WHAT TO WEAR WHEN IT COMES TO HAIR / GUEST FEATURE / SPRING 2016 • CAPITALIZE / 29 WHAT TO Tip 2 Hairstyles Tip 3 Beards for men Your choice of hairstyle will depend on Many managers and senior staff are your personality, the texture of your conflicted about the appropriateness WEAR WHEN hair, the effort required to maintain it, of beards. This is an especially important and what actually suits you. When it consideration if your position involves comes to colour, you want the focus frequent interaction with clients. IT COMES to be on your skills and talents rather Here are some tips and advice if you than on your vibrant blue or purple want to sport a beard at the office: hair. Choose colours and highlights that • Keep it well trimmed. TO HAIR are not extreme, yet define your style. • If you have very dark hair, a beard For the best effect, choose a shade may make you look stern and unap- SOME HAIR TIPS TO FOLLOW… ON that harmonizes with your skin tone proachable. and your natural hair colour. • In conservative industries, stubble THE DAYS WE AREN’T ALREADY can be perceived as if you had a Hairstyle tips for women rough night out and forgot to shave. STRUGGLING WITH A BAD HAIR DAY If your hair is long or worn in a high • To avoid that awkward in-between ponytail, it can make you look less By Joanne Blake, AICI CIP phase of starting a beard and getting experienced. While hair does not have it to a presentable stage, you might to be short, it should appear well- want to start growing your beard managed and controlled. Book a styling while you are on vacation. lesson with your salon and they will be happy to show you sophisticated and In summary WHEN YOU LOOK AFTER a business’ financ- modern ways to wear it off your face When it comes to your personal brand, es or someone’s personal affairs, cli- while still looking professional. A hair- it’s all about making informed choices. ents expect you to look trustworthy. style that never goes out of style for Ask yourself these three questions: does Accountants who present themselves women is the bob. Graduated bobs work it make you look better, does it support in a neat and professional manner are well and there is also a new style called your professional image, and does it perceived to be organized, intelligent, the “lob,” which is a bit of a longer bob support your organization’s brand? C and articulate. If you take care of your and is attractive on most women. personal brand, clients will extrapolate from that and assume you will take Hairstyle tips for men good care of theirs. Graduated bobs Ask your stylist to recommend hair work well and there products that are especially suited for Corporate image consultants are is also a new style fielding more questions than ever called the “lob.” your hair type and texture. If your hair about the suitability of beards, avant- is very fine or thinning, a shorter cut garde hairstyles, and bold hair colour will look more distinguished. The ‘hip- at the office. ster’ look that is currently in vogue While the rules have relaxed some- (closely cropped sides and fuller on what in recent years, accounting has the top) is attractive on young and always been a conservative profession. youthful men, but take caution that it’s You need to balance your own per- not too extreme. sonal style with the expectations of your clients. If your hair is very Below are some tips to consider: fine or thinning, a Tip 1 Know your industry shorter cut will look more distinguished. Our career advice is to look around at the leaders in your organization. How do they wear their hair? Do any of the men have a beard? Exercise caution if you are younger and less established in the organization or with a client. There is often an unwritten dress code, which can have more impact on your career and upward mobility than a written dress code. As a career-enhanc- Dark beards ing move, we advise professionals may make you emulate the dress of the movers and look stern and shakers in your company. The same unapproachable. Joanne Blake, AICI CIP, is the founder of Style for Success, Canada’s premier team of corporate image consultants, advice goes for facial hair, beards, business etiquette experts, and ‘savvy not stuffy’ speakers and hairstyle, and colour. trainers. They work with organizations and leaders who recognize the importance of a professional image and business etiquette skills in building brand and meeting client expectations to generate trust, credibility, and profit..