Comments on: Curls in the Workplace

By: Happy Curls

Happy Curls — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:03:25 +0000

It’s shocking to me that so many people have experienced what they perceive to be some kind of anti-curl sentiment in the workplace and elsewhere. I’ve had big, long curly hair since the 80′s (3A/3B). I have never experienced any kind of prejudice or discrimination related to my hair; and goodness gracious I’ve been to work many times with a big, frizzy, messy head of hair. I’ve worked for manufacturing, software and financial services companies and until I recently discovered naturallycurly.com and read Curly Girl I never realized that anyone experienced this kind of behavior from others. I love my curls, never had an issue with them and I’m sorry many of my curly headed sisters have been treated as “less than” due to their hair. I suppose I should consider myself lucky. When I was hired at the most conservative company I ever worked for, I was told one of the reasons i was hired was because I had “presence.” Not sure what they meant, but clearly I was never perceived as incompetent due to my hair. I’ve never experienced what’s been described here. Interesting.

By: Midwesterncurl

Midwesterncurl — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:27:39 +0000

I really believe alot of this has to do with the type of corporate environment you are dealing with. For some reason, finance and law are very conservative places to work– if your hair is curly, it’s a problem. However, other environments are much more accepting of differences. I work in social services and the healthcare industry, where diversity is accepted and encouraged. I’ve never had an issue with leaving my hair curly in the work environment. I’ve worked direct care for 5 years, and never has it been a problem. I also work extensively with children, and for some reason having curly hair makes you more approachable than having stick straight hair. I’ve noticed children are much more receptive to me when my hair is curly, versus when it’s been straight.

That being said, I think this sort of discrimination seems to happen against women more than anything. I’ve never heard of a man with curly hair having issues– not that he’d be able to do much about it! It’s much easier to tell a woman with curls to get the iron out, but you can’t really tell that to a guy. We just need to teach employers that having a different hair texture does not mean one an unreliable worker– it’s motivation, skills, and professionalism that determines that.

By: DvaAuNaturel

DvaAuNaturel — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:14:44 +0000

@Redcelticcurls…In my comments you will see that I spoke from the perspective of an African American woman-no exclusionist at all. The article was eye opening defitely.

By: jeepcurlygurl

jeepcurlygurl — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:51:47 +0000

Great article and not all that surprising. I found Ms. Heathfield’s statements very telling. She doesn’t believe curly hair is a disadvantage in the workplace – now that dress codes are relaxed and hair style is less important. So I guess that means it WOULD be a disadvantage if dress codes WEREN’T relaxed. Just as I thought. Thank goodness I have a job and not a career because I won’t change my hair for anyone.

By: shortncurly

shortncurly — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:24:28 +0000

Great article. I had a similar situation when I was first transitioning to being natural. I wore braids and kinky hair twists, no one at the workplace had a problem with it. Then I did the BC and wore my hair in twists. They had an issue with that. They brought me into the office, telling me I had to change my hair. Two African-American sisters with relaxed/weaved hair. I said to them Are you going to pay for me to get my hair done? You’re going to pay for the relaxer, then I’ll do it. I was mad and hurt, but I didn’t change my hair. My hair is apart of me like the rest of my body. People always comment about it negative and positive. My own mother has reduced herself to chastizing me about my natural hair. I don’t know if she is jealous because I can wear it in this state and she can’t. She wears weaves and wigs. People need to wake up though, curly hair is natural and beautiful and its here to stay, especially on my head!!!

By: redcelticcurls

redcelticcurls — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:58:47 +0000

I’m one of the people mentioned in the article, and I am white. This is an issue that has crossed racial barriers long ago, and I find the comment about “our” hair to be a bit exclusionist.

While I admire the idealism that performance should be this issue, let’s get rel, it often isn’t.

Anything but type 1 hair in a conservative corporate environment can be seen as unkempt and messy.

I like seeing CEOs like Ursula Burns, but they seem to be few and far between.

I enjoyed the article, and the last paragraph is spot on.

By: DvaAuNaturel

DvaAuNaturel — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:53:22 +0000

Interesting article. I remember a few years back when I would texturize my hair (my 2nd attempt at being natural) that I spoke with a mentor, who was natural, to ask her about advancement opportunities or opposition due to her hairstyle. She stated that there were issues when we first did her big chop but that after she turned any conversations about her back to focus on her performance she was okay. Her message was that keep the focus on your performance. It’s funny to me that most of the issues I read about, and have experienced, are African Americans who are not comfortable in their own skin or with OUR hair and how God made it and they project that onto other people who choose to be naturally curly/kinky. At the end of the day, results matter. As long as you are presentable with your natural hair (bun, neat twists, braids, etc.) the rest doesn’t matter. Outpeform and that will make you stand out versus how you wear your hair.