Maintaining a sense of uniformity is crucial in the military, and that includes personal appearance. Within the pages of AR 670-1 regulations guide (source), you’ll find detailed instructions on how men should groom their hair to ensure a professional and disciplined look. My goal here is to simplify and break down these regulations, presenting them in a way that’s accessible to everyone.
If you’re looking to learn more about accepted clothing in the military, check out our recent posts about approved headphones, backpacks and rucksacks, boots, and socks.
What Hair Styles are Accepted in the Military?
In the military, it’s important to have a unified look, so there are rules about how to style your hair. Don’t worry, though, there are plenty of hairstyles you can choose from as long as they look neat and not too fancy.
It’s the responsibility of leaders to make sure everyone follows these rules.
Whether you’re wearing your military uniform or civilian clothes on duty, you need to follow the rules set for hair as your appearance can impact your performance. Leaders will decide if a hairstyle is appropriate by looking at the guidelines in the rules and whether you can wear your headgear and protective equipment properly.
Oh, and by the way, did you know that soldiers carry a lot of cool stuff when they’re out there doing their thing? If you’re curious to see what’s in their backpacks when they’re rucking or in combat, check out our compiled list of things soldiers carry in their rucksack.
Ar 670 1 Approved Hair Styles For Men In The Army
These rules help maintain a neat and tidy appearance. Don’t worry, I’ll break it down for you!
Your hair should be well-groomed and shaped to fit the natural curves of your head. It shouldn’t be too long or bulky, and it should never touch your collar or hang over your ears and eyebrows when you comb it. Keep it looking sharp!
When it comes to sideburns, they shouldn’t go below the opening of your ear. Also, avoid shaping them to taper, flair, or come to a point. Let’s keep them clean and simple!
Men’s Hair Styles That Are Not Approved In The Army
In the military, there are certain hairstyles that men must avoid. According to AR 670-1, braids, cornrows, twists, dreadlocks, and locks are not permitted while in uniform or in civilian clothes on duty. The goal is to ensure a unified and consistent look across the military community.
The army also prohibits hairstyles that are considered extreme, eccentric, or faddish.
This includes haircuts with a single, untapered patch of hair on the top of the head, such as the mohawk, horseshoe, or tear drop styles. The military discourages hairstyles that may detract from that objective.
It’s important to remember that all approved hairstyles should allow soldiers to wear all types of headgear and protective equipment properly.
Any hairstyle that hinders the proper fit or function of headgear or protective gear is also considered prohibited.
AR 670 1 Approved Hair Length for Men in the Army
The expectation is that men’s hair shouldn’t be too long or excessive.
The hair on top of the head should be groomed nicely and have a tapered shape that follows the natural curve of the head, ending at the base of the neck. When you comb your hair, it shouldn’t cover your ears or eyebrows, or touch the collar, except for the hair at the back of your neck, which can be cut a little closer.
It’s super important that your hair doesn’t get in the way of wearing any protective equipment or headgear properly.
That’s why they don’t allow guys to wear braids, cornrows, twists, dreadlocks, or locks while they’re in uniform or on duty in civilian clothes. Those hairstyles are not allowed because they can interfere with wearing the right gear to protect yourself.
Now, here’s something interesting. Haircuts with a single, untapered patch of hair on the top of the head are considered eccentric and not allowed. They want your hair to have a nice, even look.
But you know what? If you prefer to have your hair completely shaved or trimmed really short to the scalp, that’s totally allowed. So, you have some choices when it comes to your hair in the military, as long as you follow these guidelines.
AR 670 1 Hair Styles For Men Summary
- Neatly groomed and tapered hair is required for men according to AR 670-1.
- The hair on top should not be excessive in length or bulk and should not touch the collar or fall over the ears or eyebrows when combed.
- Sideburns should not extend below the bottom of the opening of the ear and should not be tapered, flared, or pointed.
- Men are not allowed to wear braids, cornrows, twists, dreadlocks, or locks while in uniform or on duty in civilian clothes.
- Prohibited hairstyles include hair sculpting, buns with loose hair, severe angles or designs, and loose unsecured hair when medium and long hair is worn up.
AR 670 1 Approved & Accepted Facial Hair Styles
Now, let’s talk about facial hair.
In the military, it’s important to stay clean-shaven, except for a neat mustache. Your mustache shouldn’t look bushy or cover your upper lip line. Keep it trimmed and tidy!
When it comes to facial hair, clean-shaven is the general rule for men in uniform or on duty in civilian clothes.
However, there is an exception for mustaches, which are allowed as long as they are neatly trimmed, tapered, and tidy, avoiding a bushy or chopped-off look. It’s important to maintain a professional and polished appearance. Handlebar mustaches, goatees, and beards, unless for a specific medical reason, are not authorized.
In cases where a medical reason permits the growth of a beard, there are specific requirements to follow.
The maximum length allowed for medical treatment must be specified by the appropriate medical authority, and the growth must be trimmed to that specified level.
The authorized beard, which includes facial and neck hair, should not exceed 2 inches in length when measured from the bottom of the chin.
If wearing a beard, the mustache can extend sideways beyond the corners of the mouth to connect with the beard, but it must be groomed or trimmed in a way that does not cover the upper lip. It should maintain a neat and conservative appearance.
AR 670 1 Approved Hair Styles For Women In The Army
When it comes to acceptable hairstyles for women in the military, Army Regulation 670-1 provides clear guidelines. These guidelines classify female hairstyles into three main categories: short length, medium length, and long length hair. Let’s take a closer look at what each category entails.
Starting with short hair, it refers to hair that doesn’t extend beyond the bottom edge of the collar. You have some flexibility in how you style it. The hair can be neatly tapered to match the shape of your head or rounded at the back, giving you options to find a look that suits you.
Moving on to medium hair, it’s defined as hair length that doesn’t go beyond the lower edge of the collar in all uniforms. In addition, it should extend more than 1 inch from the scalp. The great thing about medium hair is that it can naturally fall while you’re in uniform, providing a comfortable and professional appearance.
Finally, we have long hair, which is characterized by hair length that extends beyond the lower edge of the collar. However, it’s important to keep it well-maintained. Long hair must be neatly and discreetly fastened or pinned above the lower edge of the collar, unless there are specific allowances mentioned.
If you have medium or long hair, there’s still room for some creativity. You can opt for braids, cornrows, twists, or locks of uniform dimension. It’s important to note that these styles should have a diameter no greater than 1/2 inch and maintain a neat, professional, and well-groomed appearance.
Also, make sure that the spacing between each braid, cornrow, twist, or lock is approximately the same, creating a uniform and polished look.
Women’s Hair Styles That Are Not AR 670 1 & Army Approved
The guidelines prohibit faddish and exaggerated styles, such as shaved portions of the scalp (except the neckline), intricate designs cut into the hair, unsecured ponytails (except during physical training), and unbalanced or lopsided hairstyles.
The goal is to present a polished and professional look that doesn’t interfere with the proper wear of uniform headgear.
Headgear should fit comfortably and snugly around the largest part of the head, without bulging or distorting its intended shape.
Hairstyles should not cause hair to protrude at distinct angles from under the edges of the headgear. Styles that prevent the headgear from being worn correctly are not authorized.
Let’s explore some examples of hairstyles considered faddish or exaggerated, which are not permitted while in uniform or on duty in civilian clothes. These include:
- Hair sculpting with eccentric texture or directional flow,
- Buns with loose hair extending at the end,
- Hairstyles with severe angles or designs
- Loose unsecured hair (excluding bangs) when medium and long hair is worn up.
By following these guidelines, women in the military can maintain a professional and disciplined appearance that promotes unity and consistency across the ranks.
Approved Hair Styles For Women Summary
- Hair is categorized into three lengths: short, medium, and long.
- Short hair refers to hair length that does not extend beyond the bottom edge of the collar. It can be evenly tapered to conform to the shape of the head or rounded at the back.
- Medium hair refers to hair length that does not extend beyond the lower edge of the collar in all uniforms. It should also extend more than 1 inch from the scalp and can naturally fall while in uniform.
- Long hair refers to hair length that extends beyond the lower edge of the collar. It must be neatly and discreetly fastened or pinned above the lower edge of the collar, except when worn as specified in paragraph 3–2a(j).
- Braids, cornrows, twists, or locks of uniform dimension are allowed for medium and long hair. These styles should have a diameter no greater than 1/2 inch The spacing between each braid, cornrow, twist, or lock should be approximately the same.
- Prohibited hairstyles include eccentric or faddish styles, shaved portions of the scalp (except the neckline), intricate designs, unsecured ponytails (except during physical training), and unbalanced or lopsided hairstyles.
- Hair should not interfere with the proper wear of uniform headgear and should fit comfortably without bulging or distorting the shape.
Rules About Colored Hair In the Army For Men & Women
Did you know that there are rules about the colors you can use to dye your hair in the military? According to the Army Regulation 670-1, soldiers have to follow certain guidelines when it comes to coloring their hair.
So, here’s the deal: in the military, they want soldiers to have a professional and put-together appearance. That means they can’t use really bright and extreme colors like purple, blue, pink, green, orange, super bright red, or those fluorescent or neon colors that really stand out. They want soldiers to avoid colors that might make them look too flashy or take away from that professional military look (source).
But you know what? It’s not just a strict “no colors” rule. The leaders in the military have the responsibility to use their good judgment when deciding if a certain hair color is acceptable or not.
They look at how it affects a soldier’s overall appearance. So, even if a soldier wants to try a different color, it’s up to the leaders to decide if it still looks professional and fits with the military image.
It’s all about maintaining that professional look while serving in the military.
Can I Refuse to Cut my Hair in the Army?
No. Breaking the rules in the military not only leads to punishment but can also have serious consequences. If you violate any of the specific do’s and don’ts outlined in the regulations, you might face administrative actions or charges under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice). So, it’s important to follow the rules and stay on the right track.
Are men allowed long hair in the army?
No, men are not allowed long hair in the Army. The hair on top of the head must present a tapered appearance and must not fall over the ears or eyebrows or touch the collar, except for the closely cut hair at the back of the neck.
