Corporate beards for professionals: Navigating workplaces
Inspired by George Clooney’s salt and pepper stubble? Or maybe it’s Drake’s neat edges that have you thinking about your facial hair. Whatever your inspiration – celebrity or not – and before you craft the beard of your dreams, we need to answer the question ‘Do I have to shave for work?’
While many employers now welcome all sorts of styles, some careers could stifle your facial hair aspirations. To make sure you don’t have to shave off your hard work, we’ve taken a look at what professional beards are and how to navigate growing a beard for professionals.
Do I have to shave for work?
There are plenty of jobs out there that embrace facial hair. The bushier the better, they say! From professional, short beard styles to plaited lengths of ginger hair, these career paths won’t affect your beard goals. Some of the most common work environments you’ll find beards in the office include: Manual labour and trade work also often allow beards, as long as there aren’t any safety concerns. An extra-long beard could present significant safety concerns if you’re working with machinery, for example.
When beards in the office aren’t allowed
While a little sophisticated stubble might be acceptable, some jobs draw the line at bushy beards.Even professional beards that are regularly trimmed could be against the rules in more corporate or front-of-house positions, where your look reflects the company. Managerial positions and traditional finance companies, for example, might make your bold beard ambitions a no-go. Extra facial hair can also be a safety or hygiene risk. Food production environments, like factories or restaurant kitchens, might have regulations around professional beard styles, while firemen need to be clean-shaven to get a tight fit on their breathing masks. For anyone wondering ‘Do I have to shave for work?’, your best bet is to speak to the hiring team, manager, or HR for clarity. If you’re worried about having to trade your unruly lengths for professional beard styles, consider becoming a freelancer; though you’ll have to weigh up whether this career change is worth it to keep your beard.
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Corporate beard grooming tips
Whether you’re hunting for a job or looking to grow out your facial hair in a corporate setting, there are plenty of professional, short beard styles that are less likely to be flagged by HR. With regards to how to make a beard look neat in the workplace, this is usually achievable by keeping it a reasonable length. Long stubble is generally considered acceptable in almost all professional settings, and a regular trim will maintain a corporate look. A good style for professional-looking beards is the Henriquatre, once worn by the stylishly suave Brad Pitt and Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo Dicaprio. Trim your look down to this discreet corporate beard using the OneBlade Pro. The ergonomic handle and dual-sided blade make it easy to see what you’re doing for crisp, neat lines, while the single blade allows you to shave in any direction. Are beards unprofessional if they’re longer than stubble? Not necessarily. If your workplace allows for longer facial hair, you can still maintain professional-looking beards with good maintenance. Maintaining your beard neckline, for example, is key to keeping a beard looking professional. For expert tips on how to do this, check out our video guide on maintaining your beard neckline. You can maintain your length while keeping your hair tidy using the Beardtrimmer 9000 Prestige. With a built-in comb that detangles and lengthens as you shave and 30 different length settings, it’s a must when maintaining a beard for professionals. The unique geometry of the blades makes trimming even the thickest hair a breeze, too, for a neat, polished finish. For the best results, be sure to wash your longer beard regularly between trims. Once clean, style with beard oil to reduce frizz and tame fly-aways, mastering how to make a beard look neat in a few easy steps. For more tips and tricks, take a look at how to trim any style of beard.
How professional beards can enhance your image
Did you know that beards in the office have the potential to enhance your work performance? Looking into the psychology behind beards, there’s evidence that facial hair can boost feelings of authority and confidence in the individual with a beard, while this perception can be felt in others, too. So, are beards unprofessional?’
Are beards unprofessional? The final take
Not necessarily! And even if your beard hangs by your belly button, with your OneBlade or Beardtrimmer 9000 Prestige by your side, professional-looking beards are never far away. But you mustn’t break your workplace rules by growing out your facial hair. To keep in line with the dress code, we recommend a quick chat with your HR team or manager before taking the plunge. If all else fails, keep to a stylish stubble for a corporate-friendly look.
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