Would dreadlocks be widely acceptable for a 23 year old main entering mainstream work?

[ByDearHare]

I am a mother of a 23 year old young man whom insists that dreadlocks are acceptable for mainstream work office.

I have tried to explain to my DS that he is shutting himself out of many work opportunities whom will have a dress code which he cannot dictate to.

I would appreciate very candid responses from all members of this forum.

Yes completely acceptable in my line of work and we have a few staff with dreadlocks. I work for a large multinational company.

Wouldn't be an issue in my workplace

I work for a large corporate (in recruitment!) and can't say we'd pay attention to it.

What type of office work? Working in a top barristers Chambers or traditional profession it may possibly be a issue.

Dreadlocks would be fine at my work (public sector).

He just needs good personal hygiene, clean, unripped, inoffensive clothes and no offensive tattoos. Otherwise the world's his oyster.

Dreadlocks are as natural as a ponytail.
If he’s presentable - they should pose no problem.

I work for a bank and there's all sorts. No one would blink an eye at dreadlocks.

5 years ago I would have probably agreed with you but I would be less concerned now tbh although it does depend what industry he wants to work in

In a lot of office environments now it seems acceptable to have your whole body covered in tattoos so I can't see dreadlocks being too much of an issue

Absolutely fine. Would be no issue where I work and I know people in a wide range of professional industries (civil service, finance, consulting) who have dreadlocks.

Fine here in HE

Probably not in mine but we're very conservative (global Financial Services).

Not an issue here: consulting engineers: customers (who he would interact with!) include all the big Pharma companies, all the big infrastructure providers.
not a problem.

I work in Insurance and it probably wouldn't even be noticed.

No one would bat an eyelid at my - very corporate - workplace. In fact our COO has them! Sorry OP, not sure this thread is going to go the way you're hoping...

If they are neat and well kept and culturally appropriate to him, fine. If a crusty hippie version on a white boy then no.

I was a senior manager in the civil service. I wouldn't bat an eyelid at dreads.

Wouldn't be an issue where I work - large, traditional corporate firm. As for any type of hair, depending on length, he might want to tie it up/back so it looks neat.

Someone in sits near me and he has dreadlocks. Top company in the Finance field and based in City of London. No one cares, only interested in his ability and his personality and that image isn’t dressed scruffily (which he isn’t).

I think it depends on who has them tbh. Fine if it’s culturally appropriate.

Completely fine at my office (med tech). We have people with dreds.

Absolutely fine. It's 2024.

Completely acceptable. If he’s not black tho, many people will find it appropriative/racially insensitive for him to have them. Don’t shoot the messenger - this always gets divisive but it’s a reaction he may well get.

Yes.

Absolutely this! Good luck to your DS on his job hunt 🤞

... your damn right ; he's reading the responses and grinning from ear to ear! I'm of old school and would rather he had a nice clean cut about 3 mm from the scalp all over!

If they are neat and well kept and culturally appropriate to him, fine. If a crusty hippie version on a white boy then no

Absolutely nails it.