new thread
I have been sworn as a police officer back in February. I have been growing out my hair. I don’t have a pic but it resembles Tom Cruise’s hair from MI:2 but my hair is shorter on the sides and the back. (http://outnow.ch/Media/Img/2000/MissionImpossible2/movie.fs/01?w=575&h=382). Apparently, the higher-ups got the word that I have “long hair” and yesterday they sent a messenger (my direct supervisor) to talk to me about cutting or adjusting my hair and handed me these guidelines…..
"The hair of male police officers shall be contoured to the general shape of the head, exposing the major portion of the ear, and shall not extend beyond the collar. Hair shall be trimmed at the back, sides, and above the ears to blend with the hairstyle."
My hair is not that long and certainly doesn't interfere with my job. The length on the back of my head reaches to almost to the middle of my neck. On my sides the length reaches past my ear.
I don’t use gel or any styling products (my hair is straight btw). So I let my hair flow freely while I'm working. Is it possible that if use gel or some other product, and I can “scrunch” up my hair to make it look shorter than it really is. I would probably have to trim the length at the back of my head though.
I don’t want to quit my job but I’m finally proud of what my hair looks. I need some advice!
Thanks
Nick
The police is one thing I know I couldn't do (besides the fact I wouldn't be very good) as I know that I'd have to conform to short hair.
It's ridiculous really. I mean the women can have long hair so why can't the men? Although saying that, my sister's a police officer and even she's been instructed to cut her hair.
Obviously, they have a dress code to adhere to and being the Police, they obviously want all their officers to look smart and tidy.
The only thing I can think of is to try and wear it so it's long as it can possibly be that's acceptable to them. I don't know if they accept anything over an inch/two inches on males.
Wow, that's a tough one...
Is your hair long in front? If your bangs regularly fall across your eyes, then that part of your hair can easily be slicked back to stay pretty solidly in-place with gel and/or hairspray. My guess is that this might be your superior officer's main complaint, --- which if you are used to letting your hair move about freely (with no gel) at work, is bound to become noticeable to them.
I've never worked for anything even remotely as conservative as the police force; but when I was younger, used to work for conservative religious organizations who always had a "dress code" restricting male employees' hair length. Hooking my hair behind my ears, and plastering my bangs securely back to keep it out of my face was the only way I ever got to achieve even so much as "long-ISH" hair back then. But, the good news is that most bosses only notice how far down onto the collar the back of your hair lands, if you're succesfully able to disguise the length in front.
Since you say you want to stay in this profession, --- and I doubt you can "fight" them on this issue --- my suggestion is: when you go in for your next trim, have your stylist maybe cut the back a little more noticeably shorter (to get your boss off your back about your hair length, and make him feel you've totally complied); but keep the length in front as long as you can possibly get away with. And then on your first day back to work after this trim, slick the bangs back as a regular practice at work from there on.
On your days off, you'll have fun not bothering with gel, etc., by just letting your hair flow about freely; but it definitely sounds like the only way you'll ever be able to keep any length at all on your head in this profession is to never be casual about this while on-duty.
- Ken in San Francisco
Hi Ken,
Thank you so much! I would have to apply gel (alcohol) to my hair to get that slick look (as well makes it look shorter).
Nick
You don't even say what country you are in. I have heard that NYPD now allow long hair, but I think they have to wear it up, which is only any good if it's already really long.
That is correct, there are nypd officers with dreads, ponytails and everything else. Only rule is they have to wear it up.
Source I have seen a couple of male longhaired police officers here.
I can certainly sympathize with you, but as much as I love long hair I really think that it is a very bad idea in the military and para-military organizations. In the event of a fight (hand to hand combat) long hair would almost certainly be grabbed and this could easily put the officer in serious jeopardy.
Which I suppose is the reason that the NYPD insist that police officers of both sexes put their hair up when on duty, and pretty much every other police force insists on the same for female officers. It isn't necessary to actually cut it off, though, just another dumb regulation for males in most such organisations.