Beards, tattoos and hair at work in Brazil: can the employer ban them?

An employer can require uniforms and grooming rules linked to safety, hygiene or the nature of the job (CLT, art. 456-A). What it cannot do is impose unjustified aesthetic standards that affect the employee's identity, race, religion or personal freedom. Blanket bans on tattoos, beards or natural Afro-textured hair have been treated as discriminatory by the Labor Courts.

Quick summary

• Allowed: uniforms, badges, hairnets and beard covers in kitchens and food plants, PPE that requires a clean-shaven face.
• Not allowed: banning tattoos without a reason linked to the job, requiring hair straightening, forbidding braids or beards as a "standard".
• Hiring: rejecting a candidate over tattoos or appearance can lead to damages.
• Religion: religious symbols and clothing require careful, respectful treatment.
• Test: the rule needs an objective reason and must apply to everyone.

When a rule is legitimate

1. Safety: respirators with a face seal may require a shaved face to work.
2. Hygiene: kitchens and hospitals can require tied-back hair, caps and beard covers.
3. Uniform: the employer can set the dress code and include logos (art. 456-A).

When it is discrimination

• Requiring straight, short or "tidy" hair in a way that, in practice, targets Black people.
• Banning visible tattoos with no link to the activity.
• Treating men and women differently without justification.
• Exposing the employee to comments and jokes about their appearance.

Frequently asked questions

Can my employer make me shave my beard?

Only for an objective safety or hygiene reason linked to the job, such as a face-sealing mask.

Can I be dismissed for getting a tattoo?

Dismissing someone only for that, with no link to the job, may be considered discriminatory.

Is requiring hair straightening allowed?

No. A rule restricting Afro-textured or braided hair may amount to racial discrimination.

Read more in this series

• Uniforms and PPE
• Discriminatory dismissal
• Job interviews: what employers cannot ask
• Index: complete guide to labor rights

Topic: this guide is part of Harassment, discrimination and privacy at work, with all the guides on the subject.