spinoff- Do you need make-up and striaght hair to look "professional"?

[Anonymous]

I just saw that a woman posted that she thinks adult women need make-up to look "polished". I had a woman in charge of recruiting at my firm tell me one day that she straightened her curls because she thought it looked more professional.

I am bi-racial with naturally curly hair and before my sleep deprived life as a mother began bagging my eyes, I would go to work with no make-up at all.

I'm curious how others feel. While putting on make-up may be seen as "dressing up", so respecting the workplace, I think the attitude about striaght hair reflects an underlying feeling that white features are needed to look "professional."

[Anonymous]

typo in title *straight*

[Anonymous]

You need to get over yourself. You appear to have some real insecurities about being bi-racial.

[Anonymous]

I am caucasian, but have crazy curls, and I regularly go to work with my curly hair down, in all its glory. I think as long as my attire is professional, and I have some powder, or mascara to hide my sleep deprivation, I look very professional, curls or not.

I'd say I wear some amount of makeup most days, and on days my hair isn't down, it is neatly in a braid or low ponytail.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's straight hair is necessary, as long as you look like you've put some effort into your appearance. And that usually means at least a little makeup. I've seen totally pulled-together black women with natural hair rise in the ranks of senior management. They looked polished and professional. I think you might be looking for a problem where none exists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just saw that a woman posted that she thinks adult women need make-up to look "polished". I had a woman in charge of recruiting at my firm tell me one day that she straightened her curls because she thought it looked more professional.

I am bi-racial with naturally curly hair and before my sleep deprived life as a mother began bagging my eyes, I would go to work with no make-up at all.

I'm curious how others feel. While putting on make-up may be seen as "dressing up", so respecting the workplace, I think the attitude about striaght hair reflects an underlying feeling that white features are needed to look "professional."

I have a bi-racial pal who's a lawyer. She always dies her gray and makes sure to straighten her hair. Then there's the full make up. She said she'd never be where she is today "au naturale."

sad, I think

[Anonymous]

I look awful with straight hair. I do everything chemically possible to get waves and curls that look natural. I've been successful professionally, so I don't think the curls have held me back.

[Anonymous]

OP is not crazy. This is a known issue - read Lorraine Massy's "Curly Girl" and you'll see that lots of curly women on TV etc. straighten their hair to look more professional.

OP - I have wavy to curly hair and gave up straightening because of the DC humidity. I now think people with straightened hair look silly. Once you learn how to manage your curls (which you probably already have) then it looks great. I hope more people embrace their curls and the straightening fad finally dies a death.

As for makeup, it probably depends on your skin tone and features. I'm very pale so need a bit of makeup and mascara to look half decent. I guess a little will give you that 'polished' look.

And as for looking professional, people look past all of that, IMO. I can tell you which people in my office are professional and which are not - and it is in no way related to the way they look. It's their attitude and behavior.

[Anonymous]

Check out Michelle Singletary...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to get over yourself. You appear to have some real insecurities about being bi-racial.

Agree. OP, how do you explain why white women spend so much time and money perming their hair in the 80's?

[Anonymous]

As long as your hair looks neat and professional, it doesn't matter if it's straight or curly. For curly hair you may need to cut it short or wear it in a clip or bun to make it look neat. Light makeup also goes a long way toward making someone look polished. These are not racial issues. Wearing makeup doesn't mean you should go to work in whiteface or anything.

[Anonymous]

I'm caucasian with curly hair. I certainly make sure the curls are tamed with hair product, I don't go to work with it all frizzed out. I do not straighten it ever....big PIA and I don't have an extra hour in the mornings to do so.

I wear makeup every day. I just think I look better in makeup. If my skin was naturally clear and glowing with rosey cheeks and dark long lashes I wouldn't wear make up. But that's not the case.

OP - I think it's a big leap of logic to take what one woman said and what another posted in an online forum and turn it into a blanket "have to look white to suceed" issue.

[Anonymous]

"And as for looking professional, people look past all of that, IMO. I can tell you which people in my office are professional and which are not - and it is in no way related to the way they look. It's their attitude and behavior."

Certainly, but you have to get past that first impression. If a man showed up to work with two days of beard growth and a wrinkled shirt, I would have to question his professionalism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to get over yourself. You appear to have some real insecurities about being bi-racial.

OP here- you're ability to intuit is truly amazing, PP- my understanding of implicit racial bias in the workplace has caused me such great insecurity.

Or... you lack any thoughful framework whatsoever regarding race in America. I'm guessing it's the latter. The idea that an individual in the position to select candidates feels that naturally curly hair is unprofessional is problematic. She would likely think that a professional black woman with natural hair is "not trying" or doesn't care about her appearance. That implicit racial bias causes hiring disparities.

[Anonymous]

I don't think so. I've worked in a variety of work places, from nonprofits to government contracting to private sector to snooty private equity. I'm on the low-maintenance side of things and have never had an issue. I'm always appropriately dressed - suits when required, business casual when allowed. I iron religiously, and shine my shoes. If hose are the norm, I wear them. But I have always worn minimal makeup and I generally pull my hair back in a neat ponytail or a bun. In my field - finance - this is acceptable. In some sales/marketing positions and certain glamour industries, there's an expectation of higher maintenance. But i've never heard curly hair mentioned as an issue, if it's not unruly.