Yesterday at the hair salon, I met a woman who bemoaned the fact that she's been going to interview after interview but still not able to land a job. She blamed her hairstyle - dreadlocks flowing down her back with a sweep of grey at the front. She said that the interviewers spent more time looking at her hair than at her.

"But what if it's not your hair that's the issue?" her stylist asked her. But the client insisted that it's her hair. She then contemplated cutting the whole thing off and wearing a wig.

This situation is not unusual. As jobs become more difficult to find, many job seekers have been altering their everyday appearance with the hope of improving their chances of finding work.

A new report from Implantium Network reveals that more than 300,000 people in Britain believe they've missed out on a job or promotion because of their appearance, especially with missing teeth and damaged dentures. One in twelve adults also feel self-conscious because of this. Forty-six percent of European workers who were laid off from full-time jobs last year have been altering their appearnce to make themselves more attractive to employees.

What about you? When interviewing candidates, does any specific aspect of their appearance affect your hiring decision? Or do you personally feel that a good appearance is essential to landing a job? Do share with us.