Is non-traditional hair color considered unprofessional?

[Aerevolt]

I live in a fairly progressive state. It was one of the first to make it illegal to fire someone for sexual orientation or gender identity.
As far as I know, it is not explicitly stated that you can't have odd hair colors. But it does state that attire must be professional. I don't work with the public often, nor do I work in an office.
As I recall, when I worked at Starbucks 10 years ago, they said no, but they seem to have either decided not to enforce it or take it out of the dress code completely.
If it makes a difference, I'm planing to dye my hair rose quartz.

 

[tippy2k2]

You're asking the wrong people. Every single one of us could go Heck no, my company let's me have rainbow colored hair, face tattoos, a tongue stud, those big disc things in ears, and implants so anytime I blink, "Fuk da Police" by NWA plays on repeat but if your company says "No hair coloring", it doesn't matter what our companies allow (though to answer the question, I work at a bank and I've had co-workers with pink hair but my jobs have no IRL customer interaction at all).

So go ask your boss or HR if you don't have a boss you can/want to ask.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Seconding tippy2k2, ask your HR or supervisor.

However, I did once know someone that dyed part of her hair, so whether or not it showed was dependent on how they styled their hair, it could be professional or not depending on context.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

I don't know about unprofessional but I find it hot

So do with that what you will

 

[Aerevolt]

Given the structure of the place I work for, HR is probably the safest choice. I have three supervisors above me, and I think one of them might have an issue with it. But with the ok from HR, I'll be in the clear.
It seems like not a big deal, as I am always polite and helpfull. (The professionalism aspect of my question)

 

[TheMysteriousGX]

Generally, no, it is not considered professional.

But check with HR. Most of my experience has been customer facing retail or restaurant work.

 

[Sonmi]

Depends on the domain in which you work.

Generally, it's considered unprofessional.

 

[DeliveryGodNoah_v1legacy]

You don't need me or anyone else to tell you that general people are fickle, childish, and irrationally judgemental.

Will some people, regardless of what your HR says, think you're unprofessional? Well, do you look different than them? Then yes. The answer is always yes.

But then again you could follow the most strict of job dress codes to the line and someone somewhere will still have a problem with how you're dressed or how you look.

I had someone tell me they were going to tell my boss that my eyes looked too narrow and it made me look "pissed off" and "arrogant". I was literally smiling the entire time I was helping that customer, and they said I looked pissed off.

To me professional just means wearing something that identifies you as an obvious employee, like a shirt with the business name and a name tag (though that certainly never stops people from asking if you work there...) or maybe some kind of badge. Other than that, fuck what your hair color is or what piercings are in your face, or what tattoos you have.

Of course, I'm an introvert that wants to deal with people as little as possible and will find a self-checkout line at all costs or get someone else to deal with the people.

 

[Erttheking]

I'm gonna have to lean towards yes, it is unprofessional, but then again I've worked retail my whole life so my perspective is limited.

 

[Neverhoodian]

If it makes a difference, I'm planing to dye my hair rose quartz.

Spoiler: No! Down, Pearl!

In all seriousness, it depends. While many companies still frown on unconventional hair colors, such attitudes are starting to change due to its increased prevalence and societal acceptance. I'll mirror what everyone else is saying and recommend consulting with your HR and/or union (if you have one) rep first.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Eh, its pretty childish. You won't find many Doctors or Lawyers with indigo hair and more piercings than Pinhead. I have a rather large family, with over a dozen cousins. The ones with pink hair aren't do so well. The ones with natural colored hair and simple haircuts are doing just fine.

 

[Remus]

I once applied for a job where a well-trimmed stache and beard were thought unprofessional. It was a crappy job with low pay and I've had facial hair easily longer than this particular location had existed. So the interview took a decidedly different turn after that revelation. Unconventional hair color is just a thing now Half of everyone has a blue or pink streak running through their hair. So I'd place acceptance rather high, professional or otherwise.

 

[Qizx]

Going to echo what others have said check with your company.

That said. No I don't think it's professional. If someone walked into a client meeting with bright purple hair, even if they had the appropriate suit I would think "Man that's crazy hair, not very professional though."

 

[Bobular]

Personally I like odd coloured hair, it's better than all the dyed blonds you see round here, gives some variety, though when I worked at the local hospital I would have thought it unprofessional and held it against you if I was interviewing for a patient facing role. These days I run an anime store so I wouldn't care as loads of my customers have weird coloured hair, it could even help you fit in with the customer base.

It really depends on where you're working and how your management feel about it.

 

[Saltyk]

Well, if you have to ask...

As a general rule, it would not be considered professional. I mean can you imagine how your grandma would react to a doctor with rainbow colored hair? Yeah, she'd probably think the doctor unreliable.

That being said, I can probably think of some scenarios where it would actually be seen as professional. A hair dresser, for example.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

As others have said, it often is seen that way. I think the color matters though. Red has become quite normalized nowadays. If you were planning on green/purple/pink I'd be more concerned. Check with your boss.

I work in a sales job so I see people all the time. I have an eyebrow piercing and I only take it out for higher profile calls and meetings. I'm pushing it on propriety but these things are becoming more and more accepted. My female coworker has a lot of tattoos and that's not a big deal anymore either. We'll get to the point where it won't matter anymore but it's still going to take some time.

 

[Wolf Hagen]

Per default it's a no.

If the Boss is OK with it, the customers MAY not be (everyone who either worked construction or retail can tell you stories) since costumers can be a frickle bunch.

From my own personal taste, I'm fine with whatever, but you know how uptight costumers can be (exspecially the 40 and older clientel).

 

[happyninja42]

Depends on who you work for. Some businesses frown on that kind of thing, as being "unprofessional", other places don't give a shit. I used to work at Books a Million for example, and our manager was a guy with really long hair, like all the way down to his ass, and nobody in management cared. Some of the girls who worked there had creative hair, either by design or color, and nobody cared. But now I work for my state government, and I'm pretty sure they would frown on me coming in with rainbow colored, spiked hair. I'd have to actually read our dress code to confirm, but I'm confident it's that way.

I personally don't care, and actually prefer colorful, interesting looks in people. So if I ever ran my own business, I'd be perfectly fine with people with dyed hair and tats and all that. As long as they were actually friendly and sociable, and were good with customers, personally I don't give a fuck.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Ok for retail.
No if you want to be a doctor, lawyer, cop, psychologist, uni teacher... You get the idea.

 

[Kae]

Generally no, it is considered very much unprofessional, while the company I work for does allow it I've heard my boss some pretty nasty comments about my hair and other people's appearances, so if you really are concerned about it I would recommend against it, because even if your company allows it, it is still considered childish and unprofessional, however, if you don't very much care like me then go for it.