Effortless Professional Hairstyles: Mastering Your Video Call Look While Working From Home

The global shift to remote work has transformed our daily routines, turning living rooms into offices and digital screens into boardrooms. While the comfort of working from home is undeniable, the demand for professionalism and presence in virtual meetings remains as important as ever. Looking put-together for video calls not only projects a polished image but also boosts personal confidence, helping to draw a clear line between your professional and personal life. You might not want to go through the full routine of getting ready, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look incredibly chic and ready for business.

Fortunately, achieving a sophisticated and professional look for your webcam doesn’t require hours of effort. We sat down with acclaimed Goldwell hairstylist, Steven Picciano, who shared his expert tips and exclusive insights with HollywoodLife on how to perfect your appearance with minimal fuss. Steven understands the challenges of balancing comfort with professionalism and has revealed three incredibly easy-to-do hairstyles that will ensure you look presentable and confident for any video conference, all without needing to fully ‘get ready’. These styles are designed for speed and impact, making them perfect for those busy work-from-home days.

The Foundation of a Great Video Call Look: Lighting and Setup

Before diving into specific hairstyles, Steven Picciano emphasizes a crucial, often overlooked element: your lighting. “The first thing I would suggest is checking your lighting before your meeting,” Steven advises. He highlights how proper lighting can dramatically enhance your appearance, regardless of your hairstyle. It’s a golden rule for any photo or video: “Simply putting yourself in front of the light (always think light behind the camera), not sitting with overhead lighting behind you, can help you to look great no matter what.”

Good lighting minimizes shadows, brightens your face, and makes your hair appear healthier and more vibrant. Ideally, you want a soft, even light source directly in front of you. This could be a window, a ring light, or even a well-placed desk lamp. Avoid sitting with a bright window or strong overhead light behind you, as this can create a silhouette effect, making you appear dark and shadowy. By mastering your lighting, you’re already halfway to a stellar video call presence. But there are also some quick, easy styles you can do to get you ready for your next video conference call, adding that extra touch of polish and professionalism.

Steven Picciano’s Top 3 Easy-to-Create Hairstyles for Video Meetings

See below for Steven’s three easy-to-create hairstyles that promise maximum impact with minimum effort, ensuring you look effortlessly chic and professional on every video call:

1. The Polished Bun with Clean Bangs

“Don’t underestimate the power of a clean bang and a nice sleek bun for a polished, professional look,” Steven advises. This classic combination is a go-to for a reason: it’s timeless, elegant, and keeps your hair neatly out of your face, allowing you to focus on your meeting without distractions. A sleek bun exudes professionalism, while well-groomed bangs frame your face beautifully, drawing attention to your eyes. This hairstyle is particularly effective for those with longer hair or bangs, offering a quick yet sophisticated solution for important virtual presentations.

How to Achieve This Look:

1. Preparation: Start with dry hair. If your bangs are a little unruly, a quick spritz of water and a blow-dryer with a round brush can help shape them. Ensure your hair is tangle-free for a smooth finish.
2. Gather Your Hair: Pull all your hair back into a low or mid-height ponytail, depending on where you prefer your bun to sit. Ensure it’s smooth and free of bumps – a paddle brush can help achieve this.
3. Create the Bun: Twist the ponytail tightly and coil it around its base. Secure with a strong hair tie or several bobby pins, making sure it feels firm and secure. For an extra sleek and refined finish, consider using a hair net in a matching color before pinning, which helps to contain any loose strands.
4. Perfect Your Bangs: Use a fine-tooth comb to gently style your bangs into place. If they are prone to flyaways or frizz, a tiny amount of smoothing product can be applied for better control and a polished appearance.
5. Finishing Touch: For an extra dose of shine and frizz control, Steven recommends the Goldwell Kerasilk Style Smoothing Sleek Spray. Apply a light mist evenly over your bun and bangs from an arm’s length distance. This product is expertly designed to provide a luxurious, weightless finish, effectively taming any flyaways and imparting a beautiful, healthy gloss that will look impeccable on camera. Its advanced formula ensures a smooth, refined texture without stiffness, making your elegant hairstyle resilient and picture-perfect throughout your busy meeting schedule.

2. The “Visible Curls” for Fullness and Bounce

For those who love the look of voluminous, bouncy curls but don’t want to commit to a full head of styling, Steven has a clever trick: “Create full, bouncy curls by pulling all of your hair in front of your shoulders and curl only what you can see.” This ingenious technique is a game-changer for video calls, as it strategically focuses on the hair that’s most visible on screen. This gives the immediate illusion of a full, professionally styled head of hair with minimal effort and time investment. It adds a lively, dynamic, and soft quality to your appearance, making you look energetic, approachable, and engaged without hours spent on hair preparation.

How to Achieve This Look:

1. Sectioning: Begin by bringing all of your hair forward, draping it over your shoulders. This action effectively isolates the sections of hair that will be most prominently visible on camera, allowing you to concentrate your styling efforts where they matter most.
2. Heat Protection: Prioritize hair health by always applying a high-quality heat protectant spray evenly through your hair before using any hot tools. This crucial step creates a barrier, shielding your strands from potential heat damage.
3. Curling Technique: Using a curling iron or wand (a medium to large barrel is ideal for achieving soft, natural-looking waves), take 1-2 inch sections of hair. Start curling from approximately mid-shaft down to the ends. Focus your efforts primarily on the front pieces and the top layers that elegantly frame your face. Hold each section for a few seconds until the curl sets, then gently release. For a more organic and less uniform look, alternate the direction of the curls – some towards your face, some away from it.
4. Cool Down: Once curled, allow the sections to cool completely before touching or brushing them. This critical step enables the curls to set properly, ensuring their longevity and bounce throughout your day.
5. Enhance Texture and Volume: To add enviable texture, significant volume, and a lasting yet flexible hold, Steven’s product recommendation is the Goldwell StyleSign Creative Texture Dry Boost Texture Spray. Hold the can about 10-12 inches away from your hair and mist it evenly through the curled sections, paying special attention to the roots and mid-lengths where volume is desired. This innovative spray is fantastic for creating instant body and grip without feeling sticky or heavy. It brilliantly revives flat hair and provides a beautiful, natural-looking texture that will truly pop on screen, making your curls look effortlessly full, defined, and ready for any virtual spotlight.

3. The Sleek Middle Part Tucked Behind Ears

If you’re aiming for a super chic, modern, and minimalist look that still radiates professionalism and sophistication, this style is your perfect match. “Lastly, create a sleek look with a middle part tucked behind the ears,” Steven suggests. This hairstyle is incredibly elegant, conveying a sense of sophistication, order, and meticulous grooming. It’s particularly effective for video calls as it beautifully highlights your facial features and creates a clean, polished, and distraction-free frame around your face, ensuring you look focused and composed.

How to Achieve This Look:

1. Starting Point: Begin with damp, freshly washed hair. This is crucial for achieving the ultra-sleek, smooth finish and allowing your hair to be trained into the desired shape.
2. Create the Part: Using a fine-tooth comb, create a precise, sharp middle part straight down the center of your head. Accuracy here is key to the elegance of this style.
3. Comb Flat & Blow-Dry: Comb your hair flat on either side of the part, ensuring it lies perfectly smooth against your head. Then, blow-dry your hair in this flat, tucked-behind-the-ears position. You can use flat hair clips or pins to gently hold the hair behind your ears while drying to help train it into position and maintain its sleekness. This technique helps to set the ultra-sleekness and prevents your hair from springing back or becoming unruly.
4. Smoothing and Shine: Once your hair is completely dry, for unparalleled smoothness, frizz control, and a brilliant, healthy sheen, Steven recommends the Goldwell Dualsenses Just Smooth 6 Effects Serum. Dispense a small amount (usually 1-2 pumps) into your palms and work it evenly through the lengths and ends of your hair, paying special attention to any areas prone to frizz or flyaways. This multi-benefit serum will effectively control frizz, add luminous shine, provide crucial heat protection, and impart a silky-smooth feel without weighing your hair down, which is absolutely essential for maintaining that refined, sleek aesthetic.
5. Lock in the Look: To ensure the front sections stay perfectly in place throughout your virtual workday and to add a touch of flexible hold to the overall style, use a light mist of Goldwell StyleSign Perfect Hold Big Finish Volumizing Hairspray. Apply a small amount to the front sections to tame any last flyaways and a very light mist over the entire style for a flexible yet firm hold that will last throughout your virtual meetings. Despite its “Volumizing” name, when used sparingly on a sleek style, it’s excellent for providing a natural hold without any crunchiness, perfectly maintaining that refined, elegant and polished finish.

Beyond the Hair: General Tips for a Polished Work-From-Home Presence

While these hairstyles offer a fantastic starting point for looking great on video calls, maintaining a truly polished work-from-home presence extends beyond just your hair. Consider these additional tips to elevate your overall video call demeanor, boost your confidence, and enhance your professional image:

• Regular Hair Care is Key: Even if you’re not physically going into an office, regular washing, conditioning, and occasional deep conditioning treatments are vital. Healthy, well-maintained hair is always easier to style and looks naturally better on screen.
• Dress for Success (at least partially): While sweatpants and loungewear are tempting for the lower half, putting on a professional top or blazer can instantly change your mindset. It signals to your brain that it’s “work mode” and projects professionalism to your colleagues and clients.
• Minimal Makeup, Maximum Impact: You don’t need a full face of makeup. A touch of mascara to open up your eyes, a little blush to add warmth to your cheeks, or a tinted lip balm can brighten your face and make you look more awake and engaged without a lengthy beauty routine.
• Clean and Tidy Background: Your background is part of your presentation. Ensure it’s tidy, clutter-free, and professional. A plain wall, a well-organized bookshelf, or a neat plant can provide a pleasant and non-distracting backdrop.
• Positive Body Language: Project confidence by sitting up straight, maintaining good posture. Make eye contact with your camera (not just the screen) to create a more personal connection, and nod occasionally to show active listening and engagement.
• Stay Hydrated and Take Breaks: Your overall well-being reflects in your appearance. Staying hydrated and stepping away from your screen for short breaks can prevent screen fatigue and help you maintain energy and focus throughout your virtual workday.

Conclusion: Confident and Professional, From Home

Working from home doesn’t mean compromising on professionalism or confidence, especially when it comes to your appearance on video calls. Thanks to Goldwell hairstylist Steven Picciano’s expert advice, achieving a chic, put-together look is simpler and more accessible than ever before. These three easy-to-create hairstyles—the elegant Polished Bun with Clean Bangs, the dynamic Visible Curls for fullness, and the modern Sleek Middle Part Tucked Behind Ears—offer versatile and impactful solutions for every virtual meeting on your calendar.

By incorporating proper lighting into your setup and strategically utilizing Goldwell’s high-quality professional products like the Kerasilk Style Smoothing Sleek Spray, StyleSign Creative Texture Dry Boost Texture Spray, Dualsenses Just Smooth 6 Effects Serum, and StyleSign Perfect Hold Big Finish Volumizing Hairspray, you can effortlessly elevate your work-from-home style with minimal effort and maximum results. Embrace these valuable tips not only to look your absolute best but also to feel more confident, empowered, and in control during your busy workdays. Project professionalism, maintain your personal routine, and shine brightly on every screen, right from the comfort and convenience of your home office.