Should he have changed himself to get an after-school job? 

How much would you change your appearance in order to get a job? A lot of Baby Boomers and Gen Xers tell their adult children that they should never get tattoos, because they will limit their job opportunities in the future, but it’s hard to say how true that sentiment rings in 2026. A lot of people have tattoos and work white-collar jobs that don’t care that much about their appearance. If anything, it’s harder to get a waitress job if you don’t «look the part» than it is to get an office job if you have a couple of tattoos.

Unfortunately, it’s common for customer service jobs to require employees to cut their hair, remove their piercings, or have natural hair colors. They want to promote a «wholesome» look for families and old fogies alike, who freak out at the slightest hint of uniqueness. The teenager in this story had to cut his hair in order to bag groceries at a grocery store, and his mom is devastated for him. I would be too!