feel more comfortable, than being seen by a doctor with a conservative look.

Maybe it's wrong to make assumptions but I would associate someone with more 'alternative' look as being more liberal in their worldview, and I would feel more comfortable discussing personal (like sexual or MH) issues with them.

Draylon · 16/10/2016 17:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SingaSong12 · 16/10/2016 17:50

I wouldn't judge you for it, but I might find it distracting (like I would large earrings or a pointy moustache (especially on a woman Smile).
I'd be wondering how you did it and when I was younger why if you like it why you are hiding it.

littleprincesssara · 16/10/2016 17:57

If I was offered a choice of someone dressed conservatively or someone dressed 'alternative' I would definitely choose the latter, as I'd assume they'd be more open and understanding of someone like me.

Everyone makes decisions due to personal bias, and one man's meat is another man's poison.

Point is, to all the posters saying the hair might be off-putting to some patients. Yes it might, but there are plenty of people who might find a "traditional" and "conservative" doctor off-putting. That's why it's good for a surgery to have a range of GPs.

Of course GP is different from hospital doctor since you don't generally choose your doc when you're hospitalised. But if you're hospitalised are you really thinking about things like the doc's hair? I know the few times I've had surgery I couldn't tell you afterwards what the staff looked like or anything except did how did they treat me.

NellysKnickers · 16/10/2016 18:34

I would love a dr with blue hair, as would my dc's.

roasted · 17/10/2016 01:24

Forgot to say - whilst I don't think your hair matches your job description and therefore has to be changed, I do think it is rather lovely.

Would it show if tied up in a bun?

mum11970 · 17/10/2016 01:54

Would a turned under ponytail similar to this hide the blue? Wouldn't bother me in the lightest what colour hair my doctor had.

...to have blue hair as a doctor?
TisMeTheLadFromTheBar · 17/10/2016 02:06

I think it depends on guidelines in your employee handbook. Will you be docked marks or will your Consultant refuse to sign you off at the end of the year/your placement?

RhodaBorrocks · 17/10/2016 02:12

There's no trust policy on hair colours where I am. We have a few who have/had alternative hair.

The most daring I've ever gone is a dip dye effect, but we have one lady who has the most amazing colours weaved into her braids and there's one senior manager who gets talked about because when he was younger he had a brightly coloured mohawk. He still has the style, but natural colours now.

As I'm not clinical I'm very tempted to have crazy hair and buy a decent quality wig for work.

MaryTheCanary · 17/10/2016 02:12

I would not be comfortable with this. It seems unprofessional.

Toolateagain · 17/10/2016 02:23

I knew a paeds SHO with bright red hair. It might be more acceptable in paeds though?

I don't think your's in that photo is that outlandish actually.

Pipthedog · 17/10/2016 02:24

As a sufferer of a rare, life threatening disease, I really don't care as long as you've heard of my illness before!

scaryclown · 17/10/2016 02:36

god, when i've seen the most conventional doctors be utter arseholes and know the 'sort of conventional but flaky as shit' doctor who gives out pills for any shit acts 'normal' with her straightened hair and slacks and the counsellor who thinks creative jobs arr 'psychotic fantadies' know damn fine that conventional is more likely to mean 'shit doctor who doesnt understand life' so my pref. is leave it and be amazing

pontificationcentral · 17/10/2016 03:10

I've only known two non-conventional docs. One male who dressed like a pirate (including hoop earring, but no eye patch) slightly unusual in that every other male doc (and have come across bajillions in the course of extensive medical issues in 12 cities in three countries lol) seems to favour suit trousers and a shirt and tie. And one (white) female doc who was covered in tattoos and had long dreadlocks. I have no idea what her specialisation was, I met her in the ER so she could have been anything.
Interesting that they are literally the only two out of hundreds that I actually remember amongst a sea of conservatism.
Their personal style didn't seem to affect their ability to do their job...

RazWaz · 17/10/2016 03:16

I've had 18 hospital admissions and seen a ton of different doctors/nurses and all their support staff. I've been treated by people with a whole range of different hair colours and styles, piercings, tattoos, and clothes.

All I ever cared about is - can you make the pain stop and get me well again? What someone looked like never even entered my thought process. When you are sick you just want someone who will listen and help and as long as you are doing that then feel free to prance around my bed naked with a chicken on your head.

People might say they will judge but when it comes down to it when you need a doctor you are too sick to care even if you are someone who would normally turn your nose up.

Do what makes you happy and comfortable as it will only help you do your job better.

QueenLizIII · 17/10/2016 04:00

I knew a male trainee surgeon and he mentioned wanting one ear pierced and questioned if he could. I didnt think so, it just looks bad.

Aside from that though, piercings, bright hair colours and tattoos are so common place it is actually the most conventional and unoriginal way to be different.

I think good old Dr Greg House says it best and this video is the way I see it.

HicDraconis · 17/10/2016 04:41

I wouldn't do it as a registrar for the reasons involving needing to interact with some seniors from the previous generation as outlined above - not so much for the patients, although it was very interesting to read the comments regarding what vulnerable people fixate on when they come in.

Certainly when I meet patients, I have 5 minutes to convince them that 1) yes, I'm a doctor even though I am female and don't look old enough and 2) yes I am going to give them a safe anaesthetic and although the surgeon will be doing the operation, I'll be keeping them alive all the way through it. In those 5 minutes I have to persuade total strangers to trust me with their lives. I've done it with my bedside manner and not my hairstyle (which, when I came back from Fiji with it a mass of beaded braids, I kept out of sight underneath a theatre hat). I really hope people aren't going to judge me for my hair, which will be shaved off completely at the end of the year to support a close friend undergoing treatment for cancer.

I worked with a fantastic respiratory SpR (yes, I really am that old) who had a shoulder length straight mid-brown bob, curled under at the edges and wore a suit to work every day. When she got her CCST and Consultant job, she came in with hair cut short and spiked, dyed blonde and some really gorgeous colourful dresses. She looked amazing but she would never have got the job looking like that. I suggest you wait for your consultant contract and then do what you like with your hair. Because it should be your bedside manner that shows people what sort of surgeon you are, and not your appearance.

(I should mention I work with two awesome female surgeons. One with bright red shorter curly hair, one with brown curly hair that has blonde highlights shot through it, both with rocking dress sense. I would choose them over their besuited male counterparts any day!)

QueenLizIII · 17/10/2016 04:52

(I should mention I work with two awesome female surgeons. One with bright red shorter curly hair, one with brown curly hair that has blonde highlights shot through it, both with rocking dress sense. I would choose them over their besuited male counterparts any day!)

Why?

Clothes and hair are just clothes and hair Confused

They have utterly no bearing on your personality or ability as has been said multiple times by people defending rainbow hair etc drs.

Why would you then hold dress sense against someone who is besuited? You make judgements that people who wear suits are stuffy arseholes and you'd rather be friends with those with better dress sense.....?

It's just clothes and hair?

cheeseismydownfall · 17/10/2016 05:16

I'd say no too, sorry! I think george expresses it well.

Chottie · 17/10/2016 05:35

I would not care about your hair colour, tatts or piercings. All these things are main stream now.

I would just be concerned with your medical knowledge and skills.

However, I can remember my elderly cousin being surprised when a SW turned up at her house wearing trainers (she thought he should be wearing well polished leather lace-ups) but once she got to know him, it was fine.

HicDraconis · 17/10/2016 06:06

QueenLiz I would choose my female colleagues - regardless of clothes and hair - over their more conservatively dressed male colleagues because they are both fantastic surgeons. My point was that clothes and hair aside - and I am sure they have been judged for them - they have amazing empathy with their patients and superb surgical skills.

HicDraconis · 17/10/2016 06:07

Oh and I never made a judgement regarding those who wear suits being stuffy arseholes. That seems to have come entirely from you.

DisneyMillie · 17/10/2016 06:12

I'm pretty boring in my style tastes and generally not a fan of alternative looks but I still think your hair looks gorgeous and subtle and I'd have no issue with it!

sashh · 17/10/2016 07:07

I'd not care, my dad might find it a bit unusual and I'm guessing kids would love it.

It depends where you work and in what capacity.

Hair that length with that colouring could be hidden by having a chingon or french pleat which is easy to do so you have options.