To ask how much ‘effort’ you make with your appearance for work?

[Birkinbag]

For context, I’m a manager in an administrative environment in my mid-30s. For the 15-ish years I’ve been working, I always get up earlier on days where I’m in the office to do my makeup and my hair - I have quite bad skin (acne scarring) so it’s partly a confidence thing, but mostly I just enjoy making myself look nice.

The other week at work, a couple of colleagues were talking about people who get ‘all dolled up’ for work and how pointless it is, and that we’re coming to work and not a fashion show. I don’t know if these comments were aimed at me or if I just happened to be there at the time but it’s made me feel really self conscious that people think I make too much effort and they’re laughing at me behind my back.

What are your thoughts - do you care about what your colleagues look like? Is it reasonable to get up half an hour early to put my face on when I am just working in an office?

No effort!

I wear scrubs and a face mask so no longer bother with mascara as I don’t see the point and all I use is a foundation. Really do not see the point in anything more. It’s a clinical workplace so not the norm to be particularly glamorous anyway.

My hair is generally tied back. At the moment it’s rarely particularly clean as we have no bathroom and I’m washing my hair in the kitchen sink twice a week but once our new shower is in I will likely have clean hair most days at least!

I never did but I don’t see why it’s a problem to anyone else if you do, they are probably just jealous you look more polished than they do.

I work in a primaries school as a HLTA. I make an effort every day. I wear smartish ( not jeans or trainers) clothes, though not heels, makeup etc every day. It makes me feel good which in turn boosts my confidence.

I am genuinely in awe of women who wear make up at work. I am not that great at doing my make up and because I have really dark eyelids any make up I put on always makes me feel like it’s an evening smouldering look. I can’t work out what lipstick suits my complexion and don’t start me on foundation!
Keep on wearing makeup OP and those of you that do and bugger the snide comments, it’s jealousy.

Always, always do my hair and makeup. I wear jewellery and make an effort with my clothes too. I enjoy it, and don't find it a chore.

I did my make up, 2 hours after my EMCS so there's no way I'd go to work without hair and make up done properly!

It's not about make-up or clothing, but taking a pride in your appearance.
But it depends on the role.

Customer-facing versus back-office/warehouse staff ?

I'm clean and I wear professional clothing, but that is all.

I don't judge people who wear make up though, it's their choice and none of my business.

I always make an effort for work because it puts me in a good frame of mind. I've discovered that I feel much better in general if I do my hair and makeup and put on a nice outfit.

I should add that I wear make up every day. I like clothes though am more casual at the weekend in that I’ll wear trainers as I’m not allowed to at school.

I make zero effort - I don’t have time. I mean I shower and wear clean clothes but no make up and hair in a messy bun.

I always make an effort with my appearance, regardless of where I am; what day of the week it is or who I am with (unless I am poorly!). I don’t feel particularly comfortable going out in my own garden without being dressed!

However, I don’t judge others for not making an effort, it’s just who I am and it makes me feel good about myself.

Nothing really, I don’t bother with makeup at all, but it wouldn’t cross my mind to judge those that do.

I haven't ever worn makeup at work regularly. Some women I work with so, some don't. It's never been an issue tbh.

Same. Well, I don't wear uniform (I'm civilian staff), but still... minimal make up as I don't really want to dolled up in a men's prison😬

Im expected to be tidy/smart/professional but that doesn't extend to looking attractive or fashionable. I wear very little makeup (mascara, a tiny bit of concealer under eyes if tired, tiny bit of blusher cream), my hair would usually be tied back in a plait or bun, i'd wear fairly boring flat or low heeled shoes and a simple comfortable black dress. I don't spend long getting ready at all.

I work full time in an office and I would never go into work without doing my hair and make up, make up is quite minimal - tinted moisturiser, concealer, blush, mascara and eyebrows filled in/brushed but it makes me feel better.

I wash my hair every other day so on ‘fresh’ hair days I will either straighten or curl my hair, in the in between days I have a couple of nice up dos that I alternate.

I have DC to get to breakfast club for 7:30 am then an hour commute so it means an early start but it makes me feel better and ‘ready’ to face the day.

I'm pretty vain so put on makeup every day and spend some time thinking about what to wear. But I don't really think about my colleagues' appearance and certainly don't pass any judgment on how they choose to present themselves.

I make no effort beyond making sure I’m clean, wear clean clothes, smell nice, have freshly washed hair and that I’ve got some moisturiser and eye cream on. I might fill in my brows and put some mascara on but a full face of makeup is just a waste as I spend all day wearing a mask anyway! Before my kids I took way more time with my appearance.

I don’t, but that’s only because I have a 14m old and value my time in bed more than getting ready time, I always feel better if I make an effort so I should do it more often!

I take pride in my appearance and find it a bit sad how many people these days have seemed to have stopped doing that.

I don't need makeup or curled/styled hair to be proud of my appearance. HTH.

NHS (AHP not nursing but patient facing so uniform) Showered, hair wash every other day, tinted moisturiser, lippy and mascara. That's it.

I do a five minute makeup, brush through my hair and business wear clothing, it’s the norm at my place to wear suit, dress etc. I’m not particularly bothered about anyone else’s morning routine, some of the men however are exceptionally well groomed.

My office has gone much more casual since Covid and a hybrid working week. I wouldn't have worn trainers before but now it's the norm, albeit smart ones.

I always do my hair and make up, jeans and a smart T-shirt with a blazer/cardigan. Similar to what I would wear going for lunch with a friend.

On wfh days it's a jumper and leggings. Minimal make up and tidy hair unless I have external meetings, and then I'll throw a blazer on to look a bit more professional!

On the days I've booked out to do tasks I'll be full on Trunchbull bun and hoodie with no effort made at all!

I WFH 3-4 days a week and even though I'm on camera both for internal meetings and external professionals meetings, I never wear make up. Just tie my hair back and jobs a good-un.

The 1-2 days I'm in the office i make more of an effort. Sometimes wear "office" attire, sometimes jeans and jumper depends how tired I am really.

I like doing my make-up and put a bit of effort into it. I mean, I'm not at like Instagram influencer level of make up that looks like nothing short of a sand blast will get it all off. But a nice BB cream, powder, blusher, eyebrows, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara and a touch of highlighter.