Some professions can be quite demanding and sometimes, one is forced to have to do away with some of the things they love or have gotten used to. Given that over the years beards have become a thing.
Research even proving that men with beards are more attractive than those without. I did some research to find out whether beards are accepted in places of work. Here is what I found.
Are beard professional and should you shave before an interview? In some professions, facial hair is considered professional while in other professions beards are regarded as unprofessional. In professions that regard beards as professional, one can attend an interview with their beards but they have to be well-groomed, and in professions that regard beards as unprofessional, one needs to be clean-shaven before an interview.
Below we will discuss professions that regard beards as professional and those that do not see beards as professional.
Table of Contents
Professions that allow facial hair
Sales and business professions
Studies have proven that beards make
a man be perceived as physically healthy, dominant, confident, mature, and old as a result sales and business professionals that rock a beard are considered trustworthy and experienced.
Therefore, having facial hair while in these professionals gives one an upper hand as compared to being clean-shaven.
However, for your beard to give you an upper hand in the sales profession it ought to be well-groomed and maintained.
Doctors and medical staff
Doctors and other medical staff are actually allowed to keep a beard but it highly depends on their role at their place of work.
At such doctors and medical staff are also restricted on the length of facial hair they can keep. Some doctors and surgeons chose to shave so as to avoid spreading pathogens to their patients.
Some doctors and medical staff who are constantly operating in situations that require them to wear gas masks or medical masks are required to shave so as to ensure that their masks seal off properly.
Professions that allow beards
Barber
As a barber, one is allowed to rock a beard of their choosing, be it long short or medium. If you like growing a long beard, then opening a barbershop is your best bet.
Bearded barbers make the best shavers for men with facial hair, I mean it takes one to know one. They will be able to follow instructions that you give them, given that they are used to taking care of their beards.
Tattoo artist
One of the benefits of being a tattoo artist is that one has the independence of rocking different fashion styles without being judged.
As a matter of fact, one of the earliest professions to accept beards was the tattoo industry.
Mechanic
Depending on one’s liking and sense of fashion, as a mechanic, one can either rock a beard or not.
The fact is one is allowed to wear a beard or clean shave.
Sometimes, the job of a mechanic involves working in situations that will make them prone to getting dirty. As a result, it is highly advisable to make sure if you are a mechanic and wish to keep a beard they should be washed twice a week with a good beard shampoo and moisturized with a good moisturizer, which will ensure they are well-nourished and healthy.
Bartenders, servers, and chefs
In these professions, the choice to keep a beard largely depends on the employer. Some bars allow their bartenders to keep facial hair while others do not. Some may allow you to keep a long beard while others will allow a stubble.
On the other hand, chefs and servers are allowed to keep a beard only if the beard is hygienic and does not affect the hygiene of their food and beverages.
Can a Balding Beard Still Be Considered Professional?
The professional world is evolving, and so are grooming standards. While a clean-shaven look used to be the norm, balding beards are now becoming more widely accepted in professional settings. As long as it is well-groomed and maintained, a balding beard can still be considered professional, allowing individuals to express their personal style while adhering to workplace expectations.
How to prepare for an interview if you have a beard
Determine whether the profession allow beards
If you have a beard and you are preparing to attend an interview, the first step is to make sure that you do thorough research to find out whether the profession allows keeping a beard or not.
If the profession does not allow keeping facial hair the next step should be to decide whether you want to part with your beard or not.
If you still wish to attend the interview despite the fact that they do not allow beards, you should completely shave your beard. If the profession allows keeping a beard follow these steps for a well-groomed beard.
Trim your facial hair
Get a good trimmer or seek the services of a good professional barber. You should trim your beard to the right size depending on the profession you are venturing into. Some professions will allow just a stubble.
Use a beard exfoliator
Using a high-quality beard exfoliator, exfoliate your beard to get rid of dead skin beneath your beard and make it appear fresh.
Wash your beard
Using a high-quality beard shampoo wash your beard thoroughly and make sure you have eliminated all the exfoliated dead skin.
Pat dry your beard using a cotton towel do not use a hairdryer to dry your beard.
Apply a beard conditioner, beard oil, and beard balm
Apply a high-quality beard conditioner, I would recommend applying a beard conditioner that has argan and jojoba oil for a soft and lustrous beard.
Then follow it up with beard oil and apply only as much as your beard needs. About 2-3 drops of beard oil are enough.
Follow it up with a good beard balm for styling, if you have a beard stubble beard balm may not be necessary.
Using a high-quality beard brush, brush your beard to make sure that your beard absorbs the beard oil and conditioner properly.
