by Kamryn Adams

Created on: September 22, 2009   Last Updated: September 26, 2009

Just because you are a no-nonsense business woman doesn't mean you have to leave your personal style behind during the business week. Depending upon the culture of your organization, there is definitely room for you to express yourself while still remaining aligned with the corporate norm. The objective for business dress is to display the appropriate level of professionalism and allow enough of your own style to come through in order for you to be the best YOU that you can be at work. There are three personal grooming areas that require attention for business women: Hair, nails, and skin.

HAIR

Hair should be neatly off of the face. This gives you lots of flexibility in technique to allow your personal style to come through. Having your hair off of your face doesn't mean you have to walk around all week in a librarian's bun on top of your head. There are great updo styles that you can wear at work including: French twist, low bun, high-volume ponytail, low nape ponytail and others. If an updo does not reflect your personal style, you may join the ranks of business women that choose to keep their hair length short, cropped above their collar. If long hair is a must for your weekend activities, pull the sides back during the work week to keep your hair neatly out of your face.

NAILS

Believe it or not your hands get the most attention in a work day. Presentations and handshakes are to blame. There are really only two nail options for most corporate environments -nude and red. Yep, red works if your nails are medium to short length. Longer nails should either be nude or showcasing a French manicure. Whether you chose red, nude, or French the one rule that applies to all women: always have a fresh manicure. Do not go to work with chipped nail polish on your hands. Remember those presentations require lots of handy work.

SKIN

Besides the obvious rule to have clean skin when you arrive at the office, it's important for business women to pay attention to their make-up and perfume choices. The days of malign smelling business women walking down the halls are long gone. However, you can't pour on a bottle of White Shoulders and expect to have a meeting room full of focused clients. Perfume choices should be soft and subtle. When it comes to fragrance at work, less is more. The same rule applies to make-up. You can still chose colors that accentuate your complexion. Simply limit the amount of color around the eyes. It's okay to add color to the lips and a moderate amount on the cheeks.

If you follow these simple rules for hair, skin, and nails you'll be stylish, yet very work appropriate.

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