Men's Life Today: Expert Q+A

Let's say I need to clean up my 5 o'clock shadow before I leave work for a date or business dinner. Is it OK -- in terms of proper etiquette -- to shave in the men's room at work?

To paraphrase, you’re wondering if the axiom “never let ’em see you sweat” also applies to shaving? The answer, my whisker-loathing friend, is yes, it does. Even for the most hirsute, as long as you’ve given yourself a good shave that morning, you should be able to make it to the end of the workday without looking like Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski.

But if your face needs a quick once-over before you start your night on the town, try to find a more appropriate place than the office loo. After all, do you really want your co-workers to walk in and find you in shaveante? Imagine the performance anxiety you’ll feel as your boss waits for the sink while you shape your sideburns.

Instead, a better option is to take your scruffy visage to the gym. As you dive into your Dopp kit in the locker room, dream of the day when you’ll have your own private bathroom at the office. Then, young man, you can shave at work to your heart’s content.