Can you wear any hairstyle you want to the office?
Photos AMC
Words Anthony Vincent
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3 men tell us how they style their hair for work.
Although workplace norms appear to be becoming increasingly flexible, three men from different fields tell us how hair can still have an influence over their careers.
Regis, Ministry of Finance
After his studies at École des Mines, Regis showed he was a model student following the correct academic track, right down to the tips of his hair. My first job was as a project officer in export financing at the Ministry of Finance. I clearly had shorter and better-groomed hair than today." says the founder of the L'Exception concept store, who now has a medium-length cut. "Finance is one of those fields where hair is not up for discussion.”
"Today, I have fewer constraints, but sometimes, my hair can be all over the place!” Regis, who mainly gets around on his scooter, admitted that he often arrives at work dishevelled when we talked to him about his daily routine. But even in a more relaxed working environment, first impressions count. "If I have an important meeting, particularly with someone from an investment fund, I always get a haircut beforehand to make sure I look professional."
Pierre, art specialist
A cataloguer for a major auction house, Pierre proudly wears his hair long and even humorously shows it off via his Instagram bio. “For a long time, I had to wear my hair short for professional reasons. I always wanted to let it grow, but certain situations prevented that - oral exams or interviews, for example. I’ve had to cut it before because it wasn’t long enough to tie back or too long for a tidy enough haircut.” Note to potential growers: long hair is definitely better tolerated when tied back.
“I was hired at the auction house two years ago, and I’ve been letting my hair grow out for over a year now. At first, I was worried about negative comments, given that I work in an environment that is quite strict in terms of appearance, especially for men. In the end, he didn’t receive any negative feedback, even when he had a somewhat complicated hairdo and couldn't do anything with his hair. "Now I'm really comfortable with the length of my hair, and have been able to tie it back for a few weeks now. Even when it’s down, the length is just fine. I don't know if I'll continue to keep it long, but I'm very glad I tried it."
Xavier, barrister
Xavier, a barrister specializing in mergers and acquisitions, confirmed in his routine that unspoken rules about hair in the legal world are starting to change: "Yes, there are social standards to respect. For a long time, beards were frowned upon. When I was a young barrister, not many of us had beards at all! Today, it's become the norm with junior colleagues. Clients are also following this trend, as are investment fund teams!”