Wearing an Afro to a Job Interview

woman with Short AFRO FOR JOB INTERVIEW

When I first went natural, I didn’t really think nothing of it as it pertains to my current job because they are pretty open and accepting of different cultures. But as I prepare to graduate from college and embark on my career I must participate in interviews with many companies…with no insight into their corporate culture. So as a natural, how do you wear your hair to an interview?!

An interview is a potential employers first impression of you!

Well, I’ll be honest, my very first interview I was nervous…nervous about how the interviewer would react to my hair if I wore a fro and nervous that they wouldn’t be able to get past my hair to see my potential! So I did what any nervous person would do…i assimilated! lolSelfie of Woman with Natural Hair

I set my hair on rollers the night before and then in the morning I brushed and slicked it down. During the interview I was so uncomfortable…one because I was worried my hair was coiling back up and two because I wasn’t the true ME! As soon as I got home that night, I shampooed my hair and embraced my fro…vowing never to assimilate again!

And since that first interview, I have had 6 other interviews…and I wore my hair in my fro! I went in with confidence because I was myself..fro and all! And guess what…I have gotten 4 job offers and 2 callbacks for second-round interviews!

woman with Short AFRO FOR JOB INTERVIEW

So my suggestion to any naturals interviewing and looking for jobs is to be yourself…why wear a wig to an interview only to come in on your first day of work with your fro?! An interview is a two-way street, so just as the interviewer needs to know if you’d be a good fit..you should make sure your accepted as you are!

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Jocelyn Reneé

Jocelyn Reneé is a Licensed Cosmetologist, Loctician and Textured Hair Educator. She was born and raised in the Washington DC area and is a graduate of the Aveda Institute Cosmetology Science program. With over 14 years in the Hair Care Industry, from Salon Assistant to Natural Hair Blogger to Professional; Jocelyn is passionate about cultivating healthy hair.

Blog Comments

Great post and most people can spot a wig a mile away. Go natural and be yourself. If they don’t hire you because of your hair, really now, is that the kind of place you want to be employeed?

Congrats on the job offers! It pays to be true to yourself : )

OMG, I’m going through the same issue now. I gel my hair and put it in a bun and I HATE IT.

I wore two strand twist to my interview and wouldnt cha know it, i was hired lol…

hello my name is im a 20yo male with a natural afro that i hate to cut. so i was wondering what can i do with my afro when i have a job interview please and thank you

Keep your afro! Try comb coils. Very professional style for a male.

Here is a tutorial: https://digitalloctician.com/tutorial-comb-coils-gel-twists/

Best of luck on your interviews!! Always remember to be yourself.

[…] told me I needed to assimilate to succeed— It’s not a good feeling. I vividly remember straightening my hair for my first interview and feeling so uncomfortable, awkward, and distracted because instead of focusing on the interview […]

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