PROFESSIONAL

GROOMING
Enhancing your professional
image
Edna Yayra Woadzro-Eli
Principal Auditor – Legal
© 2019
Objectives:

At the end of this session, we will be able to:

• Understand grooming
• Know the importance of Personal Grooming and its relation to our appearance and
professional image.
• Practice good grooming and dress sense
• Plan a wardrobe that is appropriate for time, place & occasion
Introduction
The Ghana Audit Service (GAS) is an institution set
up to provide professional auditing and accounting
services to its core clientele – government and
government agencies.

To successfully carry out this mandate, GAS strongly

embraces the culture of professionalism. Thus in
addition to all the strategies aimed at enhancing
staff knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) in GAS,
staff are also guided by the organization’s codes on
dressing and enabled by the Clothing Allowance
enjoyed by staff of the Service.
Going by the above, all staff of GAS, irrespective of the fact that you have
direct or indirect contact with guests/client/publics, are to be well groomed, as
this leaves a good impression on our guests and gives them a feeling that the
Service maintains high standards of professionalism.
What is Grooming?
• The act of exercising skill and caution in taking care of one’s outlook in order to
make a good impression on others.
• It is the process of making yourself look the part to leave a positive impression
of yourself in the minds of others.

Professional grooming:
In a corporate and a professional work-place, image and impression play an
important role.

Is the act of maintaining an image that is suitable for the corporate and
professional setting

• Areas : Appearance-Manners-Personal hygiene

 Appearance

• Clothes and manners do not make

the man but when he is made, they
greatly improve his appearance

• Whether this is real or imaginary

the most important fact is that your
appearance influences the opinions
of everyone around you.

What do you think about the appearances

of these two individuals?
Looking smart and Professional carries a
message

Your appearance shows:

• Your professionalism.
• Your level of sophistication.
• Your intelligence.
• Your attitude towards yourself and your
work
• Your credibility, and
• Assures the publics about standards of the
Service.
Factors that influence
Benefits of Grooming:
grooming:
• Cultural and religious beliefs • Boost confidence
• Upbringing/exposure • Gives you poise & presence
• Current fashion • You are accorded the needed
• Level of income/financial attention
status or power • Provides for emotional health
• Corporate experiences • Assists in maintaining self
• Feelings about one’s own esteem
sexuality • Perception management
Your image is like the The right look won’t close the
weather – it is noticed deal, but it can win the
when extremely good or opening argument.
bad
• Your image is your reputation First impressions are made within 5
• It reflects through your minutes of meeting someone.
conversation and written words Experts agree that your appearance
• Your image should be in sync exudes a powerful message.
with the Service’s corporate
culture/image.
Personal Grooming Habits
Grooming involves all the aspects of your body:

• Hair
• Skin
• Nails
• Teeth
• Hands
• Uniform/attire
• Feet

Every external part of the body demands a basic amount of attention on a regular basis.
Personal Grooming Habits
• Taking a good bath at least before & after work
• Practicing good dental care by brushing teeth & flossing it
occasionally
• Using quality body lotions & deodorants to keep body odour at bay
• Giving one’s self a good manicure & pedicure to care for the nails
• Having a hair cut or hair done at least every 2 weeks
• Wearing good cologne for men & nice scented perfume for women
• Ensuring clothes go to laundry after every wear.
Personal Grooming Habits: Hair

• It is your crowning glory

• Keep it at a length and
style at which you can
maintain it
• For women, wash your
hair at least once a week
Personal Grooming Habits: Hair
Females: Males:
• Hair should always be kept short.
• Tie hair in a neat hairstyle with
hair pulled back from face • Crop the hair in a conservative style to
look professional
• Hair, if longer than jaw line,
should be tied into a bun • Apply light oil/gel for a healthy &
professional look
• Apply oil or gel. It gives a
professional and healthy look • Facial hair must be kept neatly
trimmed (moustache & sideburns).
• Hair should be well groomed with
Beards are not recommended.
a neat appearance at all time.
• Hair colour should not be more than
• Hair holding devices should be
one or two shades darker or lighter
plain and of natural colours.
than your natural hair colour.
Personal Grooming Habits
Nails: Teeth:
• Clip nails short, along their • Brush teeth twice a day and rinse
shape. well after every meal.
• A healthy body ensures healthy • For those who have plaques on
nails their teeth,a visit to the dentist
• Brittle or discoloured nails twice a year should take care of
show up deficiencies or disease that
conditions • Carry mints strong enough to kill
• Ladies should wear nails short bad breath
and cute with light toned • Use mouth wash/listerine at least
colours twice daily
Personal Grooming Habits
Make-up:
• Make-up should be natural • (burgundy, green, etc.) must be
looking avoided.
• Facial and lip colour should not • Colons/perfumes should be of mild
be loud but conservative fragrance
• Women – wear professional
makeup in colours not too
loud.
Personal Grooming Habits: Accessories
Females: Males:
Jewellery, when tastefully worn, is Men should limit accessories/ jewellery
always an asset to your outfit. to 3 pieces:
• Be cautious of wearing dangling • Accessories include watch, ring,
earrings unless they are small. Do handkerchief
not wear multiple earrings. • Wristwatch should be of conservative
• The 5-piece rule design with plain & simple face and
– earrings counts as 2, not of athletic styles
– watch counts as 3, • Avoid bracelets, necklaces, rings and
– Ring counts as 4 visible piercings
– Additional accessory counts as 5
Personal Grooming Habits: Shoes
Females: Males:
• Shoes should be pumps or sling • Lace up conservative oxford shoes are
backs. Do not wear shoes with open the most appropriate.
toes, open heel, or ankle straps. • Shoes colour should be conservative
• Shoes should be good quality black/brown & should match the
leather colour of your trousers/be of a darker
• Shoe colour should match with colour
dress/trouser or be of darker colour. • Socks should match the colour of your
• Heels should be 1-2 inches to give suit and cover your calves.
you poise and posture • Belts should be in good condition and
match with shoe colour.
Personal Grooming Habits: Shoes
Men:
Females: Males:
What to Wear: Dressing for Success

“Dress shabbily, and they remember the

dress; dress impeccably, and they
remember the woman/man…”
- Coco Chanel -

It’s hard to disagree with her because

clothes are a very important part of our
image. Any flaw can be noticed.
What to Wear: Dressing for Success

Males:
• Always dress to look professional • Ties should be conservative and
• Dress for your audience daily reach the middle of your belt
• Wear clothes that fit you buckle.
• Make sure your clothes are well • Lace-up shoes (usually
pressed (preferably with a little black/brown) with a suit.
touch of spray starch) • Avoid shiny tie pins or clips or big
• Wear shirts with simple collar and belt buckles
cuffs • Don’t use loafers with a suit.
• Avoid multiple buttons on your
shirt.
What to Wear: Dressing for Success

Males: Suits
• The middle button on a 3
buttoned jacket should always
be closed.
• For a 2 buttoned jacket, the first
button should always be closed.
• And for a single buttoned
jacked, the button should
always be closed.
 What to Wear: Dressing for Success

Males:
Males:
Males: Others
Others
Others
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What to Wear: Dressing for Success

Females:
• Always dress to look professional • Low cut blouses, see through textiles
• Dress for your audience daily and too tight jeans attract unwanted
attention and stop people from
• Wear clothes that fit you
taking you serious at work.
• Make sure your clothes are well • Skirts should be of modest length
pressed and should be fitting & slits should be
• Don’t wear transparent fabrics appropriate (not long).
• Don’t wear anything too bright, • Generally, clothing should not be too
tight, sheer or short. fashionable, complicated or too
flashy
 What to Wear: Dressing for Success

Females: Others
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Watch
Video
Any Questions?
Quote

Grooming is the secret of real

elegance. The best clothes, the most
wonderful jewels, the most glamorous
beauty don't count without good
grooming.
Christian Dior

Good grooming is integral, and

impeccable style is a must. If you don't
look the part, no one will want to give
you time or money.
Daymond John
Edna Yayra Woadzro-Eli
Principal Auditor – Legal © 2019