Women can no longer wear lipstick or colored nail polish, and men must keep their hair length within 2 inches as part of the Army’s tightening and clarification of appearance and grooming standards while in uniform. (Photo illustration by Noga Ami-rav/Stars and Stripes)
Women can no longer wear lipstick or colored nail polish, and men must keep their hair length within 2 inches as part of the Army’s tightening and clarification of appearance and grooming standards while in uniform.
“The force is frustrated with the ambiguous language inside current [Army regulation], which means that it’s hard to enforce a standard,” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer said during a call with reporters Sept. 8 to discuss the changes.
The new 14-page directive published Monday covers hair, nails, makeup and earrings. The update does not address shaving requirements.
It follows a loosening of standards four years ago, particularly for women, by allowing for ponytails instead of strict buns that many complained interfered with their helmets and other headgear or led to hair loss.
The Army brought together a group of leaders, including men and women, to inform the changes, which go into effect immediately but are not enforceable for 30 days, Weimer said. This will allow soldiers to understand any changes they need to make.
The directive calls for women to keep their hair in a ponytail or in one or two braids not hanging more than 6 inches below the top of the collar of their combat uniform. Otherwise, it must be in a bun.
All women with hair that reaches their collar must have it in a bun while in their dress uniform.
The previous standards stated ponytails worn while in any uniform couldn’t hang beyond the bottom of a woman’s shoulder blade, which isn’t easily measurable, said Sgt. Maj. Christopher Stevens, the Army’s deputy chief of staff for personnel. He helped work on the changes.
“Really what I would have to do is walk up to them and say, “Hey, do you mind if I touch you and show you exactly where the bottom of your shoulder blade is, so that we can understand what the standard is?’” he said during the briefing with Weimer.
No leader should have to do that to see if a regulation is being followed, he said. Instead, six inches is easily measurable because it is the exact size of the enlisted leader’s Army Blue Book or the length of two military ID cards.
Men’s haircuts must have a stricter taper or fade, and the maximum length and bulk of hair cannot exceed 2 inches.
Men and women can have shaved heads. Any dyed hair must appear natural.
Makeup must maintain a natural appearance and be conservative. It cannot include lipstick with any color. While semi-permanent makeup is OK, eyelash extensions are not unless approved by a medical provider for loss of natural eyelashes.
Only clear nail polish can be worn by women, not by men. Women’s nails can’t be longer than a quarter inch while men’s cannot exceed the fingertip. There was debate about whether men could use hardening products on their nails, which they still can as long as it doesn’t leave a shiny finish on the nail.
The only earrings allowed are for women and they must be a gold, silver, diamond or pearl stud. Only one earring is allowed per lobe.
While some may find the specificity of nail color or ponytail length trivial, Weimer said it all is important. It’s about a commitment to standards.
“It’s fitness, it’s wearing my uniform properly, it’s how I go to a position at parade rest or attention if I’m addressing an officer or a senior [noncommissioned officer],” he said. “All those things absolutely matter because if you can’t do that in peacetime in garrison, then I’m really worried about what you’re going to be able to do in a combat situation.”
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