You may love that your signature scent lets everyone know you're in the room, but your co-workers should only be able to smell you when they're leaning over your shoulder to read something on your computer screen. Not when you walk past their office door.
"Strong perfumes, colognes, and body odors can create a difficult work environment," says Angie Strunk, Vice President of Operations for Sheakley, a human resources service provider. "Many times it can develop into an awkward situation that no one is comfortable addressing but many people are unhappy about." Hesitant to ease up on the scent? Consider this: If your boss gets a headache every time he's around you, that's not exactly going to help your chances of getting that raise you're hoping for.
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Hair play
Few things make you look more immature than twirling your hair. You don't sit at your desk licking a lollipop. You don't tote your lovey with you to the office. And you shouldn't play with your hair.
"Fiddling of any type shows lack of confidence, boredom, nervousness, and even potential fear -- all of which are business killers," explains Sabina Gault, CEO and Founder of Konnect PR. If you play with your hair a lot, wear your hair back in a bun or ponytail so you won't be tempted to twirl.
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Nail biting
Right up there with playing with your hair is biting your nails, which not only gives off a nervous vibe but can also hint at another weakness: bad personal hygiene. If such a noticeable part of you appearance looks unkempt, flaky, or is bleeding, "people may assume that you are not paying attention to details," says Leah McAdaragh, a National Sales Manager. "Plus, the habit can indicate an inability to remain calm in urgent environments."
Bottom line: "Nails don't have to be polished, but they should be clean and manicured," says McAdaragh. If you're a biter, try a color on your fingertips so you're less inclined to nibble.
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Too much or too little makeup
There is a fine line when it comes to office-appropriate makeup. You don't want to be completely fresh-faced, but you also don't want to look like a Fox News anchor, either.
The solution: Apply light layers and toned-down colors. "Stay away from bold, crazy colors and go with neutral shades," says Gault. Avoid false lashes, glittery makeup, and a smoky eye. Instead, opt for a monochromatic look, which is a safe way to ensure you look polished -- but not ready for happy hour. The one exception? A classic red statement lip, which experts agree can help you exude confidence.
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Crazy (long!) nails
You may think your nails are the one place you can safely express yourself, but unless you work in a creative office, crazy nail art or super long nails can make you seem unprofessional. As a general rule, steer clear of busy designs, accent nails, 3D decals, and claw-like shapes. As for shades, office-appropriate color has evolved past classic red and "Ballet Slippers" pink. You can usually get away with a spectrum of colors -- just steer clear of super-bright and neon hues. A smart solution? The new nudes, which are trendy without being a snooze-fest.
Length is another nail factor to consider. Not only is color more distracting on longer nails, but the clickity-clack they make on your keyboard is also sure to irk your cube mates.
Work hard and you will be rewarded, right? Maybe � as long as you don't have split ends and chipped nail polish.
According to a recent British survey, smudged mascara, a fake-looking tan, and too much makeup can even prevent you from being hired in the first place. That's right, employers are quick to judge you by your bad beauty habits.
Of course, you've got to know your industry. Case in point: Last week, our Associate Editor Sharon showed up with a multi-colored mani complete with rhinestone bows on each finger. Naturally we all spent the morning fawning over her nails -- including Sharon's boss. But would Sharon get that type of reaction if she worked on Wall Street? Ha!
While dress code rules will differ from workplace to workplace, there are a heap of unspoken beauty habits that bosses hate more than your frequent Facebook breaks.
To get the nitty-gritty on these universal no-nos, we asked CEOs and upper-management executives to tell us their biggest pet peeves when it comes to the beauty mistakes women make at the office. Are any of them hurting your career?
