Best Hair Length for Professional Women?

This is a very common question I get when speaking to corporate groups. It’s usually asked by a woman with long hair and everyone else in the audience with longish hair snaps to attention to hear the answer. While hair that falls longer than your collarbone is generally not considered professional, there are plenty of exceptions where longer hair works well for certain women. Here are some of the questions I ask my clients when this is an issue:

• Is your long hair keeping you in the past? Sometimes I see women with very long hair and it’s obvious they associate this look with their youth. But actually, long hair (especially worn straight down along the face) can be aging because it accentuates the effect gravity has as we get older by dragging down our facial features. In this case, a shorter cut may create a more youthful appearance overall. Also, as hair goes gray, the consistency of the hair shaft changes, often resulting in wirey texture that won't lay smoothly.   

  

  Low chignon:
  Still Polished!

  
• Are you wearing your hair long for someone else? This is a very typical issue where “my husband (or boyfriend) loves my long hair and doesn’t want me to cut it.” This can be a very touchy area for some women – and dealing with relationship dynamics is not an area in which I want to meddle. However, if you must keep your hair long for harmony at home, consider an up-do for work. A polished chignon, sleek and tidy, or even worn in a loose knot style can be a great professional-looking alternative.




Well-cared for:
Looks Healthy!


• Are you getting regular cuts? Often, when we wear our hair long, we neglect scheduling regular haircuts because it’s easy to just “let it go” for another month. The result can be a frizzy, damaged look at the ends and a general unkempt look which may negatively impact your image. Strive for maintaining your longer hair in excellent health with regular trims and careful conditioning -- you must be willing to make the investment in your long hair!
• Does your hair have a style or is it just long? OK, follow me on this point…Good grooming and carefully coiffed hair provide visual evidence that we care about how we present ourselves. Having a flattering hair style allows you exhibit an attention to detail in this aspect of your appearance. On the other hand, coming to work with barely brushed long hair may seem like you just rolled out of bed. Sometimes waist long hair (or longer) is simply distracting because it is unusual and becomes a focal point. Likewise, very long hair may seem to be wearing you, rather than the other way around.

Our hair is a highly personal part of our image – and it’s easy to hold on to outdated styles and cuts. Why not experiment with something new? If you hate it, well – you know… it’ll grow back!