Either I’m paranoid, or they really do like my hair. Ive mentioned before that I recently jumped back into the rat race and in my first week, I wore buns everyday so no one actually saw my hair out or down. I washed and deep conditioned my hair over the weekend so  I decided what the hell ‘I am gonna rock a braid out’. It was smaller in the morning when I left the house than it was when I actually got into the office, but I was used to that.

They weren’t ready

The comments so far have been ‘Wow”, you look like “Chaka Khan” ” I love your hair all, big (I swear she rolled her eyes- just sayin)”, “girl them curls…see mmm mm, I couldn’t do it, but I love yours”  (no you don’t!) ‘its all crinkly and stuff’ (code for weird)

WTF?

are those compliments? because really I can’t tell – I must say many of the facial expressions have been surprise, awe and smiles so that’s a good start. I have heard alot about on the job comments good and bad, and I usually have a laundry list of ways to deal with them, some of which I have retired because it has been so long. Time to wake the dead!

1. Always reinforce a seemingly negative comment with something positive and uplifting – maybe they might follow up with, ‘she’s so vain’ in their minds but that’s ok! self love is awesome and there is no betrayal there.

2. Sometimes people can be negative and want to touch your hair at the same time, a little side move never hurt anyone. If they are reaching with those five finger weapons just kinda bob and weave that bad boy, they will get the picture.

3. Have fun with it! when that guy said I looked like Chaka Khan – why cant I spell her name, I swear I typed it like 5 times! – I just started singing one of her songs and everyone laughed, now the smart commenter is no longer the center of the situation, which should decrease the smart comments since they know you have cute ways of popping their little smartie pants bubbles.

4. turn the conversation towards something else, oh you hate my hair,…. awww those are some cute shiny golden sandals you are wearing to our client meeting so 80’s sheek – rolling eyes

All in all my hair has always commanded attention even in the most conservative of styles, having natural hair is still a ‘thing’ in some parts. So until they ‘get it’ I will find ways to deal.

How do you deal with at work hair snobs?

Em