The styling choice that trips up more professionals than any lighting angle ever could.
I was sitting across from a client last month who had been staring at her reflection for a solid three minutes.
She had her hair twisted up in a loose chignon. Then down. Then up again. Her hands were shaking slightly.
"I just need to get this right," she said. "This photo is going on everything."
She wasn't being dramatic. Her new headshot would live on LinkedIn, her company bio page, conference speaker submissions, and every pitch deck for the next two years. One photo. Thousands of impressions.
And here she was, paralyzed by a ponytail.
I've seen this moment hundreds of times. The hair question is the one that quietly derails more headshot sessions than bad lighting or wrong outfit choices combined.
So let's settle it.
The Real Question Nobody's Asking
Here's the thing most headshot guides get wrong.
They treat "hair up or down" like a binary choice. Like there's a universally correct answer hiding in some style guide somewhere.
There isn't.
The question isn't whether hair up or down photographs better. The question is: which version of you needs to show up in this photo?
Stay with me here.
Your headshot isn't a passport photo. It's not documentation. It's a promise. It tells the person looking at it exactly what they'll get when they meet you, hire you, or work with you.
Hair up says something different than hair down. Neither is better. But one is truer to the professional identity you're building.
What Hair Up Actually Communicates
When you pull your hair back, up, or away from your face, you're doing more than keeping it tidy.
You're saying: I'm here for business. I'm focused. Nothing is getting in the way.
An updo or pulled-back style draws attention to your face, your eyes, your expression. There's nowhere to hide. It reads as confident, polished, and no-nonsense.
Hair up tends to work well for:
- Executive and leadership roles
- Finance, law, and consulting professionals
- Anyone who wants to project authority
- Formal corporate environments
- Roles where trust and credibility are paramount
Think about it. When you picture a CEO giving a keynote, a surgeon explaining a procedure, or an attorney in court, what do you see? Usually hair that's controlled, intentional, out of the way.
"Your hair shouldn't compete with your message. In high-stakes professional contexts, anything that distracts from your face is working against you."
But here's where it gets interesting.
What Hair Down Actually Communicates
Wearing your hair down doesn't mean unprofessional. It means approachable.
Loose waves, soft curls, or sleek straight hair framing your face adds warmth. It softens your overall presence. It makes you look like someone people want to grab coffee with, not just someone they respect from a distance.
Hair down tends to work well for:
- Creative industries (marketing, design, media)
- Client-facing roles where warmth matters
- Entrepreneurs building personal brands
- Healthcare and wellness professionals
- Roles where collaboration and approachability drive success
There's research behind this, too. Studies on first impressions consistently show that people form judgments about warmth and competence within milliseconds of seeing a face. Hair styling influences both.
The stylist who showed up to cut my hair last year? Hair down, soft waves, friendly smile in her headshot. It made me trust her creative judgment before she ever touched my head.
The Industry Breakdown (Because Context Matters)
I'm going to give you what most headshot guides won't: a direct answer based on industry norms.
Go with hair up if you work in:
- Finance and banking
- Law and legal services
- Corporate consulting
- Executive leadership
- Government and policy
Go with hair down if you work in:
- Marketing and advertising
- Tech startups
- Real estate
- Coaching and personal development
- Creative services
It genuinely doesn't matter in:
- Education
- Healthcare (varies by role)
- Nonprofit
- Sales (depends on what you're selling)
Now, before you tattoo this list on your arm, remember: these are defaults, not rules.
If you're a startup founder who's also pitching to traditional investors, maybe the updo serves you better despite being in tech. If you're a lawyer specializing in entertainment contracts, perhaps the approachable look wins.
The industry is the starting point. Your specific role and audience are the tiebreaker.
The Part Nobody Tells You
Here's where most people mess this up.
Your headshot hair should look like your actual hair.
Not your wedding hair. Not your "I have a blowout appointment" hair. Not the hair you had in 2019 before you chopped it all off.
If you wear your hair up most days at work, photograph it up. If it's usually down, photograph it down.
Why? Because your headshot is a preview, not a fantasy.
When someone meets you after seeing your LinkedIn photo, there shouldn't be a disconnect. That moment of "wait, is that her?" damages trust before you've even shaken hands.
I've watched hiring managers get visibly thrown off when a candidate walks in looking nothing like their photo. Fair or not, it creates a subconscious credibility hit.
"The best headshot isn't the one where you look the most polished. It's the one where you look the most like yourself on a really good day."
What About Getting Both?
This is where I used to tell clients to budget for two sessions. Or at least plan for outfit changes and hairstyle switches mid-shoot.
The problem? That's expensive. And stressful. And you're making hair decisions while a photographer waits and the clock ticks and suddenly you're back to that paralyzed-by-a-ponytail moment.
But there's another option now.
With AI-powered headshot generators, you can upload a few casual photos and get professional headshots in multiple styles. Different hair. Different backgrounds. Different vibes.
You're not committing to one version of yourself before seeing the results. You're testing options without the $400 photography session and the anxiety spiral.
I'm obviously biased here since we built HeadshotPhoto.io to solve exactly this problem. But even setting that aside, the logic holds: why guess when you can see?
A Simple Decision Framework
Still not sure? Walk through these questions:
1. What do you wear your hair like most workdays? That's probably your answer. Consistency beats optimization.
2. Who is your audience? Are they traditional or progressive? Formal or casual? Match their expectations, not your preferences.
3. What emotion do you want to evoke? Authority and competence lean toward hair up. Warmth and approachability lean toward hair down.
4. What does your industry expect? When in doubt, look at successful people in your field. What are they doing?
If you answer these four questions honestly, the decision usually becomes obvious.
Quick Styling Tips (Regardless of Your Choice)
Whatever you decide, a few things matter for both:
If you're going hair up:
- Skip anything too elaborate or formal unless you're in a creative field
- Make sure it's secure so you're not fidgeting
- Leave a few soft pieces around your face if a severe look doesn't feel like you
If you're going hair down:
- Wash it the day before (day-old hair holds style better)
- Avoid heavy products that create shine under lights
- Make sure it's not covering your face or one eye
For everyone:
- No drastic changes right before the shoot
- Bring backup options if you can
- If you're using an AI headshot tool, you can experiment without consequences
The Real Secret
You want to know what actually matters more than hair up or down?
Your expression.
A genuine, warm, confident expression will outperform any hairstyle choice. People remember faces, not updos. They remember the feeling your photo gave them, not whether your hair was behind your shoulders.
So yes, think about your hair. Make a thoughtful choice. But don't let it consume so much mental energy that you show up to your session stressed and distracted.
The best headshot is one where you look like you're having a good day and genuinely happy to be there. Everything else is styling.
Ready to stop overthinking and start seeing what actually works? Try HeadshotPhoto.io and generate professional headshots with different styles, hair options, and backgrounds in under 10 minutes. No photographer, no scheduling, no ponytail paralysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you wear your hair up or down for a professional headshot?
It depends on your industry and personal brand. Hair up projects authority and is better for corporate, finance, and law. Hair down conveys warmth and approachability, ideal for creative fields and client-facing roles. The most important rule: style it the way you normally wear it to work so people recognize you in person.
What is the best hairstyle for a LinkedIn profile photo?
The best LinkedIn hairstyle is one that looks polished but natural, matching how you typically present yourself professionally. Popular options include loose waves, a sleek blowout, or a low chignon. Avoid overly styled or trendy looks that may not age well. Your face should be clearly visible, so keep hair away from your eyes.
How should I prepare my hair before a headshot session?
Wash your hair the day before your session since freshly washed hair can be too soft to hold a style. Avoid heavy products, shine sprays, or anything that makes hair look greasy under studio lights. Bring a small comb and light hairspray for touch-ups. If you're uncertain about styling, consider using an AI headshot generator to test different looks first.
Do professional headshots look better with straight or curly hair?
Both straight and curly hair can look excellent in professional headshots. The key is working with your natural texture rather than fighting it. If your hair is naturally curly, enhance your curls with a defining product rather than straightening them. People should recognize you when they meet you, so authenticity matters more than any specific style.
Can I use AI headshots if I want to try different hairstyles?
Yes, AI headshot generators like HeadshotPhoto.io allow you to see yourself with different professional styling options before committing to one look. This is especially useful if you're undecided between hair up or down since you can compare results side by side without the cost and time of multiple photography sessions.
