LHCer Meets Her Match: "Professional Hair"

[mallorykay13]

I'm a long time LHCer, and in that time I've advanced my career! :cheese: My problem is: I am the "face" of the company and I've been heat styling. Is a simple braid with clean hair "Professional"? Any advice is appreciated.

[Wingspan]

Hmm.. "professional" is not a word I think about when I think about braids.. A braided bun, yes. Of course what is acceptable depends on your work environment a lot, but in general, I don't feel braids that hang down are particularly professional looking.

[bparnell75]

I agree that a bun is always acceptable. You could have opportunity to show off your toys daily. Or just go with a simple stick or fork if you prefer a minimalist route.

[mallorykay13]

Thank you guys

[Nini]

I would definitely say a braid was fine, but then you Americans are weird about hair in the workplace. As the face of the company maybe you can update the standards :)

[LongHairFaerie]

I've been doing some job interviews lately and it's never felt right to wear my hair in a braid, at least at my length.

How long is your braided hair? If it's below mid-back I'd say probably bun it.

[angel-baby]

I don’t necessarily think heat-styling is the worst thing, if you’re using a heat protectant and not doing it every day. I can usually get heat-styled curls to last 2-3 days if I sleep in a satin bonnet.

Of course, if you don’t want to use heat at all, there’s always heatless curls, ballerina bun/chignon, sleek ponytails, or a French twist.

I work for a law firm, so I have to keep my hair presentable but the standards aren’t too restrictive. I usually just wear it down and wavy, or in a twist with a pretty claw clip.

[Chromis]

Just wear it up in a neat bun. A French Twist is pretty universally business-like.

[lapushka]

To me, but all this is very personal, a French braid down the back, or a simple English braid to one side are both professional styles in my book.

[Rainbouu]

In my opinion a neat braid is professional. If you wanted to stop heat styling, just make sure your hair is smoothly pulled into its style, I tame my flyaway with a minescule ammount of oil on my fingers. And then as others have said, if you have a braided bun with a nice fork, I wouldn't just see it as professional I'd probably think "wow, what a classy hairstyle." Though I do understand what people are referring to with Americans being weird...in some places polite people would just assume it's religious, personal, or cultural to have a very long braid in the workplace. Some less polite people do get riled up and think the hair at least shouldn't be "loose", or they seem to be a little judgmental of women being too feminine in the workplace. Your milage may vary, but I say be yourself, it may make others at your company feel they can be themselves and still professional too!

[barnet_fair]

Congratulations on your career advancement, mallorykay13! Onwards and upwards!

Yes, a simple braid or ponytail with clean hair is professional. However, as a European I must defer to Americans who say it's different over there. I've certainly learnt something from this thread.

I think the most important thing if you're the "face" of a company (unless it's in the creative industries) is to be consistent and have a signature style. Don't vary it day to day: professionalism is about reliability and consistency. Any style you have to fiddle with (e.g. moving bits of hair out of your face or behind your shoulders) is unprofessional.

I can only think of one example at the moment, Yulia Tymoshenko with her iconic coronet braid:

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/mcs/media/images/73156000/jpg/_73156752_021242940-1.jpg

[foreveryours]

Microbraids look awesome

[ArtOfNoot]

I think the most important thing if you're the "face" of a company (unless it's in the creative industries) is to be consistent and have a signature style. Don't vary it day to day: professionalism is about reliability and consistency. Any style you have to fiddle with (e.g. moving bits of hair out of your face or behind your shoulders) is unprofessional.

I can only think of one example at the moment, Yulia Tymoshenko with her iconic coronet braid:

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/mcs/media/images/73156000/jpg/_73156752_021242940-1.jpg

I'm with barnet_fair
Also that cornet braid is FANTASTIC

[ETJ CURLS]

I wear an english braid to work very often, but I tend to tuck it under or bun it. Earrings are key, I think to making most simple hair styles more professional looking.

[Christi May]

Congratulations on your career advancement, mallorykay13! Onwards and upwards!

Yes, a simple braid or ponytail with clean hair is professional. However, as a European I must defer to Americans who say it's different over there. I've certainly learnt something from this thread.

I think the most important thing if you're the "face" of a company (unless it's in the creative industries) is to be consistent and have a signature style. Don't vary it day to day: professionalism is about reliability and consistency. Any style you have to fiddle with (e.g. moving bits of hair out of your face or behind your shoulders) is unprofessional.

I can only think of one example at the moment, Yulia Tymoshenko with her iconic coronet braid:

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/mcs/media/images/73156000/jpg/_73156752_021242940-1.jpg

I have never seen her before, but that is a nice head of hair! Very Princess Leia-y. I'll have to look her up.