I don’t think it would be a problem as long as you tie them back/secure them during your shift? I don’t think your manager can criticize them for being too long if they’re not in the way? Same with girls with just long straight hair, it may be long but at the end of the day it’s tied back in a ponytail or something so it’s not in the way. I think you should get them!

I’m pretty sure that’s just an excuse to cover up their racial discrimination because as long as it is tied up and out of the way it shouldn’t really matter how long they are.

Don't even ask your manager - just do you. You are not required to run your personal hair styling choices by your manager. Any hair is appropriate as long as its clean and pulled back out of the way. Braids are the best really because you have less chance of stray hairs falling in peoples drinks.

There's a girl at the store I go to that has braids down to her knees, but she keeps them tied back. I think your SM is tripping..

Your manager isn’t able to dictate what to do with your hair in general and especially as a person of color. Even if it’s not their intention. it’s coming across as discriminatory. They wouldn’t tell a nonPOC to not grow their hair out because they want to grow it out long or tell another nonPOC not to get hair extensions if that partner mentioned they were getting them. It’s the same with black hair and in my own experience braids are the best protective style for my hair. I pull mine back and sometimes leave two strands near the front out to frame my face. I’d get the braids and pull your hair back but if your manager is still pressed about them you should tell your DM or someone higher up.

I had a DM who wanted me to make my baristas with braids wear them in a bun instead of a ponytail..... she didn't say anything about the baristas with long hair that didn't wear braids (white). it felt really racist to me, so I had all the girls with longer hair wear it in a bun, whatever ethnicity... but yea, it wouldn't be the first time I've seem someone act that way about braids and it's really fucked up honestly. If your SM is calling you out on your braids you can put them in a bun, but if they're not calling out girls with long hair and no braids, you should ask them why. Imo braids are easy less likely to shed hair than a long ponytail.

Yeah no I have singles in right now. They just have to be held back and it's fine. Your SM is being discriminatory.

my store is very diverse and there is no problem with protective styles at my job as long as its in a ponytail or bun at the BACK of ur head but tbh ur manager has no say in ur hair what so ever… it feels kinda mixroaggressive to me

Personally I think you should go for it. Do what makes you feel comfortable. However, do keep in mind that depending on how strict your sm and dm are, they can try and raise an issue. I have long hair (below my waist) and I would wear it in a long ponytail pulled back. Basically we have a certain coworker (let’s call her the ass kissing snitch) who went to my manager and said it’s a health code violation (it’s not) and she then confronted me herself when I basically said no it’s not a violation. She then brought it back to the sm and I came prepared with documents from Starbucks dress code and the health code for my county and the sm and dm didn’t have anything. The most they could dig up was a very old (probably five years or more so older than the updated dress code) dress code requirement saying that hair must be pulled away and not long enough to “sway and hit drinks”. This was all they could find. I ended up complying with the notion that the ass kissing snitch couldn’t wear her hair long anymore either (mine is slightly longer) but hers is technically long enough that she wouldn’t be in compliance either. So far things are good, no more ponytail for me and she’s in her place.

So long story short, test the waters, be prepared if need be and do yourself

Edit, I know you asked for if black women could, just a disclaimer her and I are both white but I read far into documents and you’re technically okay if your county doesn’t have strict rules on it. We serve food not prepare it, drink preparation is a different category similar to waitressing or servers, I would look into that too.

Braids are more clean than normal hair because it’s braided and pulled back into a ponytail. You are 100% allowed to wear them

I'm really hoping there was some sort of misunderstanding, because otherwise this is very discriminatory. If you continue to get push back on this, make sure to call partner resources, as this is not ok. Good luck! I would have absolutely no problem with this if you were a partner at my store.

I wear them all the time. I have a coworker who one time wore braids that touched her knees. Your manager is full of it.

that’s literally discrimination lol go get them braids love there’s literally nothing wrong with that if you keep it tied back

Your manager definitely cannot tell you that you cannot have box braids, you'll just have to keep them tied back during your shifts. If she gives you a hard time, tell her that that is discrimination (because it is) and take it above her