Cutting Your Locs to Get a Job

[Jhoon]

Out of curiosity, how many people answering have/had locs and made it into the profession or job of their choice? Did you have thoughts similar to the OP? I wanna keep mine but shyt can be skressful breh

When I first became a nurse I had braids.

I was going to try getting braids about 6 months ago but I realized I’m too old for that shyt.

 

[djthegreat88]

Do what’s best for your career. I’m probably in the minority but I’d cut them. It’s only hair. It’ll grow back when your position is secure. I was always told long hair on men is usually not considered professional. Beards too until recently

 

[606onit]

That's a 1991 thought. Due to brothers putting in work before u and I, we black men are accepted as we come naturally (albiet WELL-GROOMED/not unkempt) and they won't say shyt about your clean locs with their low-T tech asses.

 

[EBK String]

they gone hate your black ass regardless of what your hair look like. Might as well enjoy the currency of a hairstyle you enjoy

 

[Treblemaka]

Im an IT consultant, I have a nose piercing (stud) and 22" locs (I keep them neat tho).

You dont have to cut your locs to eat out here STEM brehs. Skill pay the bills.

You'll never be an EVP or anything but 6 figures and career growth are def possible with locs.

 

[Drip Bayless]

Appreciate all the input brehs

Been there...done that.

As you get older....you're going to learn to pick your battles...or to adapt.

Here's what I mean by adapt.
For example...find out if there is a local branch of a Black trade association in your area. Black professionals who work in the general field you want to enter. Go to a mixer...or meeting. Ask them questions about the hair and how much it may impact your career path or the fields/jobs were it will be less of an issue. You're far from the first person who has had this issue.

If your choice of hairstyle/expression is that important to you you can make informed decision and tradeoff about where to go.

Go to the NSBE National Convention in March so you can skip the corporate bs

Good looking yall, ima definitely join the NOBCChe, get some insight from people specific to my field

 

[Artenche]

I ain't cuttin' shyt. I got high top dreads and they are just gonna have to deal with it.

 

[thenatural]

Go to the NSBE National Convention in March so you can skip the corporate bs

Excellent advice. I wish i was able to go to more during my undergrad years.

 

[phcitywarrior]

Depends on the firm tbh. My company, I'm good rocking a beard and such. Other places, nah. Gotta be clean shaved.

 

[Maude]

I got locs & been looking for a new job,Same dilemma, same industry.

Been on the fence but y'all Nia's convincing me to keep them

Repped everyone I could

 

[Tenchi Ryu]

I'm not choosing 6 certs at the cost of my individuality....

If that mean 5 certs so be it

 

[TRFG]

It really depends on the company but if the place is really causal, t shirt and jeans, you shouldn’t have a problem.

 

[Ciggavelli]

My hair was down to the middle of my back. It took forever to grow. Cut it for a job, grew it back out, cut it for another job, grew it back out, cut it again.

From my experience, when you are looking for a job and doing interviews, you’ll have better luck with short hair than long hair. However, once you’ve been there a while and have proven your worth, you can grow it out again, if you want.

However, I work in a very conservative industry now though, and I definitely would not have got this job if I had long hair at the interview, or ever really. No guys have long hair at my job, and I work around a lot of people.

I think it really depends on the industry, location, and culture. Like you can have extremely long hair and dress any way you’d like in Silicon Valley, but if you work in corporate at an oil and gas company in Texas, that shyt isn’t gonna fly.

 

[Benefited]

This is the same site that chastizes black women for wearing weaves,and blonde hair,implying it means they want to be white.
Acknowledging they are in fact willing to cut off their hair,and dress as europeans in order to appease the white mans sensibilities:khalid:
While weaves MAY be a symptom of self hatred,this type of mentality is DEFINITELY self hatred and proof that the self worth of many black men are based on the european lense.
Don't ever cut off your hair in order to be accepted,this is the equeivalant of caving into a whip and calling yourself Toby,except there is no whip involved so it only makes matters worst.
The submission and comprimising of yourself and your soul will only snowball after this.

 

[Spiritual Stratocaster]

Whats yall opinion, especially STEM brehs. I'm getting a BS in chemistry soon and I'm tryna get an internship this summer. Moms and all my aunts stay telling me ima have to cut my shyt. Really don't want to but I got the high top dreads like this

Spoiler

so I know that shyt gon look even worse to these cacs

Some of them older black women be lowkey hating

Soon as I came home had my mom hating on my locs.