Professionalism and long(ish) hair

[IamFogHat]

So until like a year and a half ago, I had hair that was about an inch below my ears, and I cut it going into my final year of schooling/liscensure, and in a couple weeks I'll be doing student teaching and four months from there I'll be getting a job as a special ed teacher.
My question is, to all you professionals out there, in our year of our lord of 2009, what difference does hair length really matter, and what length should I keep it honestly in terms of effecting my career?
Also as a side question, I took my earrings out (one in each ear) and do those matter? If so I plan on piercing them again during the summer and taking them out during work hours if necessary.
Ok, thanks as always, knowledgeable buddays.

[RoseBlood]

I've grown my hair out this past year and I'm hoping it'll be an asset in the years to come..

Sorry this wasn't a serious post.. I have nothing to add. :sad:

[weekapaugjz]

as long as your hair or any facial hair is well groomed and presentable, ive never seen a school that has had a problem with it.

[GvacNoMore]

Cut your hair and keep the earrings out hippie!

Honestly, I guess you'd have to see how the school you're teaching at would feel about your less-than-clean-cut look. I'd ask them if it was OK. I think many people are a lot more liberal these days, but a classic business haircut and no jewelry or visible tattoos will always be seen as professional, by everyone.

[Cvag]

Nobody worries about that stuff anymore. You can be a lawyer with long hair and a beard.

[drusilla]

So until like a year and a half ago, I had hair that was about an inch below my ears, and I cut it going into my final year of schooling/liscensure, and in a couple weeks I'll be doing student teaching and four months from there I'll be getting a job as a special ed teacher.
My question is, to all you professionals out there, in our year of our lord of 2009, what difference does hair length really matter, and what length should I keep it honestly in terms of effecting my career?
Also as a side question, I took my earrings out (one in each ear) and do those matter? If so I plan on piercing them again during the summer and taking them out during work hours if necessary.
Ok, thanks as always, knowledgeable buddays.

unfortunately long hair & piercings, as well as some facial hair styles are still looked down upon. you are probably better off starting with the shorter hair & piercings out, but then you may be able to ease them into your look. this is of course if they haven't previously seen you with your long hair, or you've noticed that it's a pretty casual work environment. because in those cases you should be fine the way you are.

from experience i know my boyfriend got a lot of shit while he was on the interview trail for his medical residency because he had a goatee.

[boosterp]

In my world of medical research hair length can or can not hurt you. It really depends on your education and curriculum vitae. It stinks that at the beginning it is tough to get noticed in my field and even tougher based on what your appearance is. I wore a white coat, tie, button down shirt, and slacks for all but the last 2 years of my career because of appearance and what was expected of me.

[IamFogHat]

unfortunately long hair & piercings, as well as some facial hair styles are still looked down upon. you are probably better off starting with the shorter hair & piercings out, but then you may be able to ease them into your look. this is of course if they haven't previously seen you with your long hair, or you've noticed that it's a pretty casual work environment. because in those cases you should be fine the way you are.

from experience i know my boyfriend got a lot of shit while he was on the interview trail for his medical residency because he had a goatee.

Christ, another good point of order I should have brought up, I also have facial hair...what's it called when you have the equivalent of a goatee when the beard and mustache don't connect? Anyway that's what I have. But I refuse to shave it cause when I did like two years ago I looked like a child, so I grew it back and have not shaved it since. And btw, I keep it very well trimmed and neat if that means anything.

[drusilla]

so did he. he was actually refusing to shave it just to make a point. he thinks he may have missed out on some better programs just because of it & that really pissed him off, but at the same time he was making a statement. like "so what i have a goatee, i can still be a good dr dammit!" he did wind up getting a position & we had to move to wonderful albany for it, but he actually grew a full beard over the summer & all of a sudden everyone was saying how "doctorly" he looked. & "now i can take him seriously!". idiots.

[weekapaugjz]

Christ, another good point of order I should have brought up, I also have facial hair...what's it called when you have the equivalent of a goatee when the beard and mustache don't connect? Anyway that's what I have. But I refuse to shave it cause when I did like two years ago I looked like a child, so I grew it back and have not shaved it since. And btw, I keep it very well trimmed and neat if that means anything.

i had a well trimmed beard when i did my student teaching and it wasn't a problem at all. my cooperating teacher asked me why i shaved it because it looked good. as long as you have a connection to the students and have a good grasp on your field, i don't think a lot of school admins care about stuff like that (at least in my experience)

[Coach]

As long as you do not have a drastically rebellious look...ie big holes through your lobes or a face tattoo or piercings, Most public schools might be ok with it. look at the prospective schools' dress codes and go about a step above. ie take out the earrings at work.

[IamFogHat]

i had a well trimmed beard when i did my student teaching and it wasn't a problem at all. my cooperating teacher asked me why i shaved it because it looked good. as long as you have a connection to the students and have a good grasp on your field, i don't think a lot of school admins care about stuff like that (at least in my experience)

Ok, another good point I have to bring up, in my second of third year as an instructional aid during Fairfax County summer school, the assistant principal one day looked at my badge (which was from the year before, when I had long hair and no beard, and during that summer had short hair and a beard) and she literally was like "honey, why did you shave you're beard? Don't ever do that again, you look like a man now. The hair is eh, but definitely keep what you got on your face."
So, yeah. Point taken, graciously.

[MacVittie]

If you're an art/music teacher i think you can get away with a ponytail. Some really conservative places might give you some guff about longish hair, but you should be ok.

What got you interested in Special Ed.?

[IamFogHat]

If you're an art/music teacher i think you can get away with a ponytail. Some really conservative places might give you some guff about longish hair, but you should be ok.

What got you interested in Special Ed.?

Well way off topic, but I was an instructional assistant at a summer school program when I realized I wanted to be a teacher, and I worked with special ed kids and I fell in love with it and realized I had a real talent for it (including patience) and only later after investing my collegiate degree in it did I discover how well it pays and the job security for it exists (it's federally mandated, and it's in job demand, and I'm a male(in this field), i.e. I will never not have a job).

[mikeyboy]

Nobody worries about that stuff anymore. You can be a lawyer with long hair and a beard.

That's a myth.

[ToiletCrusher]

Well way off topic, but I was an instructional assistant at a summer school program when I realized I wanted to be a teacher, and I worked with special ed kids and I fell in love with it and realized I had a real talent for it (including patience) and only later after investing my collegiate degree in it did I discover how well it pays and the job security for it exists (it's federally mandated, and it's in job demand, and I'm a male(in this field), i.e. I will never not have a job).

I hear you brother. I too have longer hair and a beard. Teaching is my profession as well. However, I am finishing my PhD in curriculum development and I think once I try to make the jump to administration I will need to get the hair cut and clean up the beard.

You will get a job in this field especially if you want to teach Spec Ed. Many schools look for people like you. Men are less likely to work in childhood education let alone childhood special ed.

[PhishHead]

I wanted to grow my hair long and for periods of time go from having a pretty scraggly beard to being clean shaven.

I asked my manager if it was okay if I could grow my hair long and keep the beard. I tend to keep the beard nice but sometimes I just say F it and don't care.

The hair is growing but there were will be times it definitely doesn't look "professional" and I could care less. No one has ever said anything to me about it and none of the Executives have even noticed.

I know your post was about school but in the professional world it is less about what you look like and more about how you do your work. As long as your work is stellar they could careless.

[A.J.]

I've been letting my hair grow and caught some shit for it. I respond that I don't care to be a target in the Middle East with my typical almost-high and tight 'do.

[GvacMobile]

I've been letting my hair grow and caught some shit for it. I respond that I don't care to be a target in the Middle East with my typical almost-high and tight 'do.


Dirty hippie!

[~Katja~]

personally I don't see how a well groomed long hair style would harm your career as a special ed teacher. What age range of kids will you be teaching?

I think I'd have to see a picture to tell you if your look was unprofessional or not.

as for the pierced ears.. they don't close up that quick. I wore earrings all my life every single day and never took them out. Last year my kid broke one of them and I haven't gotten around to buy some that I like, so my ears have been without earrings for a year or more now and they are still not closed.

[DarkHippie]

I teach special ed right now and i have shoulder length hair and a beard. I am just a sub, but no one has seemed to take issue with it.

[RoseBlood]

I teach special ed right now and i have shoulder length hair and a beard. I am just a sub, but no one has seemed to take issue with it.

Do your students still love to throw their feces your way? :ohmy:
If so, for your sake, i'd keep it short or in a ponytail. :wink:

[cougarjake13]

i'd say as long as you dont look like a homeless vet on the side of the entrance ramp begging for change you'll be ok

[lleeder]

I've grown my hair out this past year and I'm hoping it'll be an asset in the years to come..

Sorry this wasn't a serious post.. I have nothing to add. :sad:

I 'm sure its a nice asset, a reeeeeeally nice asset. One of the finest assets...wait what are we talking about again?