Why Is Facial Hair Not Allowed In The Military?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Excluding limited exemptions for religious accommodation, the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps have policies that

prohibit beards on the basis of hygiene and the necessity of a good seal for chemical weapon protective masks

.

Contents hide

Can you have facial hair in the military?

0152. Beards.

Personnel are allowed to grow a full set beard

, although they must make a written request to their commanding officer beforehand.

When did military ban facial hair?

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and the beard (even on submarines) became a thing of the past under Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James D. Watkins, who outlawed them in

Dec. 1984

.

Will the Air Force ever allow beards?

The Air Force’s anti-beard policy is actually damaging airmen’s careers [Updated] … While

the Air Force prohibits male members from growing beards

, waivers are issued to airmen who, for medical and religious reasons, are not able to shave in line with regulations.

Can I have a mustache in the army?

Mustaches

must look neatly trimmed, tapered, and tidy at all times

. They cannot present a “chopped off or bushy appearance”. No portion of the mustache may cover the upper line of the lip. It cannot extend past a sideways vertical line drawn from the upward corners of the mouth.

Can Marines have beards?

Are you allowed to have a beard or mustache in the Marine Corps?

Beards are not authorized

. Mustaches, on the other hand, are. You need to meet certain criteria, and they are not allowed while you’re in recruit training.

Can I have long hair in the military?

The military allows women to have long hair, but have guidelines as to how you can wear your long hair.

Long hair is not permitted for men

. Long hair is discouraged mainly because it does not allow for a uniformity. The military is very big on uniformity (less variables to deal with).

Can guys have long hair in the military?

“In observance with your Christian faith,

you may wear uncut hair in accordance with Army uniform and grooming standards provided in Army

Regulation (AR) 670-1,” a memo from the head of army personnel wrote. “You may grow your hair in accordance with the standards for long hair set forth in AR 670-1.”

Are Army Rangers allowed to have beards?

Sadly, no. Unless you’re SOF (Special Forces, SEALs, MARSOC, Delta Force, etc.), you’

re not allowed

what the military calls “Relaxed Grooming Standards,” or having a beard while on deployment. Unless you have a shaving waiver, you must remain clean-shaven at all times.

Can I have a mustache in the Air Force?

Air Force Beard and Mustache Regulations


Male Airmen are allowed to have mustaches

. The Air Force specifies that they must “be conservative, moderate, being within reasonable limits, not excessive or extreme, and will not extend downward beyond the lip line of the upper lip.”

Are mustaches allowed in the Air Force?

Mustaches.

Male Airmen may have mustaches

; however they will be conservative (moderate, being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme) and will not extend downward beyond the lip line of the upper lip or extend sideways beyond a vertical line drawn upward from both corners of the mouth.

Can you wear wigs in the military?

Hair Devices


Males are prohibited from wearing wigs or hairpieces

while in uniform or in civilian clothes on duty, except to cover natural baldness or physical disfiguration caused by accident or medical procedure. When worn, wigs or hairpieces will conform to the standard haircut criteria as stated above.

What religions require a beard?

Some religions (such as

Islam and Sikhism

) have considered a full beard to be essential and mandate it as part of their observance. Other cultures, even while not officially mandating it, view a beard as central to a man’s virility, exemplifying such virtues as wisdom, strength, sexual prowess and high social status.

Can you wear makeup in the army?

The Army is drastically changing some of its grooming standards and hinting at even more changes when it comes to inclusivity and convenience regarding soldiers’ uniforms in the near future. Certain hairstyles, jewelry, makeup and other accessories will now be

accepted parts

of the way soldiers can present themselves.

Why can’t police have beards?

Can You Have a Beard in the Police? Police departments across the country all have strict policies when it comes to on-duty officers’ appearance. …

Full beards may interfere with the proper wearing of uniform headgear

, such as gas masks or helmets. Plus, they might contribute to a messy appearance.

Can I have a mustache in basic training?

No.

Everyone, without exception, was required to shave every single day in

boot camp. Nobody asked for or about an exception. Even the young guy in the division that had no visible facial hair was required to shave every day.

Do females in the Navy have to cut their hair?

Except for the Navy,

women do not have to get their hair cut

. However, when in uniform (which is all the time in basic training), women must wear their hair in such a way that the hair does not protrude past the bottom of the collar, and is not below the eyebrows.

Can you have tattoos in the military?

The Army tattoo policy was updated and relaxed in 2015 but is still one of the most strict in the military.

It prohibits any tattoos on the head, face, neck, wrists, hands, or above the t-shirt collar

. Essentially, any visible body tattoos are prohibited.

Are ponytails allowed in the Army?


The Army is now allowing female soldiers to wear their hair in ponytails in all uniforms

, in a change announced earlier this month. It expands on hair guidelines announced in January. For years, many women in the Army were required to keep their hair in a tight bun.

Can you have nose piercings in the army?


Members are prohibited from

attaching, affixing, or displaying objects, articles, jewelry or ornamentation through the ear, nose, tongue or other exposed body part (which includes visible through the clothing), when: … Wearing civilian attire on a military installation.

Can you wear nails in the army?


SQUARE AND ROUNDED NAILS ARE AUTHORIZED

. MALE SOLDIERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR CLEAR NAIL POLISH WHILE IN SERVICE UNIFORMS. NAILS WILL NOT EXCEED 1⁄4 INCH FROM THE TIP OF THE FINGER.

Can you wear earrings in the army?

When on any Army installation or other places under Army control,

soldiers may not attach

, affix, or display objects, articles, jewelry, or ornamentation to or through the skin while they are in uniform, in civilian clothes on duty, or in civilian clothes off duty (this includes earrings for male soldiers).

What color nail polish can I wear in the Army?

Colors that are authorized to wear include but are not limited to nude/natural shades, American manicures, and light pink. Nail shapes that are extreme and not authorized are ballerina, stiletto, arrow, and coffin.

Square

and rounded nails are authorized.

What is a sapper in the army?

In the U.S. Army, Sappers are

combat engineers or other personnel who support the front-line infantry

, and they have fought in every war in American history. A sapper may perform any of a variety of combat engineering duties. … In their role, combat engineers use a wide variety of engineer hand and power tools.

Why do soldiers shave everyday?


Pseudofolliculitis barbae

, or more commonly known as razor bumps, is caused when curly beard hair curves back into the skin after being shaved, causing inflammation. Servicemembers are required to shave every day, so troops susceptible to razor bumps will be affected, Lt. Cmdr.

What is a military mustache?

If there is one mustache style that has done more for facial hair enthusiasts than any other, it’s the Military Mustache. Think of it as

the Governor General of mustaches

. … An “official” Cop ‘Stache or Military Mustache should not extend more than a quarter of an inch beyond the corners of your mouth.

Why do pilots grow mustaches?

Mustaches became a

fad for fighter pilots during the Vietnam War

. As some of the more well known fighter pilots stretched their services grooming standard, other fighter pilots tried to emulate them by growing their own.

Is shaving your beard a sin?

To summarize, Leviticus 19:27 is not a general commandment against shaving. … That being said,

it is certainly not a sin to shave your beard

.

What races dont grow facial hair?

Ethnicity

Your race can have an effect on your facial hair growth. People from Mediterranean countries tend to be able to grow thick beards compared to people from other regions. According to a 2016 study ,

Chinese men

generally have less facial hair growth than Caucasian men.

Are man buns allowed in the military?

No. From Army Regulation 670–1, the regulation that covers personal appearance, here’s your definitive answer. General. The requirement for hair grooming standards is necessary to

maintain uniformity within

a military population.

Can you have dyed hair in the military?

Under the current regulation,

Soldiers are only authorized to dye, tint, or bleach their hair

. The color of their hair must also be uniform and not detract from their professional appearance.

What religion is it forbidden to shave?


The Sikh religion

forbids cutting or shaving any bodily hair. Orthodox Sikhs always carry a dagger with them, lest someone try to force them to do something against their religion.

Can you smoke in the Air Force?

The Department of Defense tobacco control policy (set forth in health promotion policy directive 1010.10 and directive 1010.15) prohibits smoking in indoor facilities; however, the policy includes many exemptions. … The Air Force is

the only branch that prohibits tobacco advertising in its publications

.

Can you have tattoos in the Air Force?

The key takeaways for the Air Force tattoo policy include:

Airmen are now allowed to have more than 25% of their body covered in tattoos

.

You’

re allowed a single ring tattoo on one hand. … You CANNOT have any tattoos on your face, neck, head, lips, or eyelids.

How long can your hair be in the Army?

Hair should be

no longer than 4.0 inches

. Hair may not touch the ears or collar. It also cannot extend below the eyebrows. Hair bulk cannot be more than 2.0 inches.

Can a female in the Army shave her head?

Senior leaders approved new policies last month that allow women to shave their heads or wear ponytails and hairstyle combinations such as

braided twists

and locs at the same time in uniform, according to service documents released Tuesday. The new grooming standards will take effect Feb.

Can you wear cornrows in the military?

Maj. Brian Sanders, the Army’s top noncommissioned officer for uniform policy. … Multiple locs, braids, twists or

cornrows can come together in one or two braids

or a single ponytail, the Army said in an announcement online. The policy is expected to go into effect later Thursday.

Are Afros allowed in the military?

Styles including afros

were also banned

in an effort to “maintain uniformity within a military population,” military officials said. … The inclusion of terms like “matted and unkempt,” in the military’s directions on which styles were unacceptable did not help cool tensions.

Can you wear fake lashes in the military?

Women may wear cosmetics “conservatively.” That means no unnatural or exaggerated appearance, and

no

more fake eyelashes. Nail polish will only be worn in service, mess or dress uniforms. … Army Combat Uniforms will not be commercially pressed; only hand ironing will be authorized.

Can you have slit eyebrows in the army?

Military Rules Forbid a Pluck Too Far; Some Try ‘

Threading

‘ for Perfect Arch. SHINWAR, Afghanistan—Emerging amid the camouflage and crewcuts is the latest in combat chic: male soldiers with eyebrows professionally shaped into slender arches.

Can you wear eyeliner in the army?


Permanent makeup

, such as eyebrow or eyeliner, is authorized if it conforms to standards. Females will not wear shades of lipstick and nail polish that contrast with their complexion, detract from the uniform, or that are extreme.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.