PERSONAL GROOMING

PERSONAL GROOMING
Grooming means dressing well, to be presentable to others. You may want to give a little more attention to
how you dress at work because what you wear may be substantially influencing your career path.
Although nothing takes the place of talent, hard work, innate ability and ambition, looking your
professional best in the workplace can give you a Competitive advantage. It simply means dressing in a
way that projects an image of the sophisticated, successful working individual you are or would like to
become.
When you are fresh and well groomed, it creates a positive impression. Research has shown that good
looking people have a 20% advantage over the not so groomed ones. If you are a genius, perhaps you can
get away with anything. If you are not, though, here are some basic rules to conform to:
1. Daily showers are a necessity.
2. Hair must be shampooed at least once in 2 days and conditioned once a week.
3. A hairstyle to suit your face and personality must be chosen.
4. Eyes, nose and ears need to be cleaned in privacy and not in public.
5. Teeth need brushing and flossing every morning and night, and rinsing after every meal. Make
sure not to eat any pungent food during office hours. If you do, rinse your mouth thoroughly and
eat some mouth freshener.
6. Nails should be clipped and filed short for men and be of medium length for women. It is
understood that medium length nails have to be clean and if painted, the enamel should not be
chipped. Bright and zany nails are great for parties but not for work.
7. Toes and feet too should be taken care of. The feet should be kept clean and crack free. The
toenails should go through a routine of cleaning. Ladies can paint them in mild colours for work
and try and have a pedicure once every fortnight.
GROOMING –MEN
DRESS: As a rule, the simpler the better.
 SHIRTS
Colours: White, off white, pale, blue shirts are preferred; though you may wear dark colored shirts
too.(given below are the colours preferred by professionals).
It is important to button up your shirt till the collar button
 TROUSERS: They should preferably be dark though you may wear beige and with a dark colored
shirt. Try to have at least one pair of black trousers
Trousers may or may not have pleats
 TIES: To play it safe choose a traditional silk tie, No loud colours or patterns. Given below are
some well accepted colour sand patterns…you may be wise to avoid ties with images and designer
logos Your tie should co-ordinate with your attire the knot should be a perfect triangle… Do not
enter a clinic like this (observe the tie and the shirt button)
 SOCKS: Choose a color that coordinates with your trousers (usually black, dark gray, dark brown
or dark blue) Make sure they are long enough not to expose your skin when you sit down. As a
thumb rule, do not wear white socks. Wear clean socks to avoid bad odour
 SHOES: Wear a good pair of leather shoes-black and brown/tan shoes. Shoes must be polished
everyday Do not wear shoes that look casual. Also, do not wear shoes with worn out heels.
 BELTS: Wear only formal belts with a sleek buckle. As thumb rule, match your belt to your
shoes.
 WATCHES: Preferably wear leather strapped watches. If you wear a metal strapped watch, make
sure that it fits the wrist well
 HAIRSTYLES: Hairstyles should be clean and neat, avoiding extreme styles or colors, and
trimmed above the collar leaving the ear uncovered. Sideburns should not extend below the earlobe
or onto the cheek. If worn, mustaches should be neatly trimmed and may not extend beyond or
below the corners of the mouth. Men are expected to be clean shaven;
Earrings and other body piercing are unacceptable.
GROOMING –WOMEN
 DRESS: You may wear Salwaar kameez or formal shirt/trousers. Preferably choose small prints or
self colors. And tight fitting clothes Avoid plunging necklines, sleeveless. You may wear a tunic
with a pair of formal trousers.
 HAIR: extreme styles or colorations, or unnatural colors
 SHOES/SANDALS: Shoes with 1 ½-inch heels are standard. You may wear a pair with smaller
heels or a flat pair. Stick with a black/brown pair. Be sure your shoes are polished and that your
heels are intact. Do not wear colorful sandals. Avoid heels and sandals with heels. Avoid white
colored sandals as they get dirty easily. If you do, clean them well
 BAGS: Apart from your working bag if you are carrying an additional bag, preferably, carry a
black or a brown one
 ACCESSORIES:
 Earrings: Wear stubs or small rings. Do not wear hoops or dangling earrings
 Bracelets/Bangles: You may wear either a bracelet or a bangle. Avoid both.
Avoid chunky bracelets or too many bangles.
 Rings: Keep them simple and not chunky.
 Chains: You may wear thin chains with small lockets. Do not wear ornamental/ chunky
jewelry even if it is an occasion