Do You Hide Who You are for Work?

On tv all these makeup artists and nail techs and estheticians are usually alt(alternative) looking…(or from the east)

You would think working in this field bright hair, piercings and tattoos would be ok right? think again

But in the real world, there are lots of different kinds of people in this field of work. And especially in a smaller city like Thunder Bay, tattoos and bright hair is still looked at funny.

yes this is a xposted article from my old blog but it has been updated.

I will say this is more for the esthetics part of my job, it is a more serious and high end job. That comes with expectations, mostly clean cut looking.  Staying stylish is another big one. Now that I own my own business I have loosened up a bit, I work in a hair salon so my hair is no longer a big issue, but the tattoos still seem to be a bit. I wear my scrubs and nice shoes.

When I worked at the last spa, I had to ask my boss what colours I could dye my hair, and how bright. This was also my idea to compromise, I have respect for where I work, and the reputation of where I do.
When I worked for the College, by the end of my contract they were instituting a new rule saying only “natural hair colours”. I had already broken the dress code rule a bit; that you could sometimes see my tattoos, but I tried my hardest. I wore lots of scarves to cover up my chest piece that goes close to my neck. I also wore long sleeves under my short sleeved scrub top in our esthetics lab so you couldn’t see my half sleeve. I still do in the winter at work both for the fact I’m super cold but still trying to hide a big piece.

I also do admit that to some job interviewers, if I can tell they won’t even look at my resume because of my hair: I wear one of my natural colour wigs.

I don’t mind wearing a wig to work, I love changing it up but it is lying and I feel silly that because of the job market being so low I have to pull this shenanigans to just get my foot in the door(when I was job hunting)

I’m not saying that you have to give up who you are, or even put up with this. I always tell the truth once I get my foot into the door, I admit and ask about tattoos, bright hair and piercings.

Are they acceptable, can I show them off/try not to/or hide all of them? Are you ok with this hair colour? 

As makeup artists want to go full out everyday with their artistic style of makeup, but a situation to a fellow MUA who works in a cosmetics store blew me away a week ago:

My friend who can be called “goth” always has really beautiful, and unique makeup. She spends a good deal of time making it look perfect. If I walked into her store and was looking for a eyeliner: I’d immediately go ask her. She had a customer who didn’t care for her makeup, instead of asking her anything about it or just ignoring it like I am sure many people do. The customer had her husband make a gigantic scene to her boss. The boss did apologize to the customer but did not defend her staff member.

I do compromise my standards, which is unfair but I need to put food on the table for my family and help keep a roof over our heads.  I totally don’t agree with the standards that are out there still, the way I look shouldn’t affect the fact that I am well educated, polite and good at my job.

This is how I dress for business meetings, different networking events or other more serious things:

If you are alternative looking, what do you think? Do you hide your tattoos or have been forced to change your makeup, style or hair colour to keep your job?