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Is Unnatural Coloured Hair a Problem?
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Zarkron



Joined: 26 Aug 2010
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 8:44 pm    Post subject: Is Unnatural Coloured Hair a Problem? Reply with quote

I'm currently in the process of finishing up my degree so that next year I can head off to Korea. Since the culture is a lot more conservative than Canada, I was wondering about what to do with my hair. I've been dying it crazy colours (blue, pink etc) for the last six years, currently it is red and orange. Is crazy coloured hair a no no in Korea? I always assumed it was, but I figured I might as well ask. Did anybody out there experience problems if they had funny hair? Just staring is not really an issue since I get that here, more like trouble finding jobs, or harassment? And yes, I've heard that all foreigners get harassed to a certain point, but I'm talking about real nasty stuff here.

Thanks!
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blackjack



Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: anyang

PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 8:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You are looking at becoming a teacher. How many teachers do you know that have crazy coloured hair?
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highstreet



Joined: 13 Nov 2010

PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

is this something you really need to ask?
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amnsg2



Joined: 15 Aug 2010
Location: Gumi

PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree with above, most schools would have a dress code banning unnatural hair colours so they wouldn't then hire a teacher who dyed their hair.

I had a friend who came to Seoul with bright pink dreadlocks (we were students, not teachers) and after a month she was just fed up of being stared at/ pointed at. I think she was happy that it was a talking point and she met so many more people than the rest of us boring haired people did because they just had to go and speak to her, but it's like being public property at any moment.

(Most people were curious more than anything, so when this one guy wanted to touch it she let him. Then he pulled out a lighter and tried to set her hair on fire... )
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redaxe



Joined: 01 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You have to send a headshot with your application. If you have crazy-colored hair in the application photo they probably will not even hire you.

The kids' parents are the real bosses, and they will not like having someone with unnatural (i.e. not occurring in humans) hair color teaching their children.

Korean women don't even dye their hair, if a Korean woman has hair of any color other than black, it's seen as a sign of promiscuity.
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Zarkron



Joined: 26 Aug 2010
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I figured the answers would be like this. It's just become such a part of me at this point that I had a vague feverish hope worth asking about. Thanks!
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dongjak



Joined: 30 Oct 2010

PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

redaxe wrote:


Korean women don't even dye their hair, if a Korean woman has hair of any color other than black, it's seen as a sign of promiscuity.


You know the year is 2010.
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NYC_Gal



Joined: 08 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My coteacher is an unmarried woman in her 50s. Definitely not seen as a *beep*. She's had bright red streaks in her hair last year.

Don't do it though. If you must, wait until you're here and add some color gradually.
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redaxe



Joined: 01 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 11:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dongjak wrote:
redaxe wrote:


Korean women don't even dye their hair, if a Korean woman has hair of any color other than black, it's seen as a sign of promiscuity.


You know the year is 2010.


Indeed it is. But keep in mind, it's Korea we're talking about.
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Troglodyte



Joined: 06 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 11:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dongjak wrote:
redaxe wrote:


Korean women don't even dye their hair, if a Korean woman has hair of any color other than black, it's seen as a sign of promiscuity.


You know the year is 2010.


I've seen plenty of Korean women here - young and middle aged - who have dyed hair. Almost always it's a natural-ish color. But let's be serious, how many Koreans naturally have blond or red hair? I think it's safe to say that those blond or red haired Koreans you see have colored their hair.

As far as completely unnatural colors (e.g. blue, pink, etc.), I don't think that it would be a big problem as long as you keep your hair neat and dress fashionably. I've met plenty of foreign teachers here who had pink or blue highlights. If they don't want it, they'll either reject you after seeing your photo or tell you in advance that you'd need to keep to something natural looking. If you find that you're not getting any offers, then try again with natural colored hair.
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dongjak



Joined: 30 Oct 2010

PostPosted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 12:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Troglodyte wrote:
dongjak wrote:
redaxe wrote:


Korean women don't even dye their hair, if a Korean woman has hair of any color other than black, it's seen as a sign of promiscuity.


You know the year is 2010.


I've seen plenty of Korean women here - young and middle aged - who have dyed hair. Almost always it's a natural-ish color. But let's be serious, how many Koreans naturally have blond or red hair? I think it's safe to say that those blond or red haired Koreans you see have colored their hair.


I'm not claiming that Korean women don't color their hair. I said it is 2010, nobody thinks that a Korean woman with red hair is a prostitute. Half of my students at a conservative Christian university have died hair. Kim Tae Hee has died and permed hair. The dean of my department has red streaks in her hair. I think Redaxe is exaggerating quite a bit.
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happiness



Joined: 04 Sep 2010

PostPosted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 12:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

blacks just the trend. they started dying their hair massively at the end of the 90s. then it goes to black (im guessing people are told they should look more Korean than whitey), this last time, it was jessica from SYSD, she died hers blonde, and then bam, blonde everywhere.

Old guys, even if theyre balding and have combovers, will dye it black. My hair went grey ages ago, but I keep it styled well and groomed, and I get the combover guys say my hair makes me look old. theres the old K proverb about not being able to see beyond your own nose. totally true.
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redaxe



Joined: 01 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 1:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Any of you guys seen this movie?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Hair
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Died By Bear



Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Location: On the big lake they call Gitche Gumee

PostPosted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 1:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow

Last edited by Died By Bear on Mon Dec 06, 2010 5:20 pm; edited 1 time in total
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redaxe



Joined: 01 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 1:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Frenetic wrote:
Koreans can't be too freaked out about different colored hair when they dye their dog's hair the exact same way.


Yes, great example, because dogs are very highly respected in Korean culture.
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