Keep or cover?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : General Graffiti : One Thread

So, I went and did this silly fuchsia streak thing in my hair, and now I'm undecided whether to leave them in, or cover them up. Dario thinks it's cute, but admits that it may not go over well in the workplace.

I hate to fully give in to the whole "corporate drone" image thing, but I also don't want to look like a total eejit. What do you think? Have you ever done anything a little more "out there" than you normally would? Were there any consequences? Were you glad you did it?

-- Dawn (amgraffiti@superplin.com), January 11, 2001

Answers

That depends. Does the new "do" make you feel as if the real you has finally emerged? Or do you tend to pull your hat over your ears if someone so much as glances in your direction? Forget the job. Forget Dario (sorry, Dario)-- how much do YOU like the look?

If you can, live with it for another week or so. See if it adds a little magic to your life (I'm so shallow, aren't I?) Then make your decision. And remind me to tell you about my blonde streak fiasco two weeks before the big video. Oy!

Love your journal! Camille

-- Camille West (folkdiva@adelphia.net), January 11, 2001.


Don't be a pussy.

-- Kymm Zuckert (hedgehog@hedgehog.net), January 11, 2001.

Ah, but see, I am a pussy! Kind of, anyway.

I don't know, I don't know... I like it. I don't sit here thinking about it all day, but every once in a while it occurs to me, "Hey, you've got pink hair!", and it makes me smile to myself.

I only recoil slightly in horror at the thought of what some of the reactions will be. See, the problem is, most of the people I'm dealing with aren't my clients, and I know for a fact that Mario will not approve of this look. I'm kind of curious about just what he'll say, actually.

I have some pretty low-key group meetings with Mountain Client, so we'll see how that goes. Tuesday afternoon I'll see Mario, which should be... interesting.

If I'm going to cover it up, I basically have to do it Saturday. One more day of thinking, and hearing other people's opinions helps!

-- Dawn (dawn@superplin.com), January 11, 2001.


Aw, sheesh, Dawn. Live a little (so I can live vicariously). My former supervisor's wife was in her 40s but had the kickiest, neatest haircut & color job--she carried it off with flair & aplomb. Nobody ever thought less of her--it was just Chris, y'know? So, if you just sashay in to the meetings with your hair very short & fuschia streaked, maybe slightly gelled, and take it for granted that everyone will accept it, they will. In other words, keep it. Brazen it out. If Mario grumbles, well, pray tell, what's the difference? As far as I can tell, he grumbles about EVERYTHING.

-- Kate (kwoodman@infomagic.com), January 11, 2001.

Dawn, go with the fuschia - if only for the fact that your public is *dying* to hear client reaction.

I had to go through an unplanned image workover when I lost about 10kg in a very short time through stress - because the stress involved a marriage breakup I also changed my hair, going from long & brown to short, layered and dark red. I have very, very conservative clients, and it was all good.

go for it!

-- Anna (anna@lucidity.au.com), January 11, 2001.



Dawn, I agree with Kate. If you make up your mind that *you* like it, you can carry it off. Feign complete confidence even if you don't have it, and no one will have a chance to disagree. However, *don't* let on that you're nervous or ask anyone if they like it. Just BE! I think it's a terrific idea for the new year. Good on ya!

-- Judy (tdfarre@attglobal.net), January 12, 2001.

Aargh! Last night, Dario had almost convinced me that I should cover it up, mainly because of the, er, "delicate" stage we're at with Very Big Client, a situation in which it would take very, very little to cause a Very Big Mess.

However... upon reading all your fabulous messages, and after due consideration, I've come up with a plan:

1) Go to Mountain Client on Monday, as planned. Ignore the hair thing entirely (it's not that hard, because despite how it sounds, I'm not exactly obsessed with the matter). Smile engagingly at any comments.

2) Meet with Mario on Tuesday. Same behavior. If--and only if-- he throws a huge stink, I'll still have time to cover it up before I have to make my big presentation to VBC.

I know it seems silly to worry about something so trivial, but you've no idea what these people are like. They are beyond conservative and traditional. At the same time, I don't even want to pretend that I'm just like them... and really, it's not as though I'm walking around with, um, a head full of purple hair (just, you know, as a random sort of example).

I also figure that the fact that all of these clients already know me, and have been working with me for several months, at least, is to my advantage. There's no need to worry about first impressions, just perhaps a rethinking of their original impression, which is probably a good thing.

We'll see what happens.

-- Dawn (dawn@superplin.com), January 12, 2001.


Dawn, you can cover the whole thing up if that's what makes you feel comfortable. But sometimes a little discomfort is enough to liven things up a little. Change one thing and find the cogs to change others.

Hell, I'd keep it. But that's just me.

PS Yes, we're dying to hear about your clients reaction, too. So?

-- Camille (folkdiva@adelphia.net), January 12, 2001.


Believe me, I will definitely let you guys know what the reactions are! So far, no one's even seen me aside from Dario (and a bunch of random strangers when we went to the movies yesterday, but I didn't go around asking them what they thought).

I'm curious, too.

-- Dawn (dawn@superplin.com), January 13, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ