A reader wrote:
Next monday, I have an interview at a very conservative law school. My 4b hair is not at the point that it hangs nor is it so short that it looks like a TWA. I don't want to straighten my hair because I'm afraid of the damage it might do to my curls. Do you have any suggestions?
Mane and Chic says:
| Whatever you do, just make sure it's neat and well done. I'm actually a law school drop out, but back then I was relaxed. Be careful of hair accessories. I had a professor tell me a girl got turned away for wearing a plastic clip in her hair during an interview. The author of Thank God I'm Natural, Chris-Tia Donaldson is a lawyer. You should read the post she did about her experience: Your Hair vs. Your Job.
Click here to read options for setting/styling your hair: HAIR 101 (scroll down to "Curly Hair Sets").
You might also browse YouTube. Here are some popular Type 4a and 4b ladies... |
Readers, do you have any suggestions for this 4B law school prospect? Leave them in the comments.
i personally believe this is a case in which you fake it, until you make it. i would either go to a stylist and have them flat iron my hair until a nice simple style. or i would purchase a natural-looking lace front wig. it is nice that we in our natural hair community love our curls. but abroad it still is not seen in the best light (imo). i recently have had two interviews for jobs. one in which i flat ironed my hair. another i wore a lace front to. hth
ReplyDeleteWell I am in law school and I like to do the rosa parks hairstyle. It is something I learned when I first went natural, but I think they took it down off of youtube. It is very simple. You divide your hair in half and do two french rolls on the side and you let the back either hang loose or you can roll it up into a bun. Another style that you could do is to either make a bun using weave or to make your puff into a bun. I have type 4a hair and I think we are at the same length. So just keep playing with it and if all else fails a french roll is the easiest thing.
ReplyDeleteLook for a lace front wig. You wont have to apply heat to your hair and it will be very temporary.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, I work as a regional clinical pharmacy director. My position requires me to travel to various hospitals throughout the Midwest. I am also one of two black employees as a part of corporate leadership. I have started to transition my hair over the last six months. I have been doing a lot of braid-outs and pin-curls and I have been receiving a lot of compliments (white colleagues) on my hair. Actually more than when it was relaxed and straight, surprisingly.
ReplyDeleteI have spent the last couple of weeks interviewing candidates for admission into pharmacy school and for post-graduate residency training. While minority candidates were few and far between (black candidates non-existent). I would have to admit appearance is really a small portion of the overall picture. Professional appearance Yes or No. Honestly, I would worry more about getting a perfectly tailored suit and a great pair of shoes. Focus on your motivation to become a lawyer, and really evaluate if you will truly be a good match to their program (have you contacted any current students; spoken to any of faculty). Through this evaluation you will get the best feel on whether or not you will be judged heavily on your appearance and your hair style. Good Luck!!
Hi! I'm a 2L (second year) law student and I thought I'd share my experience with natural hair and interviews. I BC'd right before our school's round of OCI (on campus interviews)- so my hair was probably a little bigger than TWA length. I had an interview at a law firm to clerk during the semester and was hired on the spot- rocking my curly hair and all. I also have had several interviews since then, and have had very positive encounters. I got hired within a week of another interview to work at an agency this summer. I remember feeling like I should maybe straighten my hair before the interviews- but something inside me wouldn't let me. Your hair is your hair and it can look just as professional (if not more so) than straight hair. Just be confident! It's so funny because one of the last interviews I went on I had my hair in twists that were then pinned back in a little chignon. One of my interviewers had this gorgeous mane of kinky curly hair out in a beautiful fro... I sat through the interview wishing I had worn my hair down. lol Be confident and know that any firm/company/agency that is not going to hire you b/c of your hair is NOT a place you want to be. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI am an attorney and graduated from law school in '08 and my hair was natural the whole time. I also had many concerns about how my hair would affect my progress and success not only in law school but also in the legal profession. I straightened my hair about 75% of the time (crazy heat damage; I don't do this any more) but when I didn't straighten I would do braid-outs ect. I didn't use any accessories and I never wore a headband. Sine graduation I have always interviewed with a twist-outs or braid-outs and I haven't had any issues. I would say that you have to just be confident and not self-conscience because I truly think people can sense it. One of my close friends from law school has a twa and 4b hair and she has also gone to interviews with her natural kinks and curls and she feels as though she was not received well (she believes that possibly my 3a/b hair was easier to receive). She truly felt like she suffered in interviews for firms and such, no way to know whether it was her hair bc I know many people who have 4a/b natural hair who have been extremely successful, it all has to do with being comfortable in your skin and exuding confidence. Go in there and rock your hair and show them why you will be an excellent addition to their program!!
ReplyDeletecheck out the cinnabuns style on coilycrowns.com I think it is a great professional neat style....
ReplyDeleteTo echo what others have said I would focus more on showing your passion and enthusiasm. I wouldn't try anything tooo drastic or different...just because I have always learned not to try anything too drastic before a major event because if you hate it that messes up ur aura lol. Check out the cinnabuns style found here http://coilycrowns.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/motorcitymoxies-cinna-buns/ Good Luck
I would do a wash and go. It will just look like short curly hair.
ReplyDeleteMy hair is 4b and the exact length you're talking about. You can do one of two things. Do a braid out on wet hair with shea butter. Dry your hair overnight, take out the braids, and then pin it up in sections to make an updo. OR, you can do a blowout and then pin it into a chignon. Either way, your hair comes out looking beautiful, creative, AND professional.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things that you can do to your hair for this interview.
ReplyDeleteSome examples:
bun - http://public.fotki.com/african-cheetah/year-3/june-2009/018jpg.html
http://public.fotki.com/african-cheetah/year-3/june-2009/022jpg.html
http://public.fotki.com/african-cheetah/year-3/june-2009/023jpg.html#media
twists - http://public.fotki.com/african-cheetah/year-3/september-2009/012jpg.html
twists in an up do - http://public.fotki.com/african-cheetah/year-3/february-2009/0130091821.html
http://public.fotki.com/african-cheetah/year-3/february-2009/0130091820b.html#media
http://public.fotki.com/african-cheetah/year-3/february-2009/0207091750a.html#media
http://public.fotki.com/african-cheetah/year-4/february-2010/0202001157.html
http://public.fotki.com/african-cheetah/year-4/february-2010/downsized-0202001157c.html#media
http://public.fotki.com/african-cheetah/year-4/february-2010/0202001158.html#media
Thanks maneandchic and all of her blog fans for your comments. The interview went really well. I did a twist out with bigger twists and parted it on the left. I did overcompensate a little by wearing a plain pendant necklace from my school's president. I also wore an extremely conservative (but still stylish) suit with a plain. Instead of my super sharp high Escada pumps, I wore a lower more conservative (put still cute) pair. I have no idea whether I have been accepted to the school but I did find out today that I got into a different law school in the same city! Yea! Thanks again.
ReplyDelete