My red hair is 'unprofessional' but tattoos aren't!!

[IntegrityisDead]

I work in a uniformed role in the UK, uniform standards say 'Conspicuously "unnatural" colours (e.g. pink) and extreme hairstyles are not allowed.'
I am spitting feathers!!
My hair is L'Oréal Preference Bright Red 8.624.
Yes it's bright

@IntegrityisDead Can you post a photo of your hair? Hide your face, just take the top and side and back etc...

No. It doesn't.

Thanks @PanPacificBallroomChampion ... BUT, if that's the one, it looks virtually the same as the one I posted, and it's not particularly offensive or very bright IMO. The one you posted (pic 1) is just a bit 'richer' but the colours are very alike. (As I say IMO.)

To answer a couple of questions - it is the policy which defines unnatural hair colours as e.g. pink - it was a direct quote.

And of course there are plenty of other adults here with 'unnaturally' dark, blonde, streaked hair etc so who is going to be the hair police and ensure it's fair? It's such a stupid thing to waste any thought on - we have far more urgent priorities but apparently senior staff have found time to have a little huddle about my hair when the whole organisation is in jeopardy.

Sadly my age is against me starting again never mind my hair colour!!

It does mean thirsty.

It also means really angry.

Bloody English language ... Got so many words and phrases that have different meanings...

I think DD had pink hair when she applied for a job in Zara. They told her to dye in brown or blonde if she wanted a job. She wasn't bothered about working for them and got another customer facing job elsewhere.

She has just landed a customer facing job she really wants, and during her interview she asked if her hair colour would be a problem (it is yellow at the moment). They said it wasn't an issue. She would have dyed it to a more natural colours if they had asked as she really did want this job.

TBH I'm surprised a fashion chain would be so anti coloured hair.

OP, you haven't addressed that you understand what eg means. It's not an exhaustive list but you seem fixated on the example of pink.

As a bit of history I come from a family of extreme redheads and have always been gutted that I missed out hence resorting to artificial (not unnatural) colours for at least the last 30 years

Are you able to share a picture of your scarlet haired family?

The people who make up the rules at your workplace, sound like the same type who make up the stupidly strict rules at some schools. You know, the ones who send children HOME if they have the 'wrong' black shoes on. But these same schools will FINE THE PARENTS if they keep the child off in school time.

Some people are just aresholes.

Whilst I understand what you're saying I don't understand the justification for the original rule.
What difference does it make what colour someone's hair is? Understand long hair tied back, etc. etc. but telling people what colour is 'acceptable' seems ridiculous.

What a cool colour! How often do you have to redye it OP? I’d love that but my hairdresser always says it washes out fast and talks me out of it.

I would play dumb. Send something in writing to HR or whoever saying there has been a miscommunication, you had understood that only non-natural colours were forbidden, ie that the various shades of blond brown red and black were permitted. Say that if some shades of red are permitted and others are not, please can the company provide an illustrated list so that you can avoid expensive mistakes in future. Say also that some natural shades of red are very bright and you have many such very bright redheads in your family so this is a heritage rather than fashion issue for you.

The other one is a browner shade that might conceivably be natural.

As I've said, I see nothing wrong with unnatural colours, but you can't by any stretch of the imagination say the OP's shade of red is natural.

Schools put children in isolation for having dyed hair it's ridiculous isn't it. Expression of self is not a crime

I would imagine it was created a number of years ago and reviewed annually/bi-annually. I think the colour is lovely but it cannot be classed as within the code. Some businesses have rules regarding appearance and others don’t. I think the OP will be very lucky if they allow it as If they allow this then it sets a president (not sure about the spelling/word there) chances are it was a colleague that complained which is a bit sad that they reported them rather than telling the OP themselves.

BUT, if that's the one, it looks virtually the same as the one I posted, and it's not particularly offensive or very bright IMO. The one you posted (pic 1) is just a bit 'richer' but the colours are very alike. (As I say IMO.)

They’re completely different.

One is quite a natural ginger looking colour, whilst the other one is bright red and something you’d find on a plastic doll.

I like both colours but there’s no way I’d be allowed the bright red one at my work as it is as unnatural as blue or green hair.

My job has practically the same wording in their uniform policy, probably the same JOB. I got away with a few pink stripes once, but no I wouldn't go that bright red. Shame because I bet it looks fab.

Say also that some natural shades of red are very bright and you have many such very bright redheads in your family so this is a heritage rather than fashion issue for you.

Who’s her mum? Ariel the little mermaid?

Exactly. I'm also the dull brown member of a stunning redhead family.

I colour my hair with Garnier Nutrisse 7.40 Copper Passion.

It's not pillar box red, it's a natural shade of ginger / redhead / carrot / copper / insert epithet here albeot much more vivid than most natural red heads would be - just as it is if you box colour it brown, blonde etc.

I was a police officer for a decade. Uniformed roles are also expeto be discipline. You knew the rules shne you dyed it, you didn't get away with it, so accept you've pushed your luck to its conclusion and pick a more natural colour.

Ugh, spelling. You get the idea.

They can change the dress code to say whatever. Years ago I worked with someone with brightly dyed hair, she’d had that hair at her interview, worked there for ten years, they changed the dress code, she refused to back down and she got sacked. Was a bloody shame.

Say also that some natural shades of red are very bright and you have many such very bright redheads in your family so this is a heritage rather than fashion issue for you.

And what do you suggest she does when they ask for evidence of these very bright redheads. I think if the OP can keep a straight face when they claim a heritage issue then maybe they should allow it just for originality. Heritage, I’ve heard it all now. There’s many bald men in our family but my DH won’t be shaving a bald patch!

Tell them you’re Trans and they’ll be falling over themselves to appease you with their woke-ness.

Again, another policy aimed at containing the women. 😠 The UK. has become ridiculously conservative in the last 20 years or so.

😂
L'Oréal Preference Bright Red is a bit difficult to argue as natural! By the by, it's an annoying policy for you, but you must've known that colour would be outside of the policy.

Oh behave! Containing women, good grief. If a male colleague turned up to work with scarlet hair do you think they’d ignore it?

I dye my hair all the time and I love bright colours but come on now. You know as well as the rest of us that the particular shade you have chosen isn't a 'natural' redhead shade. It would be the same as dyeing your hair bright canary yellow and saying it's blonde. I've worked somewhere with a similar policy. It is what it is and what it isn't is a hill to die or dye) on.