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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Blue hair

229 replies

Myleftfoot39 · 21/06/2021 06:50

I know a lot of people mid forties dyeing their hair blue or pink, I don’t get it. Why? It looks awful growing out and their natural colour is better.

OP posts:
Lurkeycakewoman · 21/06/2021 09:48

You'd probably call me unstable for having blue hair because this time last year I was bald while having chemo Grin
Do I care? NO!
It's my hair I've lived with none anywhere now its growing back I'll do with it as I please. Its not new I've always had bright hair I'm just picking up where I left off. I work in the NHS it doesn't make me any less able to do my job..the cancer probably has though

Blueballinthegarden · 21/06/2021 09:54

This thread has just reminded me that I’ve still got a bottle of pastel pink dye in the cabinet…might give my attention seeking self a mini makeover later Grin

CoffeeWithCheese · 21/06/2021 09:55

Mid 40s... yep
Usually pink or purple hair... yep

I do it because I like it, and yes, the upkeep is a commitment but I'm at the hairdressers monthly getting my roots bleached anyway, so getting a fun colour over the top is no real biggie on top of that. They're all semi-perm colours and if I need to get it removed, the hairdresser's got the stuff that lifts the colour right back out anyway.

At the moment it's just bleached blonde because I've been doing some work somewhere with a strict dress code and wanted to stick to that, but soon as I can get into the hairdresser it'll be getting coloured again. It's just something that makes me happy to have done.

MedusasBadHairDay · 21/06/2021 09:57

My hair has been almost every colour out there, blue, pink, orange, green, etc. I didn't suddenly lose the ability to be professional when I dyed it, then magically regain professionalism whenever I went back to a "natural" colour.

The bright colours make me happy, and often I find that (as someone who is naturally shy) they actually enable me to be more sociable and outgoing. So actually make me more useful in customer facing roles. I've never had a negative reaction to it in any of my work roles.

Whyhello · 21/06/2021 09:58

I dyed my hair every possible colour aged 14/15 but I was a young teenager experimenting with my style after all, I wouldn’t do this now at 28 and definitely wouldn’t at 48.

Bluesheep8 · 21/06/2021 10:08

I dyed my hair every possible colour aged 14/15 but I was a young teenager experimenting with my style after all, I wouldn’t do this now at 28 and definitely wouldn’t at 48.

is experimenting with your style not allowed when you're older? Confused

DrCoconut · 21/06/2021 10:12

I saw a midwife with dreadlocks, tattoos and facial piercing. I received excellent treatment for my pregnancy haemorrhoids. End of story. Appearance doesn't affect your ability to do your job as long as you are clean and hygienic. I wouldn't like to find say my GP in days old clothes and stinking. But blue hair and tie dye clothes would be fine.

jackstini · 21/06/2021 10:14

I've had pink, red, rose gold, purple and once mermaid hair with 3 colours in

I'm a director
I just like colour!

Branleuse · 21/06/2021 10:14

It doesnt bother me one bit if someone has coloured hair. I quite like a slightly unprofessional look in an educated person in an important position. It shows character and life outside work.

Blossomtoes · 21/06/2021 10:16

@Myleftfoot39

If it was your GP, solicitor, etc with blue/purple hair. How would you feel?
My GP has streaks of all sorts of colours. I really like it.
BrownEyedGirl80 · 21/06/2021 10:30

I don't think its for attention but it can be used as a distraction.I know people who admit to having unusual hair colour so people look at that rather than their body.

KevinTheGoat · 21/06/2021 10:32

@Myleftfoot39

If it was your GP, solicitor, etc with blue/purple hair. How would you feel?
I wouldn't give a tuppenny fuck as long as they were good at their job.

Also, I actually have MH problems and my hair is brown with a few grey bits, and if you looked at me you wouldn't think I was 'unstable'. Just because someone dyes their hair does not mean they're mentally ill, but then this is Mumsnet so I'm not surprised there are people who think this.

CthulhuChristmas · 21/06/2021 10:34

So many teenagers are told that they're not allowed to have brightly coloured hair because of school uniform rules, and that they'll have the opportunity to express themselves when they're adults. Now it's not okay for adults to do it either?

Hair colour or style doesn't say anything about a person's abilities or competence at their job. Very narrow-minded to think otherwise, and I say that as someone with undyed, ordinary-looking brown hair.

HonestlyFuckThis · 21/06/2021 10:40

I ran a proof with the bottom 6 inches of my hair dyed bright pink. My client didn’t care and we won, so the sheriff obviously wasn’t bothered to the point of impartiality Grin

I know some people will have judged me for it but I literally just don’t care. It’s their problem and loss rather than mine if they can’t see past a bit of hair dye.

IronTeeth · 21/06/2021 10:48

@Myleftfoot39

I see it as very unprofessional, I wouldn’t trust someone’s judgement if they had very brightly coloured hair. I would see at as attention seeking/instability
WEll I'm a big(ish) earner - respected in my (very) technical field. and I change from blue to pink to purple on a regular basis, and I can assure you that the dye does not go in to my brain and make any difference to my thinking

And yes, you are either being massively goady or you have been transported in from the 1950s.

pointythings · 21/06/2021 10:49

@Ragwort

poiny but are you therefore equally judging 'fuddy duddy' people, I have grey hair, wouldn't dream of dyeing it any colour - couldn't be bothered with the faff and expense. I dress in 'boring' clothes from charity shops I find it incredible that people are prepared to spend so much time and effort (& expense) on their appearance... but I try not to judge whether that is a £1k handbag or blue hair.
No, you are missing the point completely. The point is that nobody should be judging someone's professionalism based on their appearance. Whether that is conventional or not. Judgements should be on actions and merit only.

The UK is obsessed with appearance rather than achievement. That's reflected in the almost fetishist adoration of school uniforms, the theatre that is the courts system with its horse hair wigs and robes (that dress code does not exist in my native Netherlands!) and in posts like the OP's, which equates unconventional hair colours with a lack of professionalism. I don't judge anyone on their appearance, only on whether they do their work well/are decent people. It really is that simple.

I have ordinary grey hair too.

Loyaultemelie · 21/06/2021 11:05

I'm soon to be 40 and have purple hair. I don't want need or like attention at all I do it for me. I'm self employed but 3 times a year I do big audits for our business plus several others in the area. I have regular meetings with customers and clients, I have to turn clients away for the auditing side because I can't take more on and do our own business well, so my hair obviously doesn't put people off. I also Home Ed and have meetings with various medical professionals about 1 of my DCs. My Dds can be red, pink or purple if the notion takes them nobody has ever been anything but complimentary but I have had to warn dd1 there are judgemental people out there and not to colour if that'll worry her, Dd2 couldn't care less.

Bluesheep8 · 21/06/2021 11:17

If it was your GP, solicitor, etc with blue/purple hair. How would you feel?

I honestly couldn't care less. Surely anyone would be more concerned with what they were seeing a gp or a solicitor about rather than picking apart their appearance?

EddieVeddersfoxymop · 21/06/2021 11:18

Teacher here, 40s, bright pink hair. Its never stopped me teaching kids to read, its never stopped me being professional in meetings and the parents find it easier to know who I am if they're new to the school. The kids love it, they tell me all the time and draw me pictures of my hair. I find my brain works just the same whether my hair is pink. My results with the kids didn't suddenly plummet when my hair was dyed.......you're overthinking things OP. Plus, I'm the most introverted, anxious person ever. Most definitely NOT seeking attention, I just like pink hair. End of.

Acrasia · 21/06/2021 11:20

I might be more likely to use a good solicitor with coloured hair if it meant the other side would automatically underestimate their brilliance.

invisiblegirllj · 21/06/2021 11:24

@Soubriquet

They could wear a sweetie thong and bra and I might find it extremely weird but i wouldn’t stop using their services because I go to them for their job not what they wear or what they look like
Yeah right. Total bollocks
ClairKingston · 21/06/2021 11:25

I love to see "alternative" colours and styles of hair on women. More so on older women! Store sales staff at one time would not have been allowed to look "different" but that silly rule is thankfully long gone. I have dabbled myself with a bit of lilac on my fair hair and a much younger lady I know has been sporting a long mane of vivid purple for some time and she looks gorgeous!

One of the GP's at my surgery had blue streaks in her light brown hair and I complimented her on it. She told me some of the elderly patients gave her strange looks and I reminded her that blue rinses were all the rage with grey haired old ladies so what is the difference?

My favourite was a lady who used to work in a local supermarket. She had long black hair but her fringe was orange!

Jayceewhy · 21/06/2021 11:27

I’d feel that they were open-minded, which is exactly the type of qualities I want in both my GP and my solicitor.

AdobeWanKenobi · 21/06/2021 11:29

What colour is the hair on OP's hands I wonder?

Helendee · 21/06/2021 11:31

@Myleftfoot39

I totally agree with you. I expect highly paid professionals to dress smartly and conservatively. What they wear or do the minute they’re not working I couldn’t care less.