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What’s the easiest way to fashion lengthy hair for job interviews if you happen to’re a lady in your early 20s? Could carrying it down make you look too younger? Reader D wonders:

How ought to a 20-year-old fashion her lengthy, straight hair for the interview course of for a administration consulting job? Is carrying it down and straight too younger/collegiate? Is styling it with a curling iron too beauty-pageant/date-y? Just how conservative is the company tradition of the massive three consulting companies? Must hair be pulled again? Interview wardrobe all taken care of, and nails are neat and well-groomed, however what about lengthy hair?

We’ve often mentioned office hair, from whether or not lengthy hair makes you look younger, to whether or not ponytails on the workplace are acceptable, to what simple, maintainable hair seems to be like, to work-appropriate up-dos. We’ve additionally talked about what your hair says about you at work.

associated: listed below are 12 simple workplace up-dos!

For this put up 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. But… here is the factor: so a lot of these look completely pageant-y, and on a younger lady it is going to look much more such as you’re taking part in costume up. 

So here is my reply: for an interview, your hair needs to be neat, lately trimmed, and never one thing you play with. Ultimately, 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 go away your own home, you have to be in a position to neglect 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 properly, since you need them to discover your resume and your {qualifications} and your smarts — not your hair.

This goes to look a bit completely different for each individual — simply studying by means of the feedback on our final ponytail put up some ladies famous that their hair felt “scraggly” if it was down, others felt prefer it appeared “scraped back” in a ponytail.

How to Style Long Hair for Job Interviews

So, for my $.02, here is my listing of choices for how to 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. If your hair is tremendous voluminous and it takes a little bit of effort to keep a neat look all through the day, I’d counsel simply pulling it again.

2. A Half Up-Do

Long hair, pulled right into a half up-do so it is out of your face — see our choices for ponytails, under.

4. A Polished Ponytail

A ponytail is ok — however it could possibly’t look pageant or cheerleader in any respect. I’d counsel you assume LOW ponytail, if solely as a result of I feel individuals affiliate larger ponytails with cheerleaders — plus I typically discover them uncomfortable to put on for lengthy days.

I’d counsel taking the time to discover a simple, comfy manner to make your ponytail look a SMIDGE extra polished with a number of of the next concepts… (you may also go for the Better Call Saul ponytail!)

Psst: Below, discover a few of our favourite hair equipment for work as of 2024. Note that a few of our long-standing favourite manufacturers for high quality, sturdiness, consolation and styling embrace 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 Factory and Madewell). Also: Kat loves these flat elastics.

How to Style a Ponytail for Interviews

• Use your hair to cowl the elastic — you may also create a small braid to cowl the elastic

• Putting a sedate, skilled hair accent to disguise the elastic (or utilizing an elastic with a barrette or cuff inbuilt) — I feel the look above seems to be nice as a result of the barrette almost matches her hair, and the hair seems to be very neat. Nordstrom has a ton of gorgeous ones related to the one pictured at prime; I at all times consider J.Crew and Ann Taylor for this additionally — however your drugstore is ok as properly.

  Look for ones that match your hair, do not sparkle, and are comfy to put on. Some high quality manufacturers definitely worth the cash embrace Ficcare, L.Erickson, and France Lux.

• Start a Gibson Roll – Make a gap in your hair simply above the elastic after which pulling your ponytail by means of that gap — type of like the start of a Gibson roll

• Twist the hair round your face to give it a little bit of quantity earlier than pulling it again, as illustrated within the YouTube video I linked to on this ponytail put up

• Adding a little bit of top on prime 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!

Maintaining a Professional Look: Tips for Long Hair Care

Having lengthy, lovely hair is a press release in itself. But when it comes to sustaining knowledgeable look, lengthy hair requires further care and a spotlight. Let’s discover some important suggestions to maintain your lengthy locks wanting polished and presentable, guaranteeing you make a long-lasting impression in any skilled setting.

Hair Care Tips for Long Hair

Long hair calls for a constant hair care routine to maintain it wholesome and vibrant. Here are some key suggestions to incorporate into your routine:

Regular Trims to Prevent Split Ends

Long hair is extra susceptible to break up ends, which might make your locks look uninteresting and unkempt. Schedule common trims each 8 to 12 weeks to take away broken ends and promote wholesome hair progress. This apply will assist keep the general look and stop additional harm.

Deep Conditioning Treatments for Healthy Hair

Long hair tends to be drier due to its size and publicity to environmental components. Treat your tresses to deep conditioning therapies no less than as soon as per week to nourish and hydrate the strands. Look for merchandise that include pure oils like argan or coconut oil, as they supply deep moisture and restore shine.

Some of our newest favourite deep conditioning therapies for wholesome hair embrace these choices:

Ladies, what are your ideas — significantly these of you who usually interview ladies of their early 20s? Have you seen somebody’s interview hair, in both a great way or a nasty manner? How do YOU fashion your hair for interviews? How would you advise your 20-year-old self to fashion your hair?

New right here? Some of our foremost trend articles that is perhaps of curiosity embrace our Ultimate Guide to Business Casual, Wardrobe Essentials for Work, and The Corporette Guide to Comfortable Heels — all always up to date! If you are simply beginning out or on a finances, take a look at our Affordable Office Clothes roundup — and if you happen to’re plus-sized, take a look at our Plus-Size Picks for Work.

Other Interview Attire and Accessories

Great Interview Suits

We’ve rounded up a TON of fits in each value vary (and for each physique — petite, plus, tall, pregnant) — the mid-range is often nice for an OCI interview, whereas the extra reasonably priced choices are higher for extending a go well with wardrobe, however nowadays you will discover a bunch of nice ones.

The Best Bags for Interviews

I’ve at all times thought it is best to have a paper copy of your resume with you for each interview (particularly if you happen to’ve lately added one thing new, like legislation assessment) — and accordingly, your bag needs to be large enough to maintain a folder for your resume.

As of 2024, if you happen to’re searching for a light-weight tote giant sufficient to match a paper resume — the right interview bag for girls! — these are our favourite choices…

The Best Heels for Interviews

We’ve talked loads in regards to the “rules” round interview footwear — the underside line is that they need to be one thing you’ll be able to stroll in for no less than a couple of blocks, whether or not they’re flats or heels.

Our Latest Favorite Heels

Great 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 Best Flats for Interviews

Flats are acceptable for interviews additionally! Here are a few of our favorites…

The Best Ballet Flats

The Best Loafers

As of 2024, a few of our favourite loafers for work are from Sam Edelman, Everlane, and Madewell. If you need one thing extra traditional, readers love Sperry and Ferragamo; if you need consolation, Vionic and Dr. Scholl’s each have choices. Meanwhile, if you need one thing a bit extra female or slouchy, the Tory Burch loafers are all actually extremely rated at Nordstrom (particularly this “ballet idler“)!

The Best Strappy Flats

This put up was initially written in 2015, however up to date as indicated. Updated inventory photographs through Deposit Photos / sisterspro.