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Q: Hairy situation in the workplace
As I write this topic I am beginning to realise how ridiculous it sounds but it is a genuine query, does your employer ever tell you how to wear your hair or what colour it should be? My hair is black and white when I was 15 due to unfortunate genetics my hair started going white but I never was personally bothered or hassled about it.
Recently the leader in my workplace has started noticing my hair close up, even other teachers comment in shock maybe due to the sunlight the white is more visible and they keep telling me to colour it or pull the white hair out. I usually get the ‘you’re young why is your hair is so white’ and I want to say ‘you’re always stressing me out with these kind of comments that’s why’. Bear in mind I don’t think I have seen many people with the salt and pepper look, the females at work all seem to have a purple or red hair look and the leaders a jet black straight from the box style.
I did pay a very expensive visit to a salon and had jet black hair for 2 weeks but the white reappears every 2 to 3 weeks so I personally feel it is a waste constantly covering the white. I had never been self conscious about this until now so how do I tell them to back off because I tell colleagues I am not worried about it but they look at me like I should be institutionalised.
This afternoon we were outside and a few colleagues felt the urgent need to pluck my hair and inspect it like it was something horrendous and one of them came behind me and pulled one white hair out, I ending up being pissed off, which is not necessary as I know there not trying to be horrible but what can I do to hush them up??
That's a horrid situation to be in.
If it were me I would say it's a local trait from your home country. Maybe also make up a story about white hair being considered lucky and that you consider yourself blessed to have it.
It sounds as if you work in a public school with lots of party members.
Point out their shortcomings. I bet some are overweight, underweight, have rotten teeth, bad breath whatever. See how they like it.
Tarzan:
I love this reply. It gives them a real taste of their own medicine.
Cut your hair short, crew cut like. This makes the white less visible. Or keep your hair short and visit the barber once a month for a haircut and dye. That should keep your white hair at bay. If your colleagues keep bugging you about it, tell them it's rude to do so, in a nice manner. Personally, I think it's an invasion of privacy.
In China and Vietnam, I have seen people going through a lot of effort and expense to hide a few white hair. It seems to mean a lot to some people... And appearances means so much here 
Don't let other people insecurity stressing you. It might be a local custom, but you have your own customs. There's a local custom about not making your guest uncomfortable too... Stand your point politely : you say that you feel better accepting yourself as you are (having white hairs), rather than trying to be what you are not (fully black hairs). If they insist, mention someone bad smell, beer belly, or what not.
tell them your a cancer carrier but it does not affect you and touching the white hairs will give them cancer. might not have a job anymore, but they will definitely leave your hair alone.
Hit them where it hurts, when Chinese point out something negative about me I don't hesitate a second to tell them how they are fat, short, ugly, smelly, ... usually they play offended, as if it was acceptable when it's a foreigner but rude when you do the same to a Chinese.
Don't let them bully you or they will keep doing it and totally destroy your self-esteem.
A right hook and a jab to their beer gut should work well...
I have seen 7 year olds with white hairs here in China. Not 1 but many. I think it is the crappy diet and pollution.
Stiggs:
I have seen kids with white hair too. It could be the pollution and poor diet, I'm sure that doesn't help, but I think stress from their family, relentless homework and the fact that they never get the chance to play and be kids also plays a big part.
Lord_hanson:
good point, perhaps not playing outside causes a lack of vitamin D. This might be the cause.
I changed my hair colour a couple of times when i was in China.
When anyone commented i swore blind it was natural for foreigners hair to change colour between summer and winter - and they believed me.
I said it with such conviction they stopped commenting.
@Maggie above summed it up well 
Just tell them that you like having white hair on your head.
Yeah, what happened to 'Don't touch me? Go home and touch your mum!'
There's none of your business! Color of my hair or my eyes!
I usually have my mum's ph. no. ready, if anybody wants to file complains----> when it's sunny, and I'm in the good mood!
However, if there's cloudy outside, I usually just say 'Fork off!' Very quick pronunciation.
If my GF would come home with such a complaint, I would get her Magnum and license...Am I too 'radical'?
