Publix Store Personal Appearance Standards
All appearance standards are gender-neutral.

Smile
Your smile is the most important part of your uniform. It lets your customers know you're eager to provide premier service. Plus, it just makes working feel more fun.

Hair restraints
Anyone entering a food preparation area is required to wear a Publix-approved hair restraint. Restraints are required by food code. When worn correctly, they keep hair from touching or falling into food, equipment, utensils, linens, unwrapped single-service and single-use items. They allow us to meet our commitment to providing the highest level of food safety for our customers.
- All hair, including bangs, should be contained within the restraint. No hair should be visible outside the hair restraint.
- Restraints should cover the area from below the hairline of your forehead, running just above your ears, to below the hairline on the back of your head.
- If you have long hair, use two Publix-supplied hair restraints to ensure all hair is contained. If needed, a mesh hair restraint in a neutral color provided by the associate can be worn under Publix-supplied hair restraints to contain long hair.
- If you have shorter hair, you can use a single Publix-supplied hair restraint.
- If you have facial hair, wear a beard restraint.
- Publix will provide you with different styles and sizes and will choose the hair restraints approved for use.

Hair
Male or female hair must follow these requirements:
- Be clean, neat and appropriately styled.
- Be tied off the shoulders and away from the face, if it's long enough to touch the shoulders.
- Not hang below the eyebrows or in the face.
- Not distract or cause unnecessary attention.
- Highlights: Up to any 2 colors.
- Whole-head coloring: natural colors only (brown, black, blond, etc.).
- Highlights in more than 2 colors.
- Whole-head coloring that is not natural.
Note: Publix-approved hair restraints must be worn in food preparation areas.
Facial hair
If you have facial hair, you must present a neat, clean and professional appearance.
- Beards must follow these requirements:
- Be no longer than approximately 1 inch in length.
- Have a defined cheek line and neckline, with the remainder of the face clean-shaven.
- Be well-groomed and appropriately cared for.
- Mustaches cannot hang below the upper lip.
Note: Publix-approved beard restraints must be worn in food preparation areas.

Makeup
If you wear makeup, it must be applied lightly and carefully.
Hands and nails
- Hands and nails must be kept clean.
- Nails must follow these requirements:
- Be no longer than medium length (approximately 1/8 inch from the end of the finger to the tip of the nail).
- Be filed, neatly maintained and professional-looking.
- Not interfere with work functions.
- Not allowed: Nail designs with messaging or branding.
- In food preparation areas, you must follow these requirements:
- If you wear polished nails or false nails, you must wear approved gloves that are intact and in good condition.
- You may not wear jewelry on your hands except for a plain ring, such as a wedding band.
Ear piercings
Ear piercings should not interfere with assigned work functions.
Allowed
- No more than 4 piercings per ear (an industrial bar counts as 1 piercing).
- Hoops no more than 1 inch in diameter (about the size of a quarter), except in food preparation areas.
- Dangle earrings up to 2 1/2 inches long, except in food preparation areas.
- Gauges up to 3/4 inch (about the size of a nickel).
- If you have stretched earlobe holes that are bigger than 3/4 inch, you must wear flesh-tone plugs.
Not allowed
- More than 4 piercings per ear.
- Wearing hoops or dangling earrings in food preparation areas.
- Gauges larger than 3/4 inch.
- Concealing jewelry that’s not permitted with bandages or tape.
- Extreme earrings.

Facial piercings
Facial piercings should not interfere with assigned work functions.
Allowed
Only 2 facial piercings.
Any combination from the list below counts toward the total of 2. (Note: 2 piercings may look like 4 pieces of jewelry.)
- Tongue piercing (only 1 is allowed).
- Nose piercing, excluding septum.
- Bite piercings around the perimeter of the mouth.
- Eyebrow piercing.
Not allowed
- More than 2 facial piercings.
- Lip piercings, including the inner lip.
- Septum piercings.
- Spikes or sharp-edged jewelry.
Rings
- Limit rings to 1 on each hand.
- When working in food preparation areas, only a plain ring, such as a wedding band, is allowed. No other jewelry is permitted on your hands.
Other jewelry
- Jewelry should not
- be too fancy or obvious
- get in the way of work functions and
- have messaging or branding.
- When working with exposed food, jewelry worn around your neck must be contained within your shirt or blouse.
- While working in food preparation areas, only a plain ring like a wedding band is allowed. No other jewelry is permitted on your arms and hands.
- Concealing jewelry that may be considered fad or extraordinary with coverings, such as bandages or tape, is not allowed.
Phones
- Cellphones must be on silent or vibrate, so they don't distract you from serving customers.
- If you're using Publix-approved tools like Publix PRO, you may use your personal mobile device during work hours for job-related functions. Your device must remain on silent or vibrate.
- If a store manager determines the use of cellphones or smartphones is creating a business distraction or potential safety issue, they may decide not to allow associates to carry them while working.
Perfume and cologne
Perfume and cologne may be worn but in moderation.
Undergarments
Proper undergarments must be worn at all times.
Gum
Chewing gum is not allowed.
Hygiene and appearance
Take pride in your appearance and practice good personal habits.
You are expected to
- bathe regularly and
- be clean and free of body odors when starting work.