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What’s the easiest way to model lengthy hair for job interviews in the event you’re a girl in your early 20s? May sporting it down make you look too younger? Reader D wonders:
How ought to a 20-year-old model her lengthy, straight hair for the interview course of for a administration consulting job? Is sporting it down and straight too younger/collegiate? Is styling it with a curling iron too beauty-pageant/date-y? Simply how conservative is the company tradition of the large three consulting companies? Should hair be pulled again? Interview wardrobe all taken care of, and nails are neat and well-groomed, however what about lengthy hair?
We’ve regularly mentioned office hair, from whether or not lengthy hair makes you look younger, as to whether ponytails on the workplace are acceptable, to what straightforward, maintainable hair appears to be like like, to work-appropriate up-dos. We have additionally talked about what your hair says about you at work.
{associated: listed below are 12 straightforward workplace up-dos!}
For this publish I used to be going to discover a bunch of YouTube tutorials and photos of ladies with interview-appropriate updos, half-updos, and lengthy hair. However… this is the factor: so a lot of these look completely pageant-y, and on a younger girl it will look much more such as you’re enjoying costume up.
So this is my reply: for an interview, your hair needs to be neat, not too long ago trimmed, and never one thing you play with. In the end, the coiffure needs to be forgettable.
I imply that in two methods: first, it needs to be forgettable for you — when you do your hair and depart your own home, it’s best to be capable to overlook your hair and focus 100% on the interview(s). No touching, no smoothing, no combing — no ideas of “ow, these bobbypins are sucking my will to live and when.can.I.get.them.out.please.God.is.it.now.” (Ahem. Personally I hate bobbypins.)
Secondly, although, your hair ought to actually be forgettable for your interviewer as nicely, since you need them to note your resume and your {qualifications} and your smarts — not your hair.
For an interview, your hair needs to be neat, not too long ago trimmed, and never one thing you play with. In the end, the coiffure needs to be forgettable.
That is going to look a bit completely different for each particular person — simply studying by means of the feedback on our final ponytail publish some ladies famous that their hair felt “scraggly” if it was down, others felt prefer it appeared “scraped back” in a ponytail.
How you can Type Lengthy Hair for Job Interviews
So, for my $.02, this is my listing of choices for how one can put on your hair for interviews:
1. Hair, Down
Hair, down, is ok. If you end up touching your hair, smoothing it, re-parting it, no matter — then take into consideration pulling it again. In case your hair is tremendous voluminous and it takes a little bit of effort to keep up a neat look all through the day, I might counsel simply pulling it again.
2. A Half Up-Do
Lengthy hair, pulled right into a half up-do so it is out of your face — see our choices for ponytails, beneath.
3. An up-do
If that is the best so that you can do, that is nice too. Simply make it neat, comfy to put on, and never too excessive — the style blogger’s topknot or a messy bun (whether or not on goal or not) isn’t more likely to win you any followers. Observe that readers have beloved Goody Spin Pins previously (notably for curly hair).
4. A Polished Ponytail
A ponytail is ok — however it may’t look pageant or cheerleader in any respect. I might counsel you assume LOW ponytail, if solely as a result of I believe individuals affiliate larger ponytails with cheerleaders — plus I usually discover them uncomfortable to put on for lengthy days.
I might counsel taking the time to seek out a simple, comfy option to make your ponytail look a SMIDGE extra polished with a number of of the next concepts… (you can even go for the Higher Name Saul ponytail!)
Psst: Beneath, discover a few of our favourite hair equipment for work as of 2024. Observe that a few of our long-standing favourite manufacturers for high quality, sturdiness, consolation and styling embody Ficcare and France Luxe. For extra reasonably priced choices (which can not final as lengthy), maintain an eye fixed out at Anthropologie, Ann Taylor, and J.Crew shops (together with J.Crew Manufacturing unit and Madewell). Additionally: Kat loves these flat elastics.
How you can Type a Ponytail for Interviews
- Use your hair to cowl the elastic — you can even create a small braid to cowl the elastic
- Placing a sedate, skilled hair accent to cover the elastic (or utilizing an elastic with a barrette or cuff in-built) — I believe the look above appears to be like nice as a result of the barrette practically matches her hair, and the hair appears to be like very neat. Nordstrom has a ton of gorgeous ones much like the one pictured at high; I at all times consider J.Crew and Ann Taylor for this additionally — however your drugstore is ok as nicely.
Search for ones that match your hair, do not sparkle, and are comfy to put on. Some high quality manufacturers well worth the cash embody Ficcare, L.Erickson, and France Lux.
- Begin a Gibson Roll – Make a gap in your hair simply above the elastic after which pulling your ponytail by means of that gap — form of like the start of a Gibson roll
- Twist the hair round your face to provide it a little bit of quantity earlier than pulling it again, as illustrated within the YouTube video I linked to on this ponytail publish
- Including a little bit of top on high of your head, both by teasing it or utilizing a product like a BumpIt (or Jean at ExtraPetite‘s beloved velcro bump) — however watch out right here!
Sustaining a Skilled Look: Suggestions for Lengthy Hair Care
Having lengthy, stunning hair is an announcement in itself. However on the subject of sustaining an expert look, lengthy hair requires additional care and a spotlight. Let’s discover some important tricks to maintain your lengthy locks wanting polished and presentable, guaranteeing you make a long-lasting impression in any skilled setting.
Hair Care Suggestions for Lengthy Hair
Lengthy hair calls for a constant hair care routine to maintain it wholesome and vibrant. Listed below are some key tricks to incorporate into your routine:
Common Trims to Stop Break up Ends
Lengthy hair is extra susceptible to separate ends, which may make your locks look uninteresting and unkempt. Schedule common trims each 8 to 12 weeks to take away broken ends and promote wholesome hair development. This follow will assist keep the general look and forestall additional harm.
Deep Conditioning Remedies for Wholesome Hair
Lengthy hair tends to be drier because of its size and publicity to environmental components. Deal with your tresses to deep conditioning therapies no less than as soon as every week to nourish and hydrate the strands. Search for merchandise that include pure oils like argan or coconut oil, as they supply deep moisture and restore shine.
A few of our newest favourite deep conditioning therapies for wholesome hair embody these choices:
Women, what are your ideas — notably these of you who commonly interview ladies of their early 20s? Have you ever seen somebody’s interview hair, in both a great way or a foul manner? How do YOU model your hair for interviews? How would you advise your 20-year-old self to model your hair?
New right here? A few of our predominant style articles that may be of curiosity embody our Final Information to Enterprise Informal, Wardrobe Necessities for Work, and The Corporette Information to Comfy Heels — all consistently up to date! In case you’re simply beginning out or on a finances, take a look at our Reasonably priced Workplace Garments roundup — and in the event you’re plus-sized, take a look at our Plus-Measurement Picks for Work.
Different Interview Apparel and Equipment
Nice Interview Fits
We have rounded up a TON of fits in each worth vary (and for each physique — petite, plus, tall, pregnant) — the mid-range is normally nice for an OCI interview, whereas the extra reasonably priced choices are higher for extending a swimsuit wardrobe, however nowadays you’ll find a bunch of nice ones.
The Greatest Luggage for Interviews
I’ve at all times thought it’s best to have a paper copy of your resume with you for each interview (particularly in the event you’ve not too long ago added one thing new, like legislation assessment) — and accordingly, your bag needs to be large enough to carry a folder in your resume.
As of 2024, in the event you’re trying to find a light-weight tote massive sufficient to suit a paper resume — the right interview bag for women! — these are our favourite choices…
The Greatest Heels for Interviews
We have talked loads in regards to the “rules” round interview footwear — the underside line is that they need to be one thing you may stroll in for no less than a couple of blocks, whether or not they’re flats or heels.
Our Newest Favourite Heels
Nice Low Heels
These are a few of our favourite comfy low heels for work as of 2024… additionally take a look at CK Calvin Klein, Trotters, Sam Edelman, and Sarah Flint!
The Greatest Flats for Interviews
Flats are acceptable for interviews additionally! Listed below are a few of our favorites…
The Greatest Ballet Flats
The Greatest Loafers
As of 2024, a few of our favourite loafers for work are from Sam Edelman, Everlane, and Madewell. If you’d like one thing extra traditional, readers love Sperry and Ferragamo; in order for you consolation, Vionic and Dr. Scholl’s each have choices. In the meantime, in order for you one thing a bit extra female or slouchy, the Tory Burch loafers are all actually extremely rated at Nordstrom (particularly this “ballet idler“)!
The Greatest Strappy Flats
This publish was initially written in 2015, however up to date as indicated. Up to date inventory photos by way of Deposit Pictures / sisterspro.
