Great Hair Can Get You the Job
A former FBI agent reveals the powerful messages behind “hair language.”
Traditional wisdom tells us that playing with your hair appears distracted and unprofessional, but science shows that the right hair gestures can actually get you the job you’re after. “When someone moves their hands to their hair, we turn our attention to see what messages are there,” says Joe Navarro, world renowned behavioralist, formerly of the FBI. Navarro says hair is an important way to communicate with individuals in the workplace, and it goes beyond appearance.
For instance, when an interviewer asks a particularly pressing question, intertwine your hair and your fingers while maintaining wide elbows. This movement shows that you are open and pensive, but unyielding. When the questions get more difficult, you might tighten your ponytail with clenched fists before answering. This says, “Game on.” When you get a chance to ask your own questions, orient your body directly at the interviewer and gently sweep your hair behind your ears. This gesture says you are interested in the response, and that your attention is undivided.
To give off powerful clues with the way you handle your hair, it must be soft and touchable. Dry hair not only appears lifeless, it also reduces the fluidity of your hair gestures, stifling your ability to express your thoughts and intentions with nonverbal finesse. Maintaining excellent hair health is one more way to give you a much-needed edge when you walk into what you hope will be your new office.
