By Monday morning I always have a beard on it's way. I'm told it suits me and I feel most comfortable with a bit of designer stubble.Now considering ditching the clean-shaven look for work too. Do you think this is acceptable for a client-facing consultant?For info I'm not industry aligned and work as a non-techie IT consultant at Senior Consultant level.Great forum. Please spare me from the usual barrage of abuse.

I prefer stubble too. But if you are client-facing you need to be very familiar with the client and know that they do not mind. Even then I would be hesitant. Clients can be very judgmental - on a project a few years back I thought I had a great relationship with my client-side manager but in my final review he slated me for not wearing a belt. In my opinion shaven is always safe, stubble does just annoy some people which can give you unnecessary aggro. My two cents.

Beard! It's the new black!

I have major problems shaving in that I can't always be bothered and get awful shaving rashes before my razor even touches my face. Before Xmas I said sod it and grew a full on beard and had it until the beginning of February (kept it trimmed in-between). No one batted an eyelid and yes I am on client site! I looked smarter than the vast majority of them even with a beard. So I say go for it, as long as you keep in trimmed it shouldn't be too much of an issue and if people make too many comments you can always get rid of your stubble.

A full beard is fine, but let it grow out while you're on holiday. Stubble, whether of the "designer" variety or the "my beard is growing out" variety is seriously uncool and a career-limiting move. It's shaved or a beard, nothing in-between.

remember that if you are working on European projects and need to kiss your clients, the beard or stubble can be irritating. I quite agree with the client who objected to the lack of a belt.. very schoolboy and an absolute no no.

Honestly, I have never heard of kissing clients in European projects.. Kiss is only for close and intimate friends in some part of Europe, but certainly not for clients!!

Just to echo agreement to some of the comments already, I think beards are fine if well maintained and not of the designer stubble variety. I respectfully disagree with consultants that say you absolutely must look and act a particular way as I think it just boils down to common sense. If you are smart and presentable within given norms, are able to discuss complex issues in an eloquent and informed manner, inspire a level of confidence and reassurance, etc all those well understood consulting skills then after the first impression, your appearance will be less of a consideration than the quality of your work for the vast majority of clients. That's been my experience but open to correction. I think not wearing a belt is a bit like shoe laces being untied? Although to bring it up is really sad. And as for kissing 'European clients' it's never come up for me personally. Too trivial to worry about really.

I just thought I would share this story and then you can decide.......I recently worked on a project in F&B which involved me visiting an ingredients factory. To conform with health and safety they asked that I wear a hair net for my beard. I was there with the client and I looked like a tw@Is it really worth it?