A group of friends walk into your restaurant on a balmy Sunday afternoon for brunch and are greeted by a waitress with food stains all over her uniform. In their head, your guest starts imagining the whole restaurant as unkempt and tacky; without a second thought, they march out of the door and are gone! Not exactly what you would want as a restaurant owner. Your restaurant staff is the flag bearers of your image. Ensuring they are well-groomed and maintain good personal hygiene is non-negotiable.

Grooming: Why is it essential and for whom

As someone in the hospitality business, getting your staff trained on personal hygiene and grooming basics should be your top priority. Everyone working on the premises, be it the manager, front office staff, back-office staff, kitchen staff, or members of the top management, should always be well-dressed and well-groomed. This is imperative to create a good image and earn loyal customers.

‍Meaning of Grooming

Grooming is all about style, appearance, posture, and discipline. Paying attention to these aspects helps enhance an individual's personality and the enterprise's image and value. Projecting a professional image at work is essential for one’s personal career growth as well as business growth.

Important elements of grooming

• Dress/Uniform
• Hair
• Make-up
• Nails
• Breath
• Body Fragrance 
• Expression
• Body Language

Grooming helps an individual feel more confident. A well-groomed staff can create a lasting first impression on your guests, and first impressions matter. All staff (men and women), especially the frontline staff, should follow these basic grooming guidelines.

• Take a shower/bath daily without fail.
• Brush your teeth twice.
• Wash your hair frequently.
• Take extra care of hand hygiene, make sure to wash your hands every time before and after touching food, using the washroom, smoking, handling cleaning agents, garbage, raw meat, etc.
• Wear a clean, spotless, well-fitting uniform.
• Wear shoes that are simple, comfortable, and polished well.
• Ladies must wear light minimal make-up, nothing too bright or distracting.
• Men must shave or have a well-trimmed mustache and beard.
• Always wear perfume and after-shave that’s mild.
• Do not touch your face, ears, nose, etc.

These are some general guidelines. However, a restaurant staff comprises both male and female staff. We have compiled a detailed list of grooming essentials for men and women in the hospitality space.

Grooming Guidelines for Men

Hair

• Hair should be short, adequately trimmed, combed backward, and should not cover your forehead.
• No long hair is allowed. Make sure not to grow your hair below the nape of the neck.
• No loud colors, funky hairstyles, curly hair, or excessive styling with hair gel. Natural hair color for the win.
• No sideburns below the middle of the ear.

Beard and moustache

• It is recommended not to keep a mustache or beard but to have a clean shave at work.
• If you have to keep a mustache, it should be well-trimmed and not cover your upper lip.
• Beard should be well-trimmed and is allowed only for some religious purposes.

Nails hygiene

• Hand and toenails for both hands and toes should be well-trimmed and clean.
• Nail color is a strict NO.

Jewelry

• No chains, bracelets, or any other accessory is allowed.
• Only the wedding band is to be worn.
• A simple watch with a metal or leather strap can be worn.
• No earrings allowed.

Breath and body odour

• Brushing teeth twice daily, followed by rinsing your mouth with mouthwash, is highly recommended.
• Your breath must not smell food, cigarette smoke, or alcohol at any time. Good oral hygiene is a must.
• Use deodorants and anti perspirants every day to keep body odour at bay.
• Wear a perfume that has a mild and natural fragrance, nothing too strong.
• Use an after-shave with a mild fragrance.

Footwear

• Wear shoes issued by the restaurant along with your uniform.
• If you have to wear your shoes, keep them simple. Preferably black shoes with laces, clean and polished.
• Wear a fresh pair of socks every day to avoid any odour.
• Kitchen staff and cleaning staff should always wear the safety shoes issued when on duty.

Grooming Guidelines for Women

Hair

• No fancy hairstyles, funky colored hair allowed.
• Hair should be trimmed, combed backward, and should not cover your forehead.
• If you have medium-length hair till the nape of your neck, tie it in a neat ponytail. Secure your hair in the front with hairpins.
• Long hair should be tied into a neat bun and covered with a net.
• Curly hair should be treated appropriately so that it appears neat and smooth.
• No excessive use of hair gel.

Face

• Light minimalist make-up comprising a face cream, foundation, liner, and lipstick must be worn at all times.
• Wearing a natural-looking rouge matching the skin tone is highly recommended.
• Lipstick and eye-shadow must be in a natural or neutral shade.
• Bright and heavy make-up is a strict no.

Nail hygiene

• Long nails should be properly filed and shaped.
• Short nails should be trimmed, buffed, and cleaned.
• Only neutral and light shades of nail polish are to be used.
• No funky nail art or nail extensions are permitted at work.

Jewelry

• Bare minimum and minimalist jewelry to be worn.
• One ring on each hand, a simple bracelet or a bangle, and simple ear studs can be worn.
• Hoops, nose rings, and chunky jewelry are a strict no-no at your workplace.
• No flashy, diamond-studded watch allowed. A simple watch with a metal or leather strap is permitted.

Breath and body odour

• Brushing teeth twice daily, followed by rinsing your mouth with mouthwash, is highly recommended.
• Your breath must not smell food, cigarette smoke, or alcohol at any time. Good oral hygiene is a must.
• Use deodorants and anti-perspirants every day to keep body odour at bay.
• Wear a perfume that has a mild and natural fragrance, nothing too strong.

Footwear

• Nude or black stockings to be worn with a skirt.
• Black socks to be worn with trousers.
• Black shoes with kitten heels or medium or small heels are permitted.
• No high-heels and pencil heels are allowed.
• Kitchen staff and cleaning staff should always wear the safety shoes issued when on duty.

Common Guidelines for ‘Men’ and ‘Women’

Teeth Braces
Clear and silver teeth braces are allowed.

 Eye Glasses and Contact Lenses

• Plain black, brown, or silver frames eyeglass with clear lenses can be worn at work, with no funky frames and jazzy colors.
• Clear contact lenses are permitted.

Piercing and Tattoo

• Piercing and tattooing visible body parts such as arms, legs, face, neck, etc., is a strict NO.
• Any piercing on any visible body part is strictly not allowed.

Dining out is more than just good food today. Following these grooming basics not just helps in boosting the confidence of your staff, it also helps in creating stellar guest experiences and garnering positive reviews for your establishment.