I went with my fierce twist out, ready to hear that Government would be the perfect industry for me. It was one week after my interview and I was informed that I got the job!
The interviewers could have liked or hated my hair, but my qualities I highlighted from my resume and what I could offer the company really spoke out in explanation marks! So here I go with my bold natural hair, ready to start my career in Government!
Natural hair in the cubicle
It was December 2012 when I first started in my Government career and you know what that means, protective styling! That’s right, I was wearing flat twists and two-strand twists. I did not wear my hair out during the winter time at all. Best believe I received lots of questions from all co-workers: men, women, black, white, red, and yellow.
Some questions were:
“Do you wash your hair in those twisty things?” “Are you an artist on the side?” “How do you get to do your hair like that?” “Will my hair do that?”
I did not get offended and I did not mind answering these questions.To clarify, I was not the only woman of color there, but I was the only naturalista there!
Senegalese twists and micro braids at work
For the past two to three years, I have experimented with other styling options mostly senegalese twists and micro braids. Now since I work in Government, I have kept my hair styles fashionable and stylish, but also tasteful and classy.
During the summer of my first year there, I had micro braids installed with my natural hair color. My co workers asked more questions and comments, “Wow, your hair is so straight!” “Are you still natural with weave?” “Does ‘it’ hurt?” “Your hair grew!” I welcomed all comments and questions.
Chala M. Brooks says
It’s getting there but still has a ways to go.
Mieshel Jett says
More acceptable up north…. South it’s moving slowly
TMW says
Not true about the South. I started wearing protective box braids to my very white collar job in Texas back in the early 90’s even though I didn’t go natural until recently. Braids was how I stretched my relaxers long before the natural movement rolled in. Once I broke the ice back in the 90s others quickly followed suit. Now I’m natural, white collar government worker in Louisiana and wear a huge Angela Davis afro everyday. I keep it neat, pat it with a scarf in the morning so its nice and even. Like the author of this article I get tons of questions but no flack. Its been accepted and now more and more women in my office have stopped the twist outs and such and are wearing their afros too. Be an ice breaker and you will be surprised how many follow. But as the author of the article said, be professional with it, nice and neat. No outrageous Nubian knots pointing in every direction or crazy colors, LOL…. that’s better saved for days off and vacation.