New hairstyle options now available for female Airmen > 37th Training Wing > Article Display

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• USAF revises guidance on female hair grooming standards
• USAF selects Anduril and General Atomics as CCA vendors
• Military News
• DOD Needs a Plan To Make Military Health System Genesis Work Better for Users, Watchdog Says
• New hairstyle options now available for female Airmen
• New Air Force Grooming Standards Charts: What’s OK, What’s Not

Air Force hair regulations and grooming standards are enforced to present a professional-looking, well-organized military branch. Women still must follow occupational safety, fire and health guidance and mishap prevention procedures when considering how to wear their hair around machinery or equipment, the Air Force said. After the Air Force first announced the changes to hair regulations in February, some women pointed out that they would have difficulty securing their hair in a way that did not extend beyond the width of their heads.

USAF revises guidance on female hair grooming standards

That board is comprised of male and female officers and enlisted members across various ethnic backgrounds and careers within the Air Force and Space Force. The article also stated that adjusting female hair standards supports ongoing efforts to address diversity and inclusion in the ranks. "Sometimes we get change right the first time around, & sometimes it takes another iteration to arrive at the best solution," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown said in a tweet announcing the change. "The feedback we received highlighted the need to reevaluate the policy to make it more inclusive."

Air Force relaxes hair rules. Women at MacDill cheer - Tampa Bay Times

Air Force relaxes hair rules. Women at MacDill cheer.

Posted: Mon, 15 Mar 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]

USAF selects Anduril and General Atomics as CCA vendors

"It allows females of any race to be more flexible with the hairstyles that they get to choose while wearing the uniform," said Tech. Sgt. Kelli Wilson, noncommissioned officer in charge of command support staff for the District of Columbia National Guard Joint Force Headquarters. "It is one less thing to think about so you can focus on the actual mission."

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Once again, it must only be a single ponytail and one that does not exceed the bulk and length standards of the U.S. For ponytails, the hair can extend up to 6 inches from the center point where gathered at the nape of the neck. It is difficult to cover every single female hairstyle in one policy though there are some more common ones that are addressed. As a result, Air Force hair regulations were put in place to determine what is considered acceptable or not acceptable for the professional appearance of an Air Force service member.

But she says she anticipates incoming trainees will easily adapt to this change. By embracing the new standards, while still recommending the prior grooming standards, presents more options for a professional appearance. Airmen are encouraged to reach out to their safety office for assistance in analyzing any potential hazards, as applicable. Both male and female airmen can sport ear piercings, but only women are permitted to wear earrings when in uniform or when in civilian clothing and on duty. In this article, we will examine Air Force hair regulations and other Air Force grooming standards. Female Airmen have new hairstyle options as of Feb. 10, and Basic Military Training instructors are ready to demonstrate and enforce the new hair standards.

The service hopes its evolving dress and appearance rules will help better include women of all races and offer more comfort in uniform. "There are a lot of medical issues with having your hair in a bun," said Master Sgt. Nicole Moore, the law office superintendent with DCANG. "With scalp hair loss, I would hate to see people leaving the military due to a hair regulation, so I'm very excited for this new change." “Personally I don’t see myself wearing this new hairstyle when in OCP or service blues,” Sanchez stated. Aside from a few minor variations between the two genders, Air Force personnel are expected to comply with the same personal appearance standards. "It is great to see the Air Force continuing to take steps towards addressing outdated policies," said Senior Master Sgt. Nancy Reyes, personnel superintendent with the District of Columbia National Guard Joint Force Headquarters.

Air Force mustache regulations also note that the facial hair must not extend sideways beyond a vertical line drawn upward from both corners of the mouth. The Air Force defines these hairstyles as authorized if “conservative” and “within reasonable limits”. Flashy hairstyles like Mohawks, mullets, or dreadlocks are not allowed for men only. The United States Air Force has grooming standards in place, just like every other branch of the U.S. Airmen and Guardians around the world often tote oversized water bottles and energy drinks to stay hydrated and caffeinated.

The new regs clarify that they can now consume those beverages while walking in uniform, though eating while walking in uniform is still not allowed. With that said, there are certain restrictions as to the style and length of the ponytail. While beards of any kind are not allowed, except under certain circumstances, the Air Force does allow mustaches. It’s a safe and convenient alternative to expensive visits to a laser tattoo removal professional service.

New Air Force Grooming Standards Charts: What’s OK, What’s Not

"I hope that the updated hair regulations help retain our female Airmen and also broaden our pool of prospective female recruits and leaders," said Lee. Previous women's hair length policies allowed locs, braids and twists, but the length could not exceed the bottom edge of the uniform collar, except while wearing physical training gear. "Personally, I look forward to the prospect of reducing my headaches after a long day of wearing my hair in a bun, which was a problem for me when I was on active duty."

"I definitely look forward to seeing the changes that are more inclusive of not just different races but different gender identities as well." In the earlier regulation, hair worn in a bun, braid, ponytail or another similar hairstyle ‘could not extend beyond the width of the head’. At this time, Guardians will adhere to the grooming standards of the U.S. The underlining rule of all-female hairstyles in the Air Force is they must present a “neat and professional image”. In general, cleanly shaven heads, flat-tops, or military high-and-tight hairstyles are by far the most popular with U.S. To further expand on the new change to grooming standards regarding hair dye, certain colors are listed as prohibited.

"In developing policy, we try to address all angles and perspectives, but sometimes we have a blind spot," Kelly said. The updated policy comes about a year after Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass wrote an open memo urging Airmen to abide by standards. White French-tip manicures are authorized, but other two-tone colors are not. Female Airmen may wear lipstick as long as the shade of the cosmetic does not detract from the uniform. Air Force do not specifically address the rules regarding male fragrances, like cologne. Female Air Force members are authorized to wear earrings with several limitations.

However, like men, the regulations have recently been eased, giving women more discretion with their earrings. The rules exist for anything that would be visible through a military uniform, or civilian attire while on official duty. For more details on specialized hairstyles or accessories, please review the full manual. The accessory must also not alter the hair enough that it would no longer comply with bulk and appearance expectations. Hair accessories (hairpins, combs, clips, headbands, etc) are authorized if they match the present hair color or are black in color. Artificial colors like purple, orange, bright red, or neon colors are not authorized.

Women's hair then will be allowed to extend to a total width of 12 inches -- six inches to each side from the center of the head -- and six inches protruding from the point where the hair is gathered, the Air Force said. USAF stated that additional ideas generated from the airforce uniform board are still under consideration for policy change. Many of the changes made over the past few years were intended to help with recruiting and diversity efforts. For example, braids and ponytails were authorized for female Airmen in 2021 in part because the mandatory tight buns often led to migraines and even hair loss. Small hand and neck tattoos were authorized in part to try to bring in more qualified recruits.

The US Air Force (USAF) has officially updated its regulations governing hair grooming standards for women, which is set to take effect on 25 June. Female Airmen and Guardians can also now wear mess dress trousers or slacks instead of skirts. Commanders can authorize Airmen to wear caps while indoors due to baldness or hair loss from a medical condition. Security Forces Airmen can wear their Security Forces shield on their OCP uniform, and mustaches can extend up to a quarter inch beyond a vertical line drawn from the corner of the mouth, though they still cannot extend below the upper lip. Beards are still not authorized without a waiver, though the new regs clarify that wing commanders are authorized to approve waivers for religious regalia, including beards.

From neck tattoos to ponytails, the Air Force has revamped its dress and appearance standards in recent years. To tamp down on confusion, the service republished its dress and personal appearance instructions Feb. 29, complete with new graphics to serve as visual guides. The changes resulted from a crowdsourcing campaign that included initiatives from the Air Force uniform board, the Air Force Women’s Initiative Team, and thousands of diverse Airmen of all ranks. Additional ideas generated from the uniform board are still under consideration for policy change and updates will be released as they become available. Previously, hair worn in a bun, braid, ponytail or equivalent could not extend beyond the width of the head. Beginning June 25, when hair is secured behind the head, the hair may extend six inches to the left and to the right and six inches protruding from the point where the hair is gathered.