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

@WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps if you can’t see how very different those 2 colours are, I think you are not able to differentiate very well. They are vastly different.

@IntegrityisDead Has anyone actually told you it’s not allowed? You say you dupe it quite often, could you not choose something more natural? Is it a hill you want to die on? I’m a natural red head and that would be a step too far for me-see pic.

*dye, not dupe!

For those of you saying the policy is wrong.
It might be but the time to challenge it is before you sign it.

It's a fashion red.

By all means point out a list of people with dye you consider to fall outside the rules. And of course you can lobby HR about bringing in rules about lip filler. You could even ask a solicitor or union rep to see if you can challenge it.

But you CAN'T justify your choice to HR on the basis that someone elelse is breaking the rules.

FWIW I think its an stupid rule though.

@PanPacificBallroomChampion
''Women can wear dresses of various lengths, pinafores, jumpsuits, skirts, culottes, trousers, cropped trousers, tops, jumpers, blouses, vest tops in an office environment as well as numerous different types of footwear. Men in an office wear trousers, shirt and tie and a formal shoe.Yet if the OP can’t have scarlet hair it’s the patriarchy.''

Nope, in many sectors these days men in offices wear casual clothing too, not shirt/tie and formal shoes.

That is certainly the case in all the offices I have worked in.
I have worked in communications, marketing, fundraising, NHS and Council offices and there was never a dress code requiring men to wear what you describe. Men wore tee shirts, jumpers comfy shoes and even trainers.

I think these days only financial institutions and law firms probably require men and women to wear formal clothes all the time.

I think it's been agreed by most on this thread that the shade of red the OP uses is very much not a natural hair colour!

That’s a lovely colour. Thought it was going to be fire engine red.
So, have work said your hair colour is not allowed per policy? From the first post I didn’t think you’d been pulled up on it, but from later posts sounds like you have.

What I’d do is buy a can of that root cover up colour hairspray, tie my hair up and then spray with a dark colour round the front to tone it down. I’m not sure how much it would need though. And I wouldn’t want to use loads as it would end up being expensive.

Stop acting like a stroppy teenager. You knew the rules but obviously think you are above them.

Nobody has commented about tattoos. I really struggle with these and can't consider them acceptable with formal and uniform dress. My son says there is nobody under forty without a tattoo, but at least, older people tend to cover them in some situations. Natural looking hair colour is surely preferable, even if it is disguising another shade altogether. What is the feeling about professional people such as bankers, doctors, teachers obviously tattooed and with strangely coloured hair? Would they be trusted?

Maybe you should have decided whether to 'die on this hill' before you coloured your hair as you knew these were the rules.

@grannieali you’re so funny. “should they be trusted?” Why not?

Natural colours of red hair are lovely. This is not anywhere near a natural colour. It’s almost neon (from photos online). Perhaps if you don’t want to colour it again, wear a wig to work.

Tattoos are a no for me.
Is this discrimination against red hair?

Unprofessional just like red nail. Are you a lady of the night lol

Do you really want to make trouble on your job over this? Save the fight for something else.

Ridiculous!! Remind me what decade are we living in?

How does hair colour affect your ability to carry out a job you were employed to do. It does not so this is purely about image and appearance. I thought in these days where we respect race, gender, religion etc that hair colour should not be offensive to anyone.

It sounds like you’d be more suited to a job that didn’t have a dress code at all if you feel this strongly about it.

I'm with you on this, my hair is bright red and I change it often. Never consulted work about hair style or colour and never would. Have had some high profile roles working with a variety of people and never heard anything negative.

I'm gonna go ahead and hope you're being sarcastic.

@CumoTow

Tattoos are so commonplace and normal now, companies would be risking cutting their nose off to spite their face and losing out on the best person for the job. One of the most intelligent, accomplished professionals I know is heavily tattooed.

lf it's OK for Louise Haigh MP then it's fine for you. Louise l9oks great & no doubt you do too xxx

But If you have been dyeing your hair for years and have worked here for years, how come you don't know the company's expectations????

It would be worth asking for a second opinion if you're keen to keep using that colour other wise say you'll change it next time. I like it but it isn't a natural colour to be fair. I wouldn't call unnatural colours or (visible) tattoos unprofessional as such and I don't know what the business is but if they want to portray a particular image that seems fair enough.