How you style your hair for a job interview can be as important as the interview clothes you wear. After all, the interviewer is going to notice everything about your appearance, including your hair, makeup, and attire. That first glance is important, and you'll only have a few seconds to make a great impression!
Keep Your Hairstyle Professional and Polished
There are lots of ways to style your hair for a job interview.
While some options are trendy and others are more traditional, remember that your hairstyle should strike a balance between your wardrobe and your makeup. For example, if your makeup is a little edgy, opt for a more toned down hairstyle. Be mindful of your final look, which should be tasteful, professional, and polished. That way, the focus will be on you, and not how you styled your hair.
Here's a selection of the best hairstyles for short, long, and medium length hair.
Pretty Ponytails
Is a ponytail formal enough for a job interview? It can be, if you choose a polished look. Opt for sleek styling, using an anti-frizz product or styling cream to tame flyaways. For an elegant touch, pull a piece of hair from the bottom of your ponytail and wrap it around to conceal your hair tie, securing it with a bobby pin.
Pin One Side Back
During your interview, you don't want to be worrying about pushing your hair out of your face. A style with one side pulled back can be a happy medium between wearing your hair down and styling it in a full updo. This is an easy look to style: twist or bring one side back, and secure it behind your ear with a bobby pin.
Go Sleek
The risk with keeping long hair down is that you'll touch or play with it during the interview. Or, if you wear lip gloss, it's easy for strands to stick to your lips. That's distracting! For a good solution, try a sleek, straight look and keep strands behind your shoulder.
Keep It Short (and Stylish)
Gone are the days when the workplace called for a prim and proper look. Experiment with shorter styles, like the one pictured—short on the side and a bit longer on the top. A short haircut minimizes maintenance and speeds up your morning routine. It also lends a unique, edgy appeal to your look.
Rock Trendy Braids
Don't feel limited to a basic, straight-down-your-back braid. Try options like a fishtail, a side braid, a braid of braids, or a French braid. You can certainly have some fun, just remember to keep it more low-key than all-out. You're going to a professional meeting, not a wedding.
Keep It Natural
Are you tired of straightening your hair every day? Go ahead and adopt a more natural look, like the one pictured here. Your hair doesn't have to be perfectly straight or styled every day, just professional. What matters most, after all, is that you feel confident and comfortable in the workplace.
Wear It High
The high bun gets hair up and out of the way, without compromising style. First, sweep your hair high on your head, leaving one piece free, and twist into a bun. Then, secure with a hair tie. To conceal the elastic, wrap the free piece around it and pin the piece of hair underneath the bun with a bobby pin.
Expert tip: Placement is key. Find the top and center of your skull, then move a few inches down, so your bun sits halfway between the top of your hairline and your eyebrows.
Shake Up Your Ponytail
Bored with the basic ponytail? Use your preferred method of curling to add medium-width curls to your hair, and then finish the look with a pretty side pony. Leave a few tendrils loose for a more relaxed look, but be sure they won't distract you or hang in your face during the interview.
What to Wear
When you're choosing a hairstyle for your interview, also keep your interview attire and accessories in mind. Regardless of the type of workplace you're interviewing for, it's important to look pulled together and appropriately dressed.
Try out some outfits and hairstyles ahead of time to be sure you're making the best impression. You'll save time and stress and won't have to scramble to get ready at the last minute.