Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 16:43     Subject: Purple Hair?
Anonymous wrote:I can see this both ways. I have been a nanny for many years, and I've always been a fan of interesting colored hair. However, as a nanny in the DC area, I never had the guts to dye my hair crazy colors. Most of the families I worked with in the DC area were rather conservative. Even some of the ones I'd worked with for more than a couple of years were so very conservative that I wouldn't have been surprised if they had fired me just for dying my hair a strange color. However, working with such people (ultra Christian, judgmental, etc) bothered me; I adored their kids and I knew their parents philosophies were polar opposites of my own. The DB of one family I worked with was even a lobbyist for coal and oil (shudder).

I ended up moving to Portland, OR for a number of reasons, and being surrounded by liberals and mostly laid back folks has really been a great improvement for me. Many of the more affluent families who hire nannies here are still a bit conservative, but for the most part people here are more accepting of things like small visible tattoos (I have a tiny star on my wrist) and multi colored hair (my hair is naturally brown, and it is still 90% brown, but I've added in two small blue and pink streaks that are mostly hidden under the brown).

But even in this city, which seems more generally accepting of such things, as a nanny I wouldnt dare to dye all of my hair a bright color. Parents hire nannies to be something of a role model (at least in a sense), and I don't feel it would be appropriate to have such an unorthodox appearance working with children on a daily basis.

And at the end of the day, it is totally up to you and your comfort level. If you are uncomfortable with having a nanny with bright purple hair, you should be honest with her about it. I think it shows her lack of consideration and professionalism in such matters that she didn't think about the impact it might have on her nanny family when she dyed all of her hair a bright color. I would worry that if you don't speak your mind now, she may show up with a brand new visible tattoo or piercing down the line. I would try not to give her an ultimatum, as such, but maybe just tell her it makes you uncomfortable that your kids look up to her and she has such an ostentatious and unconventional style. You could perhaps suggest that she have most of her hair a natural color and then purple streaks, or whatever you would be comfortable with.

I really think that if you're uncomfortable with it, you need to address it. There are many jobs that wouldn't allow purple hair, and being your nanny may be one of them. And I'm sure you can find many nannies who would be very happy to keep their natural hair color to work with you.


What a thoughtful post. Seriously. I'm not the OP but I appreciate the tone of your response. I'd totally hire you - regardless of hair color or tattoos!
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 16:39     Subject: Purple Hair?
Would kind of annoy me but I wouldn't say or do anything about it. I had blue hair for a couple months in high school and I learned pretty quickly that it's too distracting to have such crazy hair - people have a hard time looking passed it and taking you seriously when you've got a big, bright distraction framing your face.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 16:09     Subject: Purple Hair?
I can see this both ways. I have been a nanny for many years, and I've always been a fan of interesting colored hair. However, as a nanny in the DC area, I never had the guts to dye my hair crazy colors. Most of the families I worked with in the DC area were rather conservative. Even some of the ones I'd worked with for more than a couple of years were so very conservative that I wouldn't have been surprised if they had fired me just for dying my hair a strange color. However, working with such people (ultra Christian, judgmental, etc) bothered me; I adored their kids and I knew their parents philosophies were polar opposites of my own. The DB of one family I worked with was even a lobbyist for coal and oil (shudder).

I ended up moving to Portland, OR for a number of reasons, and being surrounded by liberals and mostly laid back folks has really been a great improvement for me. Many of the more affluent families who hire nannies here are still a bit conservative, but for the most part people here are more accepting of things like small visible tattoos (I have a tiny star on my wrist) and multi colored hair (my hair is naturally brown, and it is still 90% brown, but I've added in two small blue and pink streaks that are mostly hidden under the brown).

But even in this city, which seems more generally accepting of such things, as a nanny I wouldnt dare to dye all of my hair a bright color. Parents hire nannies to be something of a role model (at least in a sense), and I don't feel it would be appropriate to have such an unorthodox appearance working with children on a daily basis.

And at the end of the day, it is totally up to you and your comfort level. If you are uncomfortable with having a nanny with bright purple hair, you should be honest with her about it. I think it shows her lack of consideration and professionalism in such matters that she didn't think about the impact it might have on her nanny family when she dyed all of her hair a bright color. I would worry that if you don't speak your mind now, she may show up with a brand new visible tattoo or piercing down the line. I would try not to give her an ultimatum, as such, but maybe just tell her it makes you uncomfortable that your kids look up to her and she has such an ostentatious and unconventional style. You could perhaps suggest that she have most of her hair a natural color and then purple streaks, or whatever you would be comfortable with.

I really think that if you're uncomfortable with it, you need to address it. There are many jobs that wouldn't allow purple hair, and being your nanny may be one of them. And I'm sure you can find many nannies who would be very happy to keep their natural hair color to work with you.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 13:16     Subject: Purple Hair?
Yep it would bother me. I don't want to hire rainbow bright.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 12:53     Subject: Purple Hair?
Anonymous wrote:This is why you should screen for polished nannies. Professional nannies won't do stuff like this.


Disagree. One of the reasons I chose this field is the fact that my skills are what (should) matter, not what I choose to do with my appearance. I go to interviews with my hair pulled back, dressed professionally and appropriately, but when deciding what to do with my hair or if I'd like a new tattoo, my bosses do not cross my mind. If I were a lawyer, sure.. I'm a nanny. I spend my days at libraries and story times. No one cares what I look like.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 12:45     Subject: Purple Hair?
I would not care but I would be a bit annoyed feeling like she misrepresented herself. I would have been more fine with it if she came to the interview with it. An,d I would prefer any color but purple.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 12:28     Subject: Purple Hair?
I wouldn't care (MB here). Obviously, other people would.

I'm surprised she couldn't figure out from the "vibe" of your family where you would stand on it.

Your kid really doesn't know that purple is an unusual hair color, any more than blond, brown, red, grey, brown with highlights, etc.. This is really about you and your associations with people who do "frivolous" or "silly" things and then want to work for you.

How much do you care? She's a childcare provider; it seems like not such a stretch that she'd be kind of silly and arty.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 12:19     Subject: Purple Hair?
This is why you should screen for polished nannies. Professional nannies won't do stuff like this.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 12:09     Subject: Re:Purple Hair?
I have rainbow hair and my boss and the kids (and their friends) love it.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 11:45     Subject: Purple Hair?
I wouldn't be ok with it or visible tattoos or piercings other then 1 in each ear. I'm rather conservative though.,
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 11:39     Subject: Purple Hair?
wouldn't bug me at all! my pilates instructor just colored her hair green, doesn't mean she is any less good as an instructor. As others have said it's just hair!
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 11:19     Subject: Purple Hair?
No, this would not bother me at all.

It sounds like you found a nice nanny for your son. Don't go looking for bad news where there isn't any.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 10:52     Subject: Purple Hair?
It definitely wouldn't bother me.

It definitely would bother my uptight conservative husband and I'd tell him that she's young and fun and her hair color is none of our business.

Your son is staring at her because she is a new face - not because of her hair color.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 10:51     Subject: Purple Hair?
No. It's hair.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2015 10:22     Subject: Purple Hair?
We interviewed a young woman (24yrs old) for a full time position. Everything went well she has her CPR, Tdap shot etc.. She was well presented answered every question honestly and eloquently. Now shes started for our family yesterday was her first day but she showed up with lavender purple hair. It was a shock for me to see her bright hair I know its a trend right now with the young people but its so in your face she holds my son and he can just stare at her for hours obviously because of her hair. I dont think its professional at all I know this isint a desk job but its a job. Would it bother you parents if your nanny had purple hair?