The Do's and Don'ts of Personal Grooming at Work

It's only 8:42 a.m., and you can already tell that it's going to be a bad day. Case in point: You slept through your alarm; you were stuck in traffic on your way to work; and your haphazard makeup job looks like a cross between Bozo the Clown and Mimi from the "Drew Carey Show." Ugh! Before you can privately assess the damage, your boss taps you on the shoulder and asks you to meet him in his office in five minutes.

Realizing that there's no time to trek to the downstairs bathroom, you're faced with two options: Meet with your boss looking less-than-stellar or fix your face in front of your coworkers. And, you're leaning toward the latter. After all, you reason, everyone's so consumed with their own work that they won't even notice. Not so fast! Before you break out your blush, learn the top do's and don'ts of personal grooming in the workplace:

Do keep a small mirror at your desk: You know that maintaining a professional appearance is critical to your success as an admin. And, let's face it: There's nothing that screams unkempt quite like having lipstick on your teeth or breakfast crumbs on your button-down. Believe me, I know. As a self-admitted klutz, I've shown up to numerous meetings with coffee-stained jackets and incorrectly buttoned blouses. My weapon of choice? A pocket-sized mirror that I store permanently in my purse and can whip out at any time. That way, when I return from a spinach-filled lunch, I can ensure that the remnants of it aren't stuck between my two front teeth.

Don't spray perfume in the office: Sure, you love your Eternity by Calvin Klein perfume that you purchased last weekend. But, chances are that your coworkers don't love the strong stench that's wafting over their cubicle walls. Although it's perfectly acceptable to wear light, unobtrusive perfume to the office, refrain from spraying it during work hours. After all, you want your signature scent to conjure up memories of pleasant, happy things - not of asphyxiation.

Do save your personal routines for home: Although this seems commonsense, this office faux pax is committed all of the time. People try to inconspicuously perform grooming rituals that should be saved for the confines of their own homes, or at least relegated to the office bathroom. (Full disclosure: I used to pluck my eyebrows at my cubicle, although I've since learned the error of my ways.) In fact, one of my former coworkers recently shot me an e-mail about how she caught one of the sales guys flossing his teeth at his desk. And, when she called him out on his behavior, he simply shrugged it off. Whatever you do, don't be that person!

Don't fix your hair anywhere that food is served: Want to be the recipient of exchanged side glances between your coworkers? Casually play with your hair while you're eating lunch in the break room. Note: There's nothing that skeeves people out quite as much as the mixture of food and hair. To prevent accidentally committing this blunder, make sure that your hair is neatly groomed before you eat. Believe me: Your coworkers will thank you.

Up for Discussion

Do you have any coworkers who regularly break office-grooming etiquette? If so, would you like to add any Do's or Don'ts to this list? Please share your funniest work stories with your fellow OfficeArrow members!