“The truth is that I wouldn’t want to work for a company that would choose not to hire me over something as trivial as my hairstyle..”

That’s the spirit !!

But what you are talking about is corporate conformity and it has its gender nuances, but it applies to men just as much. Perhaps because men have been more prevalent in the corporate ranks for longer, they have become more accustomed to conforming.

In fact, from my corporate experience, women have had more latitude in how they present themselves than men. This is a female privilege. You may have survived with your long curls, but I don’t think a man could wear his hair that way at all. On the other hand, if you wanted a short cut, it probably would be fine.