"Can't guys just wear a suit and get it over with?" That's what I hear most from male job seekers while running a studio for 10 years & a makeup shop. But in reality, there are quite a few points to consider for men's headshots. Today, I'm going to break down the essentials of men's headshots, from hair to ties to expressions.
💇♂️ Hair — Forehead Must Be Visible, Avoid Covering Eyebrows
The most important rule for men's headshots is to avoid covering your eyebrows as much as possible. If your bangs cover your eyebrows, it gives a heavy and dark impression. Also, one of the most common hairstyles for men is covering the forehead because it's easy to style. Although it's simple, it can make you look like a student and is one of the styles that is difficult to look neat in photos.
**Recommended Hairstyles**
- Side Part — Most neat and trustworthy impression
- Short Slick Back — Reveals the forehead for a cool and clean impression
- Two-Block (Short Version) — Natural and youthful impression, but not too flashy
Things to Keep in Mind
- Hair color should be natural black or dark brown only
- Shiny and well-groomed condition — No messy or sticking-out hair
- Shave neatly
- (Occasionally, some people don't shave on the day of the shoot, thinking only about Photoshop retouching,
- Retouching is possible, but skin tone correction may be overdone)
👔 Tie — The Color Alone Changes the Impression
Suits are basically black, navy, or charcoal gray, but you can adjust your impression with the color of your tie. Just like women change their hair or clothes, men's headshots can be accented with a tie.
| Tie | Impression | Recommended Industries |
|---|---|---|
| Navy (Solid, Stripe) | Trustworthy, Stable | Public Sector, Finance |
| Red/Burgundy | Confident, Active | Sales, Consulting |
| Blue/Sky Blue | Friendly, Clean | IT, Service |
| Gray | Calm, Intellectual | Research, Office |
Stripes (diagonal stripes) are the safest choice in Japanese job hunting.
😊 Expression — Men Should Also Lift the Corners of Their Mouths
Men often have a natural blank expression. This gives a cold or unapproachable impression.
- Don't clench your mouth, but slightly lift the corners of your mouth
- Look at the camera with a soft gaze
- Except for service industries like women, avoid showing your teeth
- Even a slight smile makes men look like they are smiling broadly, so practice smiling subtly
📸 Want to See If Your Style Suits Your Headshot?
At Monkos.ai, you can choose your hairstyle, background color, and outfit and apply them to your ID photo. In particular, you can compare three hairstyles (as is, neat, and all-back) at the same time, which is a concern for men, There are various suit colors such as navy and black, and you can also change the colors of the tie to stripes and solids as shown in the table above. Check it out before shooting 👇 👉 monkos.ai #headshot #mensheadshot #idphoto #jobseeker #interviewphoto #tie #hairstyle #AIidphoto #monkosai