o/t hair school sucked today!

I am so frustrated right now. Today was my first day of cosmetology school, and this school has a no visible tattoos or piercings policy. So before i started I saw the woman in charge of that stuff and said to her 'I can remove everything thats removable, and hide everything that I can cover, will that meet your policy' and she said yes, that would be fine.
I have tattoos on my hands and face, which I obviously can't hide regardless of my outfit. So today she tells me I'm expected to wear make up to cover those.
Now this is irritating... but all the more so if I tell you that I saw multiple other students with visible tattoos walking around with them showing.
So I say 'I'm just trying to understand your policy here, I can wear long sleeves and a high neck, I have no problem with that, but I see other people with visible tattoos walking around so I'm not sure I understand your policy' and she said 'I can't police what everyone does'
So I say 'so what youre saying is, I need to wear make up to cover my tattoos, but its ok for other people to show theirs?' and she said we were done and I had to leave her room.
Apparently I will be sent home every day if I don't comply with their 'policy' and she will be personally 'speaking to the owner of the school' about me.
I said to her, 'I sat here in front of you looking exactly the way I do now and said I can do everything possible to meet your policy, but obviously I have things that I cant hide... and now youre telling me I have to wear make up when I see not only students but staff members walking around with visible tattoos?' and she said she took what I said to mean that I would comply 100% with their policy.
I'm sorry... I know this is off topic but I'm so frustrated and upset right now I cant even think straight!
Not only that, but I'm expected to wear a band aid over my lip plug, which by the way is going to look much more 'unprofessional' than without.

I agree with elvira.You are completely justified.You've done everything and more to comply with their dress code.Its really crappy your being targeted. 

where are you going, a pentacostal holiness cosmetology school?....

Edited by nursie - May 30 2006 at 6:43pm

wow..this is HORRIBLE

I actually did talk to one girl who had tattoos on her arms and I asked her if they gave her a hard time about it, and she said yes, they tell her every day to cover up but she has never been sent home because of it.

It really seems to me as though its a personal dislike for me... I'm not sure what other conclusion there is when other people are able to show their tattoos but I'm being asked to cover everything and wear make up to hide whats on my face and hands.

I actually went and got the make up that they told me to buy and it doesnt even begin to hide what i have... so I think what I'll do is put it on as thinly as I can, and wear long sleeves and if they say anything it's going to be a case of 'ok... I'm wearing the make up you recommended to me and this is as good as it gets'

What I'm failing to understand is... ok, they have this policy but I sat in front of her looking exactly as I do now and said I'll do everything I can to comply with the policy but obviously I cant hide everything. She said it was ok.. and now she's saying it isnt. But only for me, apparently its ok for other people.

There are other school I could go to... but they're kind of a hike... if things don't iprove here though I may just have to travel...

I'm so upset right now, I was so excited and so looking forward to it and its just beyond ridiculous.

Can you say discrimination lawsuit? I dunno, I'm a tattooed cosmetologist for 26 years...I got sent home from beauty school for wearing pink leg warmers...lol, well it was the 80's. How can they see how you look, take your money, and then pull this crap? Don't give up on being a hairdresser if its what you really want to do. Just find a school, get through it and get working...that's when the real school begins anyway.

By the way, Dunebug, you're DARLING... I'd go to you in a heartbeat for my cosmetology services!    

Today was a little better. I wore a long sleeved t shirt and they made me put a band aid over my lip... but they didnt send me home.
It was crazy though, all the people I saw yesterday with tattoos showing had on long sleeves today, they girl I talked to yesterday had tape and band aids all up and down her arms to hide her stuff. I felt kind of bad about it because I know its because of me.... I feel like I should warn people not to talk to me in case they get in trouble!

Thank you everyone for all your kind words... I like your tattoo Tangles!

I am not sure if reporting this woman would get me anywhere... its unfair but since it is a policy that they have in writing they are probably within their rights to enforce it. And now they are making a point of enforcing it with everyone so I probably dont have a leg to stand on :(
I'm just going to stick with long sleeves (its only a hundred degrees out... whats the big deal, right?) and a band aid and keep my head down and hopefully it will blow over...

hi dunebug poor you its just not fair that creative people are not allowed to be creative!! why dont you really piss her off and cover your tattoos on your face with band aid for a laugh!!! when she asks what youre playing at just tell her that the make up doesnt work and you really dont wanna be thrown out so you thought you`d hide your tattoos the only way you could!! then see how she likes THEM apples!!!

You should cover with those baindaids that have crazy designs on them.