Do hair colouring policies put a stop to self-expression?

It wasn’t so long ago that if you dyed your hair the slightest shade of unnatural, you were assumed a societal outcast and given a wide berth by nearly everyone. Luckily, some much-needed progression has led to hair colours all across the rainbow spectrum not only being respected but adored- and often, it’s a case of the brighter, the better.

These days, you don’t have to label yourself as anything out of the ordinary if you want to dye your hair a non-natural colour: you can simply do it because you think it looks cool, or you fancy a change. More and more people are requesting more vibrant, less natural looks at the hairdresser’s, and the semi-permanent and permanent market for more “unusual” shades like silvers and pastels is expanding by-the-minute.

It’s quite clear that non-natural hair colouring is more than just a trend: it’s a choice of self-expression that’s here to stay. There’s something of a thrill that comes from experimenting with a shade that a person can’t naturally be born with- not to mention the gorgeous colours that can be achieved by a hairdresser with the right skills and knowledge. So why, we wonder, are there still rules and regulations as to non-natural hair colouring in the work and education sectors?

Many of us can probably think back and recall the numerous unnecessary regulations regarding uniform, hair, makeup, jewellery and nail varnish at our own schools. In the majority of educational institutes, the somewhat old-fashioned rule that states hair can only be dyed a natural colour still exists.

While it is understandable for a school to want its pupils, as representatives of the establishment, to look smart and tidy, it is confusing how and why hair colour comes into play in this. A student with hair of a non-natural shade can represent a school just as well as a student who has dyed their hair blonde or brunette, surely. Non-natural hair shades do not decrease a person’s smartness.

In the workplace, the situation is slightly better, although the rules do tend to vary from one workplace to another. Largely, if you work in the retail, entertainment or food industry, and perhaps in some office environments, there may not be any rules concerning hair colour of too much of a suffocating nature.

However, those that work in careers related to law, finance, teaching, and some customer-facing jobs, may be expected to “tone down” hair colour as part of their job role. It is understandable that professionalism is an important aspect of any job, but it’s a shame that even today, there are strict rules on what is and isn’t considered professional, and non-natural hair falls into the latter.

There’s been some debate about whether being told by your workplace how to wear your hair is considered discrimination or not, and there have even been cases taken to court regarding the subject. Unfortunately, though, while it may seem unfair, being told you need to keep your hair a natural colour is not discriminatory- especially if it is mentioned in the contract you signed when you started your employment (and it most likely is).

Different businesses have different regulations, and it may not always be obvious to you what these are until you are working within a company. If you consider your non-natural hair-colouring as a form of your self-expression, all that can really be done on your part is to ensure you select a workplace that is accepting of all hair colours, even ones that are considered “extreme”.

Workplaces have come a long way since the days of no tattoos, no earrings, minimal makeup and hair tied back and not dyed, which gives hope that attitudes will continue to evolve to a much more liberal approach to hair colour, and a re-evaluation of what is and what isn’t considered “professional” will take place.

As with schools and other educational establishments, it doesn’t seem likely that the “uniform policy” will change anytime soon, which, in many cases, you could argue will only encourage a resentful relationship between pupils and their teachers. Perhaps one day in the very distant future, children will be celebrated for embracing their own appearance and stylistic choices, but for now, the rules must be obeyed… ridiculous as they may seem.