Dyed Hair in the Workplace

Submitted by Ok_Bluebird_292 t3_11961od in massachusetts

Hello, I’m recently moving to Massachusetts with my partner and I’m curious about whether or not I should change my hair style because currently I have Blue hair and I’ve never had trouble finding a job or keeping a job here in Los Angeles. I’m an Art Education Director at my current position for context.

If anyone has any advice on what I should do about my hair, I just want to make sure I’m taken seriously when interviewing.

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mortaymortay t1_j9kz2ue wrote

It depends upon where you’ll be applying for jobs. In the arts, self-expression is obviously more common and acceptable, if not expected. The more corporate you go, the more conservative. I don’t think there’s a blanket answer.

One thing you can do is check out how a company presents itself and its internal culture to the outside world. I would research a couple of potential employers and then check their websites, LinkedIn posts (and profiles of their employees for their profile photos), Twitter accounts, Glassdoor reviews, etc.

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massahoochie t1_j9l31zb wrote

I wouldn’t be too concerned about blue hair tbh. As long as you have a good resume and are charismatic you shouldn’t have trouble finding a job in the art world.

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pillbinge t1_j9l4n06 wrote

There’s no answer here that you can trust or bank on. Just not how it works. Only thing I can say is that if I were hiring someone, I would take off points for blue hair. Nothing to do with conformity, but adults who are still trying to be anti-conformity or make a statement are just tiresome.

You don’t have to like my statement. I had blue hair once. And red. I was also a kid and only had something to prove to other kids.

There are tons of people here who’d see blue hair as a perk. Usually goes hand in hand with too many rainbow flags and stickers, or a penchant for working in the arts. But not everyone.

Edit: to follow up because I'm giving you a real answer - these down-votes and upvotes mean nothing. It's people railing against the system. It's proof that this sub is going to tell you something you want to hear but shouldn't accept, because you're asking the question for a reason. Do with that what you will, but the area is not what so many people make it out to be. They think that this blue state means everything's like we're living on one giant campus and college never ended. I'm trying to get you employed. They're trying to cope.

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theothermattm t1_j9l7kbt wrote

I work in tech and it wouldn't be looked down upon in this industry. At least most of it anyway.

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ExpressiveLemur t1_j9l97ez wrote

I've hired in MA for years in various fields and I couldn't care less about hair color. Experience and attitude are the first things I look at.

Every place is going to be different though and like many states MA has parts that are more liberal and more conservative. If you're in Eastern MA or Western MA (think Amherst and North/Easthampton) I'd say people are more likely to lean to towards my perspective.

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Linux-Is-Best t1_j9lacml wrote

Opinion:

20+ years in management and the color of someone's hair has never been a deciding factor.

That said, coincidently, I do recall someone with darkish blue-black type hair (looked naturally dark, but it shimmered blue) that ended up being one of my better hires.

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Icy-Neck-2422 t1_j9lbgv4 wrote

Hair color or style is not a concern when we hire. It's about the person sporting the hair and what they bring to the table.

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KinkotheClown t1_j9lbtrz wrote

It may be an issue for a stogy old corporation, but I doubt there would be a problem in your line of work.

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SpyCats t1_j9le0yy wrote

Blue hair is pretty common here. You'll fit right in!

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sunnybcg t1_j9lgbgz wrote

People here generally won’t care. People in the non-profit or art world definitely won’t care. Welcome!

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catgotcha t1_j9limau wrote

Honestly depends on the workspace, but ultimately Massachusetts (and especially Boston) is pretty chill about that stuff.

More so, I look at it like this: if someone doesn't hire you just because of your blue hair, you didn't want to work for them anyway.

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Carson8211 t1_j9lkytv wrote

Lots of people with dyed hair here. No need to worry

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fuertepqek t1_j9lldls wrote

You’re literally moving to a blue state. We’re civilized here. Welcome to the best state in the union.

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Menacing_Anus42 t1_j9lm6az wrote

Pretty vague, but if you're interviewing to be a Lawyer or psychiatrist or something, they probably would appreciate a more conservative look. If you continue your career in art, I doubt anyone would bat an eye.

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Fancy_Tourist_813 t1_j9loq2s wrote

I work for DMH and have full-sleeve tattoos and unnatural hair colors. As others have said, really depends on the climate of the workplace, but you should be fine.

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LowkeyPony t1_j9lrm2v wrote

Honestly it depends on where you are looking to work.

I worked for a health insurance company in Central MA and there's no way "hair of an un natural color" would have gotten you a job. And would have gotten you fired had you done it after hiring. But I worked for another company is Worcester county that had no issues with dyed hair, tattoos, piercing's etc. Granted that company also has a VERY high turnover rate and lays off a majority of their cs and sales reps every fall right before Thanksgiving, and then has a Hiring Event every spring. Retail? No problem. Restaurants? No problem. Professional offices. Problem. Heck. I know some horse stables that will not hire people with dyed hair, tattoos, or piercing's.

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m_bt54 t1_j9lu9ys wrote

it would give you an edge over other candidates where I work

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KayakerMel t1_j9luli8 wrote

Replying to catgotcha (#1,926,245)

I dyed my hair bright blue early in the pandemic, so had the blue-black dye at the ready to be workplace appropriate. It was something I dreamed of doing but never was the right time because I had to look professional. I kinda hid from video calls for a bit, but my manager saw my hair she mentioned that our employee dresscode does not include anything on hair color. If I was interviewing, I'd likely go with that blue-black like your candidate did, but I have two decades of conditioning that unnatural hair colors aren't professional.

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Past-Adhesiveness150 t1_j9luxy0 wrote

Art director. You'll be fine.

My wife is 40 with pink hair. Has had it since 14. Never been a problem. Tats n piercings were at a few places, but not in years. You be yourself & you'll be fine.

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March_Latter t1_j9lvmlx wrote

At this point we are getting candidates wearing jogging pants and reeking of weed for a professional position. We would take blue hair no problem.

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effulgentelephant t1_j9lwg7k wrote

You’ll be fine. I’m a teacher in a public school system near Boston and no one would say boo about it in any of my schools.

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simplynelbelle t1_j9lws30 wrote

I work at Harvard and my boss had blue hair lol you’ll be fine.

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the-court-house t1_j9lywqw wrote

I work in a public middle school, it's not common though not unheard of. In my experience, in this profession, nobody cares: parents, teachers, administration, nor students.

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mslashandrajohnson t1_j9m42fj wrote

Our veterinarian has her hair dyed blue. We love it. She’s the best veterinarian I’ve ever had.

It might depend on your field, however. There will always be small minded people who can’t see past their own fears.

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koidrieyez t1_j9m519j wrote

I would change to a natural color for the interviews then play it by ear once you're in.

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dan420 t1_j9m6oxn wrote

I mean like anywhere, depends on where you apply. Many people won’t care, some will. I’d say that people will care less here other than San Francisco, LA, and New York, so long as you’re qualified. Losing the blue hair may increase your chances of finding a job, but I’d guess that employers who aren’t chill with colorful hair will be less chill overall. Find someone who is chill with your hair, they’ll be chill overall, if you get your work done. Not everyone will be, but plenty will.

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SparkDBowles t1_j9ma46f wrote

My wife has purple hair and got hired at a conservative law firm, so it’s not too big a deal. Boston metro is one of the “bluest” areas in the country.

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goldlion0806 t1_j9mb8j7 wrote

Replying to Menacing_Anus42 (#1,926,658)

Nah! Therapists can look however. Even community mental health is more accepting than McDonald’s when it comes to appearance. Just wear the requisite cardigan and have a mug of tea on hand and you’re good.

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TinaRex t1_j9mbgx4 wrote

I work in pharma and have blue hair! It has never effected me at work or interviewing for jobs

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user72230 t1_j9mfnws wrote

Massachusetts passed the CROWN act which prohibits discrimination based on your hair texture or style.

I really don't think anyone would care, especially in the arts, welcome to mass

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goldlion0806 t1_j9mi935 wrote

Replying to DegenGolfer (#1,929,863)

Never say never, there’s quite the shortage in this state! A competent clinician with blue hair far exceeds an incompetent one with brown or blonde. However you have to be #blessed to find either with availability right now.

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Ok_Fox_1770 t1_j9mn4x0 wrote

Ah there’s all kinds of colored hair people out there. Saw like a 65 year old lady with neon pink just cruisin the candle isle rockin it why not. Anything goes.

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BlaiddDrwg82 t1_j9mrzq9 wrote

I’ve got blue hair and I’m a high school teacher.

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illwillstill t1_j9msguu wrote

you will be expected (minimum) blue hair, unique piercing & complex gender identity just to fit in here.

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YOurAreWr0ng t1_j9n5a46 wrote

No one really cares anymore. Colored hair has been popularized since the 90’s so it’s not something that stands out. Plus New England is pretty chill and doesn’t care what you do as long as you’re not an asshole doing it.

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AWholeNewFattitude t1_j9nv2wd wrote

Change it to a more conservative color then change it back once you’re hired.

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SmuglySly t1_j9ojj52 wrote

Massachusetts is pretty liberal about that kinda thing. I work in banking and where I work we allow any kind of hair color as well as piercings

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BovaDesnuts t1_j9oqozn wrote

For an art director, it's probably fine. The culture around hair dye I've noticed here is darker and more subdued dye in winter and brighter dyes in summer. Keep your hair seasonable.

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Dull-Crew1428 t1_j9orub9 wrote

If it is a professional job I would tone the hair color down

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arabchy t1_j9os42d wrote

Especially if ur going to western mass like noho area that’s almost the standard, lot of alt/punk culture in that area, tbh 99% of mass even the red areas wouldn’t care

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Nanotude t1_j9oycgz wrote

Depends on where in MA, I think. There's plenty of blue hair in the Greater Boston area. Maybe not so much out towards Springfield.

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wiggitywoggity t1_j9pe4m1 wrote

I’m in a professional setting (biotech) and I have bright dyed hair. It’s not a big deal here in MA. Tbh it’s really pretty accepting.

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UtopianLibrary t1_j9psywf wrote

Having blue hair is probably a job requirement for an art education director.

To be serious, I work at a school and most of the art teachers and drama teachers have alternative hair colors. It’s not a big deal around here in certain jobs. If you were a lawyer, it might be hard, but your field is filled with folks with similar fashion sense and do not care about hair color stuff like that.

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WickedCoolMasshole t1_j9pwt2i wrote

Replying to Linux-Is-Best (#1,928,772)

When I was a kid, my hair was so black it shined (shone?) blue in the sun. I’m half Irish and very pale with freckles. I used to dye my hair light brown to take the edge off the black bc I used to get teased so much for it. So many Elvira jokes.

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