Grooming and Hygiene for Restaurant Staff and Bar in

Villa Mabrouka

OPERATIONS

STAFFING

Grooming and Hygiene for Restaurant Staff and Bar

. A group of friends enter a restaurant or bar in the morning or evening for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and
are greeted by a waiter with food stains on his uniform. The guest begins to imagine the entire restaurant as

rude and vulgar; Without thinking, they walked out the door and left! Not exactly what you want. The

restaurant staff are the flag bearers of the hotel's photo. Ensuring that uniforms are well taken care of and

that good personal hygiene is maintained is non-negotiable.

Grooming: Why is it essential and for whom

As someone in the hospitality business, getting your staff trained on personal hygiene and
grooming basics should be your top priority. Everyone working on the premises, be it the
manager, front office staff, back-office staff, kitchen staff, or members of the top
management, should always be well-dressed and well-groomed. This is imperative to create
a good image and earn loyal customers.

‍Meaning of Grooming
Grooming is all about style, appearance, posture, and discipline. Paying
attention to these aspects helps enhance an individual's personality and the
enterprise's image and value. Projecting a professional image at work is
essential for one’s personal career growth as well as business growth.
Important elements of GroomingGroomin
 Dress/Uniform
 Hair
 Make-up
 Nails
 Breath
 Body Fragrance 
 Expression
 Body Language

Grooming helps an individual feel more confident. A well-groomed staff can

create a lasting first impression on your guests, and first impressions matter.
All staff (men and women), especially the frontline staff, should follow these
basic grooming guidelines.

 Take a shower/bath daily without fail.

 Brush your teeth twice.
 Wash your hair frequently.
 Take extra care of hand hygiene, make sure to wash your hands every
time before and after touching food, using the washroom, smoking,
handling cleaning agents, garbage, raw meat, etc.
 Wear a clean, spotless, well-fitting uniform.
 Wear shoes that are simple, comfortable, and polished well.
 Ladies must wear light minimal make-up, nothing too bright or
distracting.
 Men must shave or have a well-trimmed mustache and beard.
 Always wear perfume and after-shave that’s mild.
  Do not touch your face, ears, nose, etc.

These are some general guidelines. However, a restaurant staff comprises

both male and female staff. We have compiled a detailed list of grooming
essentials for men and women in the hospitality space.

Grooming Guidelines for Men

Hair

 Hair should be short, adequately trimmed, combed backward, and

should not cover your forehead.
 No long hair is allowed. Make sure not to grow your hair below the nape
of the neck.
 No loud colors, funky hairstyles, curly hair, or excessive styling with hair
gel. Natural hair color for the win.
 No sideburns below the middle of the ear.

Beard and moustache

 It is recommended not to keep a mustache or beard but to have a clean

shave at work.
 If you have to keep a mustache, it should be well-trimmed and not cover
your upper lip.
 Beard should be well-trimmed and is allowed only for some religious
purposes.

Nails hygiene

 Hand and toenails for both hands and toes should be well-trimmed and
clean.
 Nail color is a strict NO.
Jewelry

 No chains, bracelets, or any other accessory is allowed.

 Only the wedding band is to be worn.
 A simple watch with a metal or leather strap can be worn.
 No earrings allowed.

Breath and body odour

 Brushing teeth twice daily, followed by rinsing your mouth with

mouthwash, is highly recommended.
 Your breath must not smell food, cigarette smoke, or alcohol at any
time. Good oral hygiene is a must.
 Use deodorants and anti perspirants every day to keep body odour at
bay.
 Wear a perfume that has a mild and natural fragrance, nothing too
strong.
 Use an after-shave with a mild fragrance.

Footwear

 Wear shoes issued by the restaurant along with your uniform.

 If you have to wear your shoes, keep them simple. Preferably black
shoes with laces, clean and polished.
 Wear a fresh pair of socks every day to avoid any odour.
 Kitchen staff and cleaning staff should always wear the safety shoes
issued when on duty.
Grooming Guidelines for Women
Hair

 No fancy hairstyles, funky colored hair allowed.

 Hair should be trimmed, combed backward, and should not cover your
forehead.
 If you have medium-length hair till the nape of your neck, tie it in a neat
ponytail. Secure your hair in the front with hairpins.
 Long hair should be tied into a neat bun and covered with a net.
 Curly hair should be treated appropriately so that it appears neat and
smooth.
 No excessive use of hair gel.

Face

 Light minimalist make-up comprising a face cream, foundation, liner,

and lipstick must be worn at all times.
 Wearing a natural-looking rouge matching the skin tone is highly
recommended.
 Lipstick and eye-shadow must be in a natural or neutral shade.
 Bright and heavy make-up is a strict no.

Nail hygiene

 Long nails should be properly filed and shaped.

 Short nails should be trimmed, buffed, and cleaned.
 Only neutral and light shades of nail polish are to be used.
 No funky nail art or nail extensions are permitted at work.

Jewelry
  Bare minimum and minimalist jewelry to be worn.
 One ring on each hand, a simple bracelet or a bangle, and simple ear
studs can be worn.
 Hoops, nose rings, and chunky jewelry are a strict no-no at your
workplace.
 No flashy, diamond-studded watch allowed. A simple watch with a metal
or leather strap is permitted.

Breath and body odour

 Brushing teeth twice daily, followed by rinsing your mouth with

mouthwash, is highly recommended.
 Your breath must not smell food, cigarette smoke, or alcohol at any
time. Good oral hygiene is a must.
 Use deodorants and anti-perspirants every day to keep body odour at
bay.
 Wear a perfume that has a mild and natural fragrance, nothing too
strong.

Footwear

 Nude or black stockings to be worn with a skirt.

 Black socks to be worn with trousers.
 Black shoes with kitten heels or medium or small heels are permitted.
 No high-heels and pencil heels are allowed..

Common Guidelines for ‘Men’ and ‘Women’

Teeth Braces
Clear and silver teeth braces are allowed.
 Eye Glasses and Contact Lenses

 Plain black, brown, or silver frames eyeglass with clear lenses can be
worn at work, with no funky frames and jazzy colors.
 Clear contact lenses are permitted.

Piercing and Tattoo

 Piercing and tattooing visible body parts such as arms, legs, face, neck,
etc., is a strict NO.
 Any piercing on any visible body part is strictly not allowed.

Dining out is more than just good food today. Following these grooming basics
not just helps in boosting the confidence of your staff, it also helps in creating
stellar guest experiences and garnering positive reviews for your
establishment.