Grooming Tips

Written by Carol Elizabeth Ridolphi  ~  Sunday, 05 October 2008 02:05

Grooming is a signal to the world indicating how you value yourself. You can spend a lot on clothing and undermine the entire effect with bad grooming. To look your best consistently, practice good grooming... habits everyday.

• Hands and nails - Everyone notices hands and nails. Keep them clean and manicured. Women ~ if you cannot pick up a coin with your nails, they are too long. Nail polish color should be clear or soft shades of pink or red. Remember that dry, chapped or bitten nails and unclean fingernails will be noticed. Clean and well-manicured hands show you pay attention to detail.
• Teeth - Don't ruin a great smile by lack of good hygiene! Make sure you have your teeth professionally cleaned two times a year. If your teeth are discolored, consider bleaching them. Floss and brush regularly to avoid bad mouth odor. Check your teeth often after eating to avoid visible food debris lodged in your teeth.
• Body odor - To avoid body odor, follow a strict daily "good grooming" regimen ~
  • Shower and bathe daily
  • Use deodorant daily
  • Brush and floss your teeth twice daily
  • Avoid eating foods with long-lasting odors, especially prior to social and business meetings
  • Carry breath mints and use sparingly
  • Launder and wash your clothing frequently
  • Beware of coffee breath, especially prior to business and social meetings
  • Should you notice people backing away from you, take heed
• Hair - Keep hair clean and well-combed. Men ~ short hair fares best in business settings. Hair should be out of face and free of dandruff. Follow your natural hairline. Women ~ avoid unusual streaks of coloring and unusual overall hair coloring. If your hair is long, pull it back in a professional style for business settings.
• Makeup and skin care - Women ~ create a polished and sophisticated appearance by keeping your makeup simple and natural. Makeup should enhance your facial features; it should not be a distraction. To achieve the best look from makeup, the right color should be used sparingly and all makeup must be well blended. Women and men ~ take care of your skin by using products containing SPF protection and by adopting a daily facial regimen. Contact us should you need further consultation on skin and makeup care. Also visit http://www.beautipage.com/cerimage for high-quality and affordable makeup and skin products.
• Fragrance - Wear colognes, perfumes, lotions and after-shave products sparingly. You can't go wrong without a fragrance, but you can go wrong by using too much of it. Remember that the safest smell is no smell at all!
• Facial hair - The safest, most professional and acceptable business look is a clean-shaven face. However, if you deem it necessary to wear a mustache, make sure it is neatly trimmed. Do not wear a handlebar mustache. Keep in mind that some people may interpret facial hair as rebellious. Facial hair hides facial expressions, which are very important! Don’t forget that you will enhance your facial appearance by controlling unruly hair in the following areas of your face: eyebrows, nose, and ears!

Resources ~ How to Gain the Professional Edge ~ Susan Morem, The New Professional Image ~ Susan Bixler