Long Haired Freaky People – AKA Women over 40.

This is my hair today – at 8:15 AM on my way to work, to be exact. I have less than two years to enjoy my locks, as apparently if I have hair this length after 40 I run the very serious risk of looking rather sad and dated. That’s right – the brilliant minds over at The Careerist are concerned that I’m nearly Too Old for That Joni Mitchell Look. I run the risk of damaging my career.

This makes me sad. You see, I’ve long had a love/hate relationship with my hair. This cell phone pic doesn’t show you exactly how RED my hair really is. That’s right folks, I’m a ginger. I’ve heard every carrot top / Wendy’s / freckle face joke there is. It wasn’t until probably my early 30’s that I finally started appreciating my hair. It’s an unusual shade – more strawberry blonde I suppose, but not a hue anyone else in my family has (and I come from a long line of redheads). I’ve also tried short hair, but I look weird. I have a giant head and prominent features, so short hair just makes everything look… odd.

The bigger issue is this – job seekers are up against all sorts of challenges when it comes to the interview process. Do they have the right resume, educational background and skills? Are they a culture fit? For professional women, do they now really have to start worrying about the length of their hair? Are we, as recruiters, judging candidates based on something as non-essential as this? In fairness, this is a blog targeted to the legal community. Maybe it’s different for lawyers (It shouldn’t be). Plus, there’s an exceptional and hilarious rebuttal written by Maria de Cesare found here – also featured in the Huffington Post.

Here’s what I do know. I will probably want a promotion someday. I may even interview for a job elsewhere, in the distant future. I’ll most definitely be (gasp!) over 40. With long hair. The idea that my hair length would somehow hold me back is laughable. If flipping, twisting, and caressing my strawberry locks is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

Comment by Charlie Allenson on August 2, 2012 at 10:15am: Or you could always make a donation to Locks of Love, then grow it all back.

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on August 2, 2012 at 12:58pm: I like it Charlie! My daughter did that once her hair's back to almost her waist again... it's time :)

Comment by Charlie Allenson on August 2, 2012 at 1:05pm: Everybody sing...

Gimme head with hair
Long beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming,
Streaming, flaxen, waxen

Give me down to there hair
Shoulder length or longer
Here baby, there mama
Everywhere daddy daddy

Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair
Flow it, show it
Long as God can grow it
My hair

Comment by Charlie Allenson on August 2, 2012 at 1:54pm: In case you have idea no idea what I'm talking, take a moment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_zaSKZks1A

Comment by Amber on August 2, 2012 at 2:08pm: @Charlie, LOL - I knew what you were talking about!

Comment by Tony Palm on August 2, 2012 at 3:08pm: Just got this from Careerealism, a candidate-centric blog site: "Can Your Hairstyle Hurt Your Career". Talk about ironic . . . or did you see this too Aims?

http://www.careerealism.com/can-hairstyle-hurt-career-poll/?utm_sou...

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on August 2, 2012 at 4:56pm: @Charlie that's AWESOME :)

@Tony - I didn't see that! I'm going to go vote right now... why is hair such a big issue all of a sudden?? lol

Comment by Charlie Allenson on August 2, 2012 at 5:50pm: Remember last year Debra-Lee Lorenzana was fired from Citi because they thought she was too sexy even though she had an exemplary work record? http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-504083_162-10003635.html

Comment by Erin Passmore on August 3, 2012 at 3:37pm: I have very long straight hair. Naturally straight. It is also very very thick and heavy. I look like a twit with short hair and the bonus is I look much younger with long hair. I am almost 40 but have been mistaken for a University student three times this year. Would I cut it off for a career boost? Not a chance. I don't want to work for someone who judges me that way. I get judged on enough stuff already. Keep the locks! I think it is more about what we do with them than the length of it.