Is a man bun appropriate for IB?

I wear my hair like this. The hairstyle honestly suits me more than anything else I've ever had.

However, would I be turned down for internships, and what are the chances of getting a job offer down the road?

I'm a first year at university, and currently I get a D/HD average - roughly equivalent to a US 3.6+ GPA with extracurriculars (leadership role, play tennis competitively, part of uni finance community), so even if I dressed appropriately at the interview would I be less likely to get an offer at a BB than if I had a more conservative haircut?

47 Comments
 

You're going to look like a fucking geisha. Police that hair.

//

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
GoodBread ymous12:

The hairstyle honestly suits me more than anything else I've ever had.

Please do tell.

I don't know really. It just looks good if you know what I mean? The man bun suits all face shapes. In my case, I have quite an angular face (but within the realm of normal - not model-esque) I've gotten more compliments (and action) from women in the first month I wore it as a man bun than ever combined - but maybe thats just going from high school to uni. Almost everyone complimented me on it, and I've never really gotten many before.

So back to the question, although I love the man bun, I'm willing to cut it if it's more appropriate for interviews. How would it affect my ability to get internships/jobs? Would it be possible that they don't care, especially at a BB?

 
Dingdong08

I'd only recommend the bun if it's Princess Leia style on both sides, you get a visible tattoo, preferably on your neck, pierce your ears, grow a beard, and wear a shiny suit with bling cufflinks and square toed shoes with some gold buckles.

That's hilarious, but no I'm not trolling. I'm definitely not a hipster and don't have any tattoos or dress "out there", and am pretty conservative otherwise. The man bun is pretty universal and quickly becoming popular like the undercut has been for the past few years (at least it is here in Sydney) - but as I don't have any experience yet, I just wanted to find out whether I should cut it before my first interview.

 

I am in IB in Sydney. Don't show up to an interview with a man bun. Very few IB spots in Australia overall (as you may already know) and no way you want to waste a precious interview on something like getting dinged for a man bun

 

I was being sarcastic because questions like these (should I go into an interview with long hair, a beard, tats, etc) are commonly asked and the answer is always no. It's a conservative business, as are most outside of the creative world, and it's best just to conform. I was a long haired surfer with a bunch of earrings when I was 18 so it's not a cut to something outside the norm but when you're trying to get a job, you need to conform. No reason to have a strike against you the moment you walk into an interview or networking thing.

 
Dingdong08

I'd only recommend the bun if it's Princess Leia style on both sides

This

"I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
 

There are a bunch of haters on this thread - not sure if it's stemming out of insecurity or jealousy of how you personally would look with a man bun. In my opinion, if you can pull it off, the man bun look can kill it for you - in a good way.

Is it appropriate for banking? That's a different question and the answer is probably no (as mentioned by a variety people above).

 
GoodBread

And where did this guy say he was interviewing for a VP role?

BOOM the answer to all of the world questions

Fortes fortuna adiuvat.
 

Does it have rainbow stripes?

[quote=Matrick][in reply to Tony Snark"]Why aren't you blogging for WSO and become the date doctor for WSO? There seems to be demand. [/quote] [quote=BatMasterson][in reply to Tony Snark's dating tip] Sensible advice.[/quote]
 
AndyLouis

rank of worst men's hairstyles

1. comb over / plugs
2. mullet
3. man bun
4. fauxhawk
5. bleach blonde on top
6. dreadlocks

discuss

Pony-tails, especially on men over 40. You're not young and your haircut isn't fooling anyone. This was the first I had ever heard of a man bun, but it's pretty horrific.
 

I'm gonna say it...you're pretty hot!! I thought of Bradley Cooper upon first glance. I think if you got rid of the "man bun" and styled your hair like Cooper did in the Hangover movies, that'll be sick. And probably more "acceptable" in a conservative banking environment (in my experience, the banking industry isn't exactly known for "open-mindedness").

 

Hey nothing wrong with a nice man bun on the right guy... and you're an Aussie? So much yes. But as far as getting a job/internship in IB with it.... umm prob not a good idea. ;/

 

I actually have found that a great deal of women--hot women--love the man bun. Unfortunately, most women who like the man bun are white trash and are un-suitable for dating/marriage. My advice is to wear it in college, sleep with as many white trash and/or young girls with no class that you possibly can, and then become an adult. If you wear that into an ib interview there is a 90% chance that you'll get dinged for looking like white trash.

When I was in college I was a skater and rocked a sideways cap and ripped jeans. Some girls--especially white trash girls--loved it. That doesn't mean I looked good.

 
spacejammer

No man buns in IB. The haters here are right. On the other hand, if you're looking to run a surf shop...

or doing porn like that Lazard intern Veronica Vain chick ....

"I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. " -GG
 
Best Response

Architecto aut occaecati illum dolores. Officia unde dolorum voluptas aperiam. Odit necessitatibus dicta debitis voluptas ducimus aut qui.

 

Illum quos officiis mollitia. Sapiente suscipit veritatis sed quam non consequatur.

Aperiam nisi et error qui sint quidem. Reiciendis non quidem error deserunt sed aut. Aliquam et voluptatum laboriosam. Quia sed esse et veniam.

Aut recusandae iusto quisquam autem ullam ut. Consequatur unde velit consectetur unde. Iste porro reprehenderit asperiores beatae.

 

Illo occaecati voluptatem maiores et at tenetur est nihil. Quas corrupti est est qui commodi. Suscipit enim unde quod aperiam accusantium ea officiis. Aut assumenda ullam dolorem sed eum modi.

Excepturi non vero exercitationem aut et aut non. Ipsam exercitationem facilis natus ut culpa voluptas. Eaque aut veniam odit quia hic. Eos quia ducimus quibusdam harum vitae perspiciatis perspiciatis et. Porro explicabo velit perferendis et animi.

Eos voluptate a consequatur officiis sed voluptate. Nemo labore voluptatem praesentium voluptas unde. Dolores illo qui molestiae iste. Hic illum sit voluptas accusantium accusamus. Non ipsam doloremque excepturi dicta iusto. Ad cumque molestiae doloremque tenetur. Repellat iste cum consequatur occaecati deserunt.

Quos eos fugiat aut et nam. Aut facere iure odio voluptates natus dolorem nostrum. Neque quibusdam eveniet aut in doloribus iusto illum.

This to all my hatin' folks seeing me getting guac right now..

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”