Covering up hair

[Lucy Ross]

My hair's in that not long but not short stage, and kind of messy too.  Any advice on covering up stray bits?  I wear a stocking cap some mornings when my boss shows up - I'm a security guard - that covers everything, but she likes to crank the heat in our shack, I really sweat sometimes.  With a ballcap a lot of stray strands stick out the sides, you can tell it's way too long for our dress code.

Of course I could always just come out, which I need to do soon.  Might do it tomorrow morning, actually, making this all possibly a moot point.  Anyway, any advice would be welcome.

[Laurie]

 Hi Lucy,

  Since I am of no help to you in answering the hair question I will jump on the bandwagon for coming out to your work provided it is safe for you to do so. Do not want any untoward happening to occur with your job. We will have to get together again for coffee some day.

Hugs,
  Laurie

[MissKatie]

hi Lucy. there's only really a few options.
1. product to keep it down and neat.
2. hair grips and clips. You can get 30 plain hair coloured clips really cheap and they'll keep your hair in place and are still professional.

good luck

[Kendra]

When hair is that in-between length yeah it can get a bit frustrating - mine stuck out sideways.  At the point I was wearing snow hats all summer I got fed up and went to a salon for a straightening perm (called Brazilian Blowout or Japanese Hair Straightening).  That's easier to do if presenting female - I was presenting male at the time and the radical change in hair style did get noticed but my hair was easier to manage from that point. 

A simpler solution is consider which shampoo and conditioner you are using, and don't shampoo every day if it isn't necessary (shampooing too frequently causes hair to dry out).  I used to just grab anything called "shampoo" but I'm much pickier now and choose products specific to my hair type.  Hair salons recommend things with argan oil, a higher quality shampoo/conditioner can make your hair easier to manage.  Or some anti-frizz stuff to spray in - a good salon can quickly figure out what you need.  Products sold in salons are usually expensive, but if you ask for the product type or category you can often find an equivalent. 

[Chloe]

hi Lucy. there's only really a few options.
1.
2.

3. A third option: Have them change the dress policy! My company did and you'd be amazed how many *ponytails* came out from under ball-caps (company, of course) overnight!

My nickname actually became *Ponytail*!

[MissKatie]

3. A third option: Have them change the dress policy! My company did and you'd be amazed how many *ponytails* came out from under ball-caps (company, of course) overnight!

My nickname actually became *Ponytail*!

whoops I didn't mean to adhere to the company policy, more to keep it under control

[Lucy Ross]

I actually bought a big bottle of argan oil shampoo the other day; a while I ago I read about going easy on the shampoo, too, so I only use it every 3 or 4 days.  I'll look for some anti-frizz stuff. My hair's a big mishmash of greys, I don't know if one clip would cover things up and be unnoticeable.  But I'll give that a try.

One of the guys who runs another site in my company has a ponytail down to his waist; he keeps it tied up in a bun though.  Together with his beady eyes, enormous ear piercings, and soft spoken air of hostility he really reminds me of this guy:



Oddly enough in a chain email discussing an employee who didn't want to trim his scruffy hair this guy brought up the possible scenario where a male announced they were transitioning, and then what?      He brought up all this stuff about how fashions have changed through the centuries, which no one was interested in.  So, he might be an unlikely ally for me.  We worked together for a few months and probably exchanged, oh, 30 sentences.  "Make sure to punch out before going home, dirtbag!" 

[MissKatie]

I actually bought a big bottle of argan oil shampoo the other day; a while I ago I read about going easy on the shampoo, too, so I only use it every 3 or 4 days.  I'll look for some anti-frizz stuff. My hair's a big mishmash of greys, I don't know if one clip would cover things up and be unnoticeable.  But I'll give that a try.

One of the guys who runs another site in my company has a ponytail down to his waist; he keeps it tied up in a bun though.  Together with his beady eyes, enormous ear piercings, and soft spoken air of hostility he really reminds me of this guy:



Oddly enough in a chain email discussing an employee who didn't want to trim his scruffy hair this guy brought up the possible scenario where a male announced they were transitioning, and then what?      He brought up all this stuff about how fashions have changed through the centuries, which no one was interested in.  So, he might be an unlikely ally for me.  We worked together for a few months and probably exchanged, oh, 30 sentences.  "Make sure to punch out before going home, dirtbag!"

it sounds like as long as it's tidy you're fine so if anyone asks then you are growing your hair. lots of cis guys grow their hair these days so I doubt it'd be an issue