Whether you prefer a free-flowing, slicked back, curled, braided or a barely there style, your hair plays a major role in polishing your appearance.

But if your strands are frizzy and out of place, it may be hard for colleagues, supervisors and clients to believe that you're serious and about business when such an important aspect of your personal image is not intact.

Hair maintenance begins at home. But there are a number of surefire ways conscientious career women can maintain well-coiffed while at the office.

Simplicity is the key. To begin, Dure of New York suggests that women in the Workforce stay away from hard, terse styles. "Keep your hair conditioned and shiny, not oily. People do notice hair," he says. "Don't concentrate on elaborate styles. You want a style that is soft, feminine, pretty."

Hair care for some may consist of picking up a small mirror and smoothing down a strand or two with the palm of a hand. For others it may require light, quick bumping with a portable curling iron. Those who style their hair close to the nape of the neck may only need to add a little mousse to their crown to get it glowing again.

Dure and other hair specialists suggest that women carry "a little bit" of everything to manage their manes, including a small silk scarf, natural bristle brush, comb, curling iron, holding spray, oil sheen, decorative bobby pins, and possibly mousse.

Hair that is healthy, well-shaped and conditioned will require the least amount of attention during the workday. "If the shaping is there, there's not a lot of work that needs to be done," says haircare consultant Taquilla Hamilton of New Orleans.