Gentleman’s Grooming Guide to Virtual Professionalism

The pandemic has made virtual meetings nearly as common as in-person meetings, so the World’s Oldest Barbershop presents a guide to looking your best for remote work.

Mastering the etiquette of a business meeting is a skill we hone over time as we traverse our professional lives. Certain rules might see you in good stead; arriving early, being thoroughly prepared, or following a specific dress code. But in the age of working from home, face-to-face meetings may be traded for virtual Zoom video calls, and the etiquette around them has hit the headlines. A judge in Florida, for example, lambasted some lawyers who appeared in T-shirts or, worse, shirtless before him in digital form.

Virtual conference calls have become increasingly popular even for those who have returned to in-office work, but it’s important not to become laissez-faire. Attention must be paid to your professional image and virtual workplace to bring the same level of professionalism expected in office settings. Aside from ensuring you employ an appropriate virtual background in webinars and zoom conference calls, avoiding technical issues, and mitigating any distracting background noise in your home office, personal appearance goes a long way in presenting a professional image.

Here, Truefitt & Hill offers a practical guide to looking your professional best in virtual settings.

Put Your Best Face Forward

Healthy skin is every man’s starting point, but virtual work environments may make that more difficult. There are concerns that working from home and not venturing outside as much during the work day may be causing the risk of vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to skin looking pale and sallow. Video calling lends another element to meetings; you can suddenly see yourself. You are more aware of your appearance, so ensuring you look your very best and feel confident in your presentation as you lead the discussion for your team or chair a meeting is vitally important.

Cleansing and moisturizing is a basic 2 step gentleman’s skincare regimen that should be practiced twice daily, whether going into the office or working from home. To lend the appearance of a restful night, even if you have been tossing and turning, start with our zesty Daily Facial Cleanser - lime and grapefruit notes will freshen you up, and the jojoba beads will exfoliate dead skin. Then move on to our Advanced Facial Moisturizer, which helps to visibly minimize the appearance of pores and leaves you with a radiant, healthy-looking complexion.

Dress Appropriately

Good video conference etiquette in the virtual world extends to your attire. If in doubt, opt for a collar at all times -your upper half is emphasized, so things like collars and chest pockets are more in focus. It might feel like dress down Friday, but steer clear of T-shirts and opt for a polo shirt instead, which is a smarter alternative. Also, think about your hands when you gesture or hold a pen - our Manicure Sets will help you keep things neat and smart - and be wary of covering your mouth or fidgeting with your face. It will detract from what you are trying to communicate.

The Hair Care Conundrum

Working from home may mean paying less attention to your regular barber stops and hair care routines. But we urge you to continue to style your hair in such a way that shows you are as professional and sharp as you ever were when you reported to the office on the daily; our Master Barber, David Olds, recommends sweeping hair up and away from the face.

For this, try our C.A.R Cream. Its light and easy-to-apply formulation won’t weigh your hair down but will provide a natural finish. For a firmer hold, try our Pomade - it commands the hair in a firmer fashion. And if your daily commute to work consists of walking down the hallway to your home office rather than traversing across town, take advantage of the extra minutes by employing our restorative Vitamin E shampoo.

If you have found your motivation to practice your daily grooming routines is beginning to wane, let this be your reminder that personal grooming is just as important as ever, even with the new era of virtual meetings. Learn more about Truefitt & Hill’s product lines that will help restore your motivation to curate a sharp, professional look from the comfort of your own home.