Professional hairstyles

 College is a time for people to express themselves in different ways and many do it through appearance. Many students choose to use various ways to express themselves with their hairstyles like natural Afros, dreadlocks, different color hair and patches, designed haircuts, and more. It can be argued simple self-expressions like hair can keep qualified college students from getting a job.
Students look forward to being employed after graduation and are determined to do everything they can to prepare for a job. The skills gained through the matriculation of a higher education system does not solely determine the direction of a person’s career path, but other things such as appearance might.
The Black Enterprise magazine states, “Your appearance does not affect your ability to do a job, but it does impact your success.”
Hair is a way to express individuality, but may have negative effects on one’s career advancement. Employers typically choose individuals who they believe represent their company best. Failure to acknowledge and implement the importance of all cultural norms can cause unfairness and institutional discrimination within the work place.
“Institutional discriminations refer to the policies of the dominant race and the behavior of individuals who control these institutions and implement policies that are intended to have differential and/or harmful effect on minority race,” stated Black Enterprise.
Many studies have been conducted on appearance in the work place. Daniel Hamermesh, a professor of economics at the University of Texas at Austin, measured the advantages beauty brings in all aspects of life. Hamermesh says attractive people are likely to earn an average of three to four percent more than a person with below average looks.
This study supports Hamermesh’s research that “attractive people” get hired faster and receive more opportunities in the work place.
Based on their own cultural norms, employers and corporate world officials confused the professional look and personal preferences. Entrepreneurs and those who will not work in corporate America have more freedom with hairstyles.
Those in the entertainment industry and social careers often need to express their creativity and individuality through appearance. For many years African American women have felt entitled to keep their hair straight, but times are changing. Women are realizing that weave and straight hair is not the only way to obtain a professional look.