3

Chapter
Your
Professional
Image
Chapter Outline
Why Study the Importance
of Your Professional Image?

Beauty and Wellness

Appearances Count

Your Physical Presentation

© Diego Cervo, 2010; used under license from Shuttertstock.com.

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 Learning Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

LO1 Understand the importance of professional hygiene.

LO2 Explain the concept of dressing for success.
LO3 Demonstrate an understanding of ergonomic principles and ergonomically
correct postures and movement.

Key Terms
Page number indicates where in the chapter the term is used.
ergonomics personal hygiene physical professional image
pg. 41 pg. 37 presentation pg. 38
pg. 40

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 F irst impressions matter a lot, and because you are in the image
business, how you look and present yourself has a bigger than
usual impact on your success. If you are talking about style,
then you need to look stylish; if you are advising your clients about
makeup, your makeup must be current and beautifully applied. If you
are recommending hand care services, your hands and nails should be
well groomed. When your appearance and the way that you conduct
yourself are in harmony with the beauty business, your chances of
being successful increase dramatically!
Of course your personality and abilities also come into play, but how
© Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. Photography by Yanik Chauvin.

you look is the first and most important clue that leads potential clients
to decide that you can make them look great. Add your behavior,
the attitude you project, the way you interact with others, your
communication skills, and how you physically hold yourself, and you
create a complete, professional image (Figure 3–1). Ideally, you should
present a great total package.

Why Study the Importance

of Your Professional
▲ Figure 3–1
Project a professional image.
Image?
 osmetologists should study and have a thorough understanding
C
of the importance of their professional image because:
■■ Clients rely on beauty professionals to look good, well-cared for,
and contemporary. They develop confidence that a professional who
has a pleasant professional image can be trusted to perform their
beauty services.
■■ Finding a salon and salon environment with a compatible idea of
professional image and behavior is vitally important to working and
flourishing in your career.
■■ Behaving professionally includes having a genuine interest in your

© Hugo Silveirinha Felix, 2010; used under license from Shutterstock.com.

own day-to-day activities, as well as being concerned about and for

© Flashon Studio, 2010; used under license from iStockphoto.com.

others, and knowing how to interact with managers, coworkers, and

© SJ Locke, 2010; used under license from iStockphoto.com.

clients appropriately.
■■ Understanding ergonomics can help keep you healthy
and gainfully employed.

3 36 Chapter 3 Your Professional Im age Part I: Orientation

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 Beauty and Wellness
© Djapeman, 2010; used under license from Shutterstock.com.

Being well groomed begins with looking and smelling fresh. This
is especially important in the beauty business where practitioners
are frequently only inches away from their clients during services.

Personal Hygiene
It is a given that you should shower or bathe every day, use
deodorant before going to work, and generally be neat and
clean. Beyond that, though, there are special considerations
when working in a salon.
One weak moment of drinking coffee right before performing a
service, for instance, or wearing something that needs laundering
because you did not plan ahead, could spell disaster. Rather than telling
you that you smell offensive, most clients will simply not return for
another service. Equally distressing, they will typically tell three of their
friends about the bad experience they had while sitting in your chair.
Personal hygiene is the daily maintenance of cleanliness by practicing
good healthful habits (Figure 3–2). Working as a stylist behind the chair,

© Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. Photography by Paul Castle, Castle Photography.

or doing makeup, nail care, or skin care means that you’ll be physically
close to clients, which requires extra attention to your hygiene habits.
One of the best ways to ensure that you always smell fresh and clean is
to create a hygiene pack to use at work. This pack should include the
following items:
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Sanitizing hand wipes or liquid to clean your hands between clients
(when soap and water are not available)
• Dental floss
• Deodorant or antiperspirant
▲ Figure 3–2
Your hygiene pack will be useful in maintaining the following good Practice meticulous personal
personal hygiene habits: hygiene every day.

• Wash your hands throughout the day as required, including at the

beginning of each service.
• Use deodorant or antiperspirant.
• Brush and floss your teeth, and use mouthwash or breath mints
throughout the day as needed.
• Do self-checks periodically to ensure that you smell and look fresh.
• If you smoke cigarettes, do not smoke during work hours. Many
clients find the lingering smell offensive. If you smoke during your
lunch break, brush your teeth, use mouthwash, and wash your
hands afterward! LO1

Part I: Orientation Chapter 3 Your Professional Image 37

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 caution Appearances Count
In the line of work that you have chosen, having well-groomed hair,
Many salons have a
skin, and nails advertises your commitment to professional beauty. Make
no-fragrance policy for staff
sure that you:
members during work hours
because a significant number • Put thought into your appearance every day.
of people are sensitive • Keep your haircut and color fresh.
or allergic to a variety of
chemicals, including perfume • Take care of your skin and use a sun block.
oils. Whether or not your salon • Determine the best length and grooming for your nails, and maintain
has a no-fragrance policy, their appearance.
perfume should be saved for
• Change your style frequently, or as often as you feel comfortable, to
after work.
keep up with trends. You don’t have to be super-trendy, but even a
stylist with a classic look or image should get subtle, seasonal updates,
such as longer bangs or warmer hair color.

Personal Grooming
Many salon owners and managers view appearance, personality,
and poise as being just as important as technical knowledge and
skills. One of the most vital aspects of good personal grooming is
the careful maintenance of your wardrobe. First and foremost, your
clothes must be clean—not simply free of the dirt that you can see,
but stain free, a feat that is sometimes difficult to achieve in a salon
environment. Because you are constantly coming into contact with
products and chemicals that can stain fabric, you should invest in an
apron or smock to wear while handling such materials. Be mindful
about spills and drips when using chemicals, and avoid leaning on
counters in the work area—particularly in the dispensary.
Some salons require employees to wear aprons at all times, while
others have dress-code rules, such as anything you wear must be a
combination of black and white. These requirements are your first
clue as to the culture of a particular salon, and how its stylists dress
for success. However, whenever mixing chemicals, using haircolor
© Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. Photography by Yanik Chauvin.

or performing other services, it is always more professional to wear

a smock or apron, and it will protect your clothing.

Dress for Success

What you wear outside of work is your choice. But while you’re
at work, your wardrobe selection should express a professional
image that is consistent with the image of the salon (Figure
3–3). Your professional image is the impression you project
through both your outward appearance and your conduct in
the workplace. Common sense should rule when it comes to

Figure 3–3
Be guided by your salon’s dress code.

3 38 Chapter 3 Your Professional Image Part I: Orientation

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 © Milady, a part of Cengage Learning.
choosing clothes to wear at work. When shopping for work clothes, you
should always visualize how you would look in them while performing
professional client services. Is the image you will present one that is
acceptable to your clients?
To some degree, your clothing should reflect the fashions of the season.
Depending on where you work, you may be encouraged to wear stylish
▲ Figure 3–4
torn jeans and faded tees, or they may be expressly forbidden. Just Working in high heels can throw
remember, the best way to ensure that you are dressed for success is to off the body’s balance.
“tune in” to your salon’s culture and clientele, so that you can make the
best clothing choices.
While you should always follow your salon’s dress code, here are some
guidelines as to what’s appropriate almost anywhere:
• Wear clothing that is clean, fresh, and in step with fashion. caution
• Choose clothing that is functional and comfortable, as well as stylish. Not only can wearing
• Accessorize your outfits, but make sure that your jewelry does not inappropriate shoes at work
clank and jingle while you work because this can irritate fellow be uncomfortable, it could
professionals and clients. be dangerous. Flip-flops
and open-toed shoes, for
Wear shoes that are comfortable, have a low heel, and good arch
example, are not safe to wear
support. Ill-fitting shoes or high heels are not the best choices to wear
around electricity and sharp
when you have to stand all day (Figure 3–4). LO2
implements.

Wearing Makeup in the Salon

Makeup is an exciting category for beauty professionals. It helps
promote your professional image and represents profitable sales for
salons. You should always use makeup to accentuate your best features.
With that said, it is important to always wear makeup at work. A freshly
scrubbed face may look great for a leisurely day at the beach, but it does
nothing to promote your image as a beauty professional. Unless you are
working in a trendy urban salon, things like heavily blackened eyes and
black nail polish are best left for after work. As with clothing, let the
salon’s image be your guide in makeup application (Figure 3-5).

© Originalpunkt, 2010; used under license from Shutterstock.com.

Behaving Professionally
Beyond hygiene, grooming, and clothing, professional image and
appearance are affected by your behavior, etiquette, and interactions
with others. Keeping a positive attitude at work helps you behave
appropriately and project a positive image. Ask yourself how an
employee appears to you if he or she is rude to customers, shouts
at colleagues, or crudely asks, “Yeah?” to find out what a
customer wants.
Politeness is the hallmark of professionalism, even under pressure, and
cooperating with colleagues is a great way to learn. If you are rude to
▲ Figure 3–5
your colleagues, you may lose important opportunities. If, on the other Expertly applied makeup is part
hand, when you cheerfully offer to assist a senior stylist with a service, of having a professional image.

Part I: Orientation Chapter 3 Your Professional Image 39

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 you’ll gain a mentor who will be willing to help you out. Specific
communication skills will be discussed in Chapter 4, Communicating
for Success. For now, keep in mind that all on-the-job behavior is part
of your professional image and that it is just as important to be polite
to colleagues as clients.

Your Physical Presentation

Your physical presentation involves your posture, as well as the way
you walk and move. Good posture conveys an image of confidence.
From a health standpoint, it can also prevent fatigue and many other
physical problems. Sitting improperly can put a great deal of stress on
your neck, shoulders, back, and legs. Having good posture, on the other
hand, allows you to get through your day feeling good and doing your
best work.

Posture
Some guidelines for achieving and maintaining good work posture
include the following:
•  Keep your neck elongated and balanced directly above the shoulders.
•  Lift your upper body so that your chest is out and up (do not slouch).
•  Hold your shoulders level and relaxed, not scrunched up.
•  Sit with your back straight.
•  Pull your abdomen in so that it is flat (Figure 3–6).

Figure 3–6
Good physical presentation.
© Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. Photography by Yanik Chauvin.

3 40 Chapter 3 Your Professional Image Part I: Orientation

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 Ergonomics and Your Body
You can move because your muscles and bones work together as
a “musculoskeletal system,” allowing you to walk, raise your arms,

© Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. Photography by Larry Hamill.

and use your fingers. Ergonomics is the science of designing the
workplace as well as its equipment and tools to make specific body
movements more comfortable, efficient, and safe. Ergonomics fits
the job to the person, rather than the other way around.
For example, a hydraulic chair can be raised or lowered to
accommodate stylists of different heights, allowing each to service
clients without bending over too far. Certain shears are designed
to eliminate hand fatigue when cutting hair because repetitive
movements are of particular concern.
Ergonomics is tied to your personal presentation; when you sit ▲ Figure 3–7
or stand up straight, you look more professional. Ergonomics is Proper position in relation to
the client on the facial bed.
also important to your ability to work and your body’s wellness.
Remember, beauty and wellness go hand-in-hand, and wellness

© Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. Photography by Paul Castle, Castle Photography.

starts with self care.
Each year, hundreds of cosmetology professionals report
musculoskeletal disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome (a wrist
injury) and back injuries. Beauty professionals may have to stand or
sit all day and perform repetitive movements, so they are susceptible
to problems of the hands, wrists, shoulders, neck, back, feet, and legs.
Prevention is the key to avoiding these problems. An awareness of
your body posture and movements, coupled with good work habits
and proper tools and equipment, will enhance your health and
comfort (Figure 3–7).
Repetitive motions have a cumulative effect on the muscles and joints.
To avoid problems, monitor yourself as you work to see if you are
falling into these bad habits:
▲ Figure 3–8
• Gripping or squeezing implements too tightly. Improper haircutting position.

© Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. Photography by Paul Castle, Castle Photography.

• Bending your wrist up or down repeatedly when using the tools
of your profession.
• Holding your arms too far away from your body as you work.
• Holding your elbows at more than a 60-degree angle away from
your body for extended periods of time. (Your elbows should be
close to your body when cutting.)
• Bending forward and/or twisting your body to get closer to your
client.
To avoid ergonomic-related injuries, follow these guidelines:
(Figure 3–8).
• Keep your wrists in a straight or neutral position as much as
possible (Figure 3–9). ▲ Figure 3–9
Correct wrist and hand position
for haircutting.

Part I: Orientation Chapter 3 Your Professional Image 41

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 • When giving a manicure, do not reach across the table;
have the client extend her hand across the table to you

© Milady, a part of Cengage Learning. Photography by Dino Petrocelli.

(Figure 3–10).
• Use ergonomically designed implements.
• Keep your back and neck straight.
• Stand on an anti-fatigue mat.
• When cutting hair, sit if you can. When standing to
cut, position your legs hip-width apart, bend your knees
slightly, and align your trunk with your abdomen.
LO3
Counter the negative impact of repetitive motions or long
▲ Figure 3–10 periods spent in one position by stretching and walking
Follow proper ergonomic techniques around at intervals. Always put your well-being first, and
when giving nail services.
you’ll enjoy a long and healthy career.

ACT ivity
Practice these quick exercises, which will help you relieve stress from
repetitive movements or from standing or sitting in one position for too long:
For Wrists
1. Stand up straight.
2. Raise both of your arms straight out.
3. Bend your wrists so your fingers point upward and hold for five seconds.
4. Hold your wrists steady and turn your hands, so your fingers face the

© Vishwanath Bhat, 2010; used under license from iStockphoto.com.

floor and hold for five seconds.
5. Repeat the cycle five times.
For Fingers
1. Get a ball the size of a tennis ball or a tension ball.
2. Grip it tightly for a count of five. Release.
3. Repeat five times.
For Shoulders
1. Stand up straight and shrug your shoulders upward.
2. Roll your shoulders back and hold for a count of five.
3. Reverse direction and roll your shoulders forward for a count of five.
4. Repeat five times.

3 42 Chapter 3 Your Professional Image Part I: Orientation

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 Review Questions
1. What are four good personal hygiene habits?
2. What is the best way to ensure you are dressed for success?
3. What are four ways you can avoid ergonomic-related injuries?

Chapter Glossary
ergonomics The science of designing the workplace as well as its equipment and tools to
make specific body movements more comfortable, efficient, and safe.

personal hygiene Daily maintenance of cleanliness by practicing good healthful habits.

physical presentation Your posture, as well as the way you walk and move.

professional image The impression you project through both your outward appearance and your
conduct in the workplace.

Part I: Orientation Chapter 3 Your Professional Image 43

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Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.