From beards to brows, and haircuts to hand-care – here is everything you need to know about personal maintenance for the workplace.

In the ever-reliable annals of film and television, a well-kempt office appearance tends to imply some sort of deep character flaw. Think of American Psycho’s Patrick Bateman with his face masks, moisturisers and insatiable compulsion to kill. Or Carl Bruner, the main antagonist in Ghost – are we surprised to discover he’s a plotter and murderer, with those neat, well-tended eyebrows? More recently we’ve had hit TV series Mr Robot and its villain Tyrell Wellick, a man who enjoys BDSM, adultery, corporate backstabbing and, evidently, carefully brushing his hair each morning. The cliche lives on: to be groomed is to be doomed, at least if you want everyone at work to find you anything rather than deeply untrustworthy.

On the other hand, in that inconvenient thing known as real life, you hear tales of people who have lost out on a job because of inappropriate facial hair. If this is true, what exactly is a man supposed to do? When it comes to work, how do you strike a balance between odiously slimy and capably turned out? To provide you with some expert guidance through this somewhat murky issue, we at MR PORTER consulted Ms Mary Spillane, an image and leadership consultant who works with top companies such as Deloitte, BMW and the BBC to maximize their executives’ communication and presentation skills. “Good grooming means that you value yourself, respect others and pay attention to details,” says Ms Spillane. “However, balance is important. Too preened and you convey you have a serious relationship with a mirror. Which is always worrying.” Scroll down for Ms Spillane’s three key tips on grooming for the workplace:

Grooming, says Ms Spillane, is “generational”. That is, what’s appropriate in the workplace varies depending on how old you are, and who you work with. In fact, it’s not just about the way you look, says Ms Spillane, but the effect it will have upon those around you. “Millennials should consider who they need to influence,” she says. “If the boss is your dad’s age, sculpted eyebrows will worry him along with wearing a scent that lasts longer than you do in the room.” Older men, meanwhile, can employ grooming to maintain a more youthful appearance, but should keep it subtle. “Gen X: pay attention before it seems like a mid-life crisis when you all of a sudden start sporting highlights and exposing your ankles,” says Ms Spillane. “Boomers, meanwhile, need to focus mainly on unruly hair issues: sprouting from the ears, nose, across the brow through the collar. There are options. Borrow a millennial and find a friendly de-fuzz salon.

Historically, facial hair has been a no-no in work environments, however enthusiastically it’s embraced at your local Shoreditch-equivalent at the weekend. But, says Ms Spillane: “The clock is ticking on men (mainly) who have issues with facial hair. Many a CEO would never hire a man with a beard. But those who worry about it these days have a sell-by date on their foreheads.” What’s more, she adds, “A beard is always preferable to a weak chin. Transformational in all good ways. But be honest (get feedback) if yours is flattering, effective, etc. Stubble is too confusing. [It looks like you] can’t make up your mind. If in doubt, go on holiday, try it out, get some feedback. When you return, then learn how to care for it.”

Good grooming isn’t just about your face – most work situations involve a fair amount of gesticulating and hand-shaking. So you should look after your extremities. “Hands are critical in business,” says Ms Spillane. “If you are Mr DIY on the weekends, you must spend time on Sunday night soaking the dirt, trimming the cuticles and softening any rough patches. Best to have a manicure and then learn how to do it yourself.” (You can read the MR PORTER guide to looking after your nails here.)

Though the world of work has undoubtedly loosened up, there are still some danger areas when it comes to grooming, says Ms Spillane. “Over-done brows are ridiculous,” she says. Also, haircuts of the trendier variety tend to fall flat. “I have to draw a line at the _Peaky Blinders-_look in business. Too silly for words.”

**Branding Yourself: How to Look, Sound and Behave Your Way to Success (Pan Macmillan) by Ms Mary Spillane is out now **