I have never been able to do anything "professional" with my hair besides keeping it in a ponytail. I once got my hair professionally straightened for kicks and giggles and it was great until I needed to shower; I've never been able to straighten it on my own in a way that doesn't pop into curls at the slightest humidity. I've finally learned to take care of it and get it cut so it looks nice, but it will never look professional: very curly white people hair, except at the level of TV people with constant upkeep, always reads professionally as messy. (I'm not denying that it's worse for black women, obviously -- but I can only comment personally on my experience of having a jewfro.)

I've never been harassed for it, though, except by my sister, who kept pointedly leaving flatirons at my house.