Can You Wear Makeup In The Army

A female Soldier poses for an example photo with medium-length hair secured into a ponytail to support an upcoming change to Army grooming and appearance standards. Medium-length ponytails are only authorized for wear on the back of the scalp and cannot exceed the head's width or interfere with a Soldier's headgear. — A female person Soldier poses for an case photo with medium-length pilus secured into a ponytail to back up an upcoming alter to Regular army training and appearance standards. Medium-length ponytails are only authorized for wear on the back of the scalp and cannot exceed the head's width or interfere with a Soldier'due south headgear. VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON -- New changes to grooming and advent standards are slated to have event next month, equally part of the Army's commitment to amend the wellbeing of all Soldiers.

Army senior leaders approved several upcoming grooming and appearance modifications, said Sgt. Maj. Brian Sanders, senior enlisted leader of Regular army Thou-1'southward compatible policy branch.

The announcement volition be followed by an all-Army activities message that volition take consequence late February and will supersede the standards outlined in the grooming and appearance chapter of Army Regulation 670-ane until the next scheduled revision.

"This is one of the many facets of putting our people first and recognizing who they are every bit human beings," he said. "Their identity and diverse backgrounds are what makes the Regular army an ultimate fighting force."

The changes originated from a panel of 17 Soldiers -- 15 women and ii men -- who assessed a list of proposed grooming and appearance modifications continued to the professional appearance, health and wellness, diverseness, and inclusion of Soldiers.

The console included Soldiers from all components, representing a cross-section of ranks, units, ages, cultural backgrounds, career fields and races. The process also included 2 Regular army dermatologists, an Regular army psychologist, and an Army equal opportunity advisor as subject field-matter experts, who provided medical or EO noesis to back the panel's findings.

The push to change the Army'south training standards proves that the force is evolving and making a concerted try to brand anybody feel included, said Chief Sgt. Quintana Mitchell, the uniform policy NCO for M-1.

"I utilize the analogy, 'If you lot await good, you feel good -- and if you lot experience skillful, you perform [well]," Sanders said. "If I am in the Army long enough, information technology would be nice to see how these changes have improved productivity ... and brand Soldiers perform improve."

A female Soldier poses for an example photo with hair shorter than 1/4 inch, natural colored highlights, and earrings in the Army Combat Uniform, in support of an upcoming change in Army grooming and appearance standards. — A female Soldier poses for an example photo with pilus shorter than 1/4 inch, natural colored highlights, and earrings in the Army Gainsay Uniform, in support of an upcoming change in Army grooming and advent standards. (Photo Credit: U.S. Ground forces) VIEW ORIGINAL

Minimum hair length

Ane of the updates will authorize no minimum pilus length for all personnel, to include making it an optional style for female Soldiers. Under the current policy, a Soldier's hair length tin can be no shorter than ane/4 inch from the scalp unless otherwise exempt due to a medical status or injury.

Console findings determined that females attending Ranger, Special Forces, or Sapper preparation were ofttimes encouraged to cut their hair to abide by health and hygiene recommendations while training in an ascetic environment, Sanders said.

If the Soldier were to washout or graduate from preparation, their hair was frequently below the 1/iv inch minimum length requirement and outside Regular army regulations.

Multiple hairstyles

Soldiers will also be authorized to article of clothing multiple hairstyles as long every bit it maintains a bang-up and professional appearance, and if the hairstyle doesn't impede the use of headgear or other equipment, Sanders said.

Under the current standard, Soldiers are immune to braid, twist, lock, or cornrow their hair if they are uniform and no greater than 1/2 inch in width. Individuals must likewise have appropriate size and spacing betwixt each braid, cornrow, twist, or lock, and are authorized 1 singled-out blazon of hairstyle at ane time. The updated standard removes the constraints of dimension requirements.

Past eliminating some of the restrictions, Soldiers volition now have more than flexibility, all while keeping it within the confines of professionalism, Mitchell said. Farther, having a pick to wear multiple hairstyles volition allow female Soldiers more ways to secure their pilus so that information technology can fit appropriately nether their headgear.

Ponytails

Female Soldiers with medium-length pilus will have the option to wear a ponytail if the individual's pilus length or texture prevents them from securing it into a tight bun, Sanders said. A medium-length hairstyle must extend more than i inch from the scalp and cannot exceed the lower edge of the collar in all uniforms.

Nether the new policy, medium-length ponytails are merely authorized for wear on the back of the scalp and cannot exceed the head's width or interfere with the proper wear of a Soldier's headgear.

The updated standard volition as well allow females with long pilus the option to wearable a ponytail while wearing an Army Combat Uniform during physical training, or while wearing tactical headgear during tactical grooming or gainsay operations. The Army defines long hair as a length that extends across the collar. Army standards require this hairstyle to exist neatly and inconspicuously attached in a higher place the collar's lower edge.

"Nosotros can't tell a Soldier to cut their pilus so their helmet tin can fit," Sanders said. "Nosotros can still let a female Soldier with longer hair to put into a long ponytail and tuck information technology in their ACU top so they can withal conduct their mission."

Dermatologists involved in the review procedure provided disquisitional input tied to the updated ponytail policy, Sanders said. The authorized article of clothing of a medium-length ponytail could lower an individual'south risk of hair loss, reduce scarring, or decrease the likelihood of migraine headaches caused by repeatedly pulling hair into a tight bun.

The lack of hairstyle options as a outcome of a Soldier'south hair length or texture can often stress an individual as they effort diverse techniques and devices to secure their hair to maintain a neat appearance, Mitchell said.

Hair highlights, root growth

The Regular army plans to qualify the wear of highlights if information technology presents a natural appearance and is not a prohibited colour, Sanders said. Further, if a Soldier decides to color or highlight their hair, root growth of a different color should not exceed i.5 inches of the original color.

"Some Soldiers develop natural highlights," Sanders said. "Nosotros cannot assume that a Soldier's hair should be a specific colour" based on their complexion.

Under the current regulation, Soldiers are only authorized to dye, tint, or bleach their pilus. The color of their pilus must also exist uniform and not detract from their professional appearance. Unauthorized pigments include, but are not limited to, purple, blueish, pinkish, green, orange, bright red, and fluorescent or neon colors.

"The emphasis is on natural hair colors," Mitchell said. "It doesn't necessarily have to exist a color that is typically seen on a sure indigenous group. It just has to exist a natural pilus color" that presents a nifty and professional epitome.

A female Soldier poses for an example photo with natural-colored highlights and wearing stud earrings in her Army Combat Uniform to illustrate an upcoming change to Army grooming and appearance standards. Female Soldiers will soon be authorized to wear earrings in their ACU if it meets the current size and dimensions standards. Individuals will not be allowed to wear earrings in a field environment or during a combat-related deployment, or in locations where access to regular hygiene is limited. — A female person Soldier poses for an example photo with natural-colored highlights and wearing stud earrings in her Army Combat Uniform to illustrate an upcoming alter to Ground forces grooming and appearance standards. Female Soldiers will soon be authorized to wear earrings in their ACU if it meets the current size and dimensions standards. Individuals will not be allowed to wear earrings in a field environment or during a combat-related deployment, or in locations where admission to regular hygiene is limited. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Optional wear of earrings with ACU

Female Soldiers will soon exist authorized to wear earrings with their ACU. Earrings can either be screw-on, clip-on, or post-type earrings in gold, silver, or diamond and must be unadorned and spherical without exceeding 6 mm or 1/4 inch in bore.

Pearl earrings are not authorized with the ACU, Sanders said. Females are currently authorized to vesture earrings when wearing their service, dress, mess, and evening mess uniforms.

Individuals will not be immune to wear earrings in a field environment or during a combat-related deployment, or in locations where access to regular hygiene is limited.

"Our identity is important," Sanders said. "If we care about people offset and the Soldier as a whole, we have to care nearly the many aspects to who they are too. This is a minor, simply significant change that positively impacts a considerable size of our forcefulness."

Additional colors of lipstick, boom polish

Forth with supporting a Soldier'southward identity, the Army approved the employ of boosted colors of lipstick and boom polish, including the habiliment of clear boom polish by male person Soldiers. Females also have the option to wear an American manicure, a ii-tone nail style that maintains a natural appearance.

"Some male Soldiers in certain occupation specialties rely on their hands, which are under constant bombardment while working with tools or harsh chemicals," Sanders said. "A male Soldier would accept this opportunity to keep their nails protected."

According to the updated policy, extreme colors and nail shapes, such as a coffin, ballerina, and stiletto nails, are prohibited while in uniform or on duty in noncombatant wearing apparel. Unauthorized pigments include, but are non limited to, imperial, blue, pinkish, green, orangish, bright crimson, and fluorescent or neon colors.

Offensive wording change, updated imagery

Another update will remove and replace potentially offensive and weaponized words and phrases, such as "Mohawk, Fu Manchu, dreadlock, eccentric, and faddish," Sanders said.

Army officials are currently replacing phrases of business concern with alternative verbiage to provide increased clarity and guidance well-nigh a Soldier's professional appearance based on safety, expert order, and war machine begetting -- instead of relying on the phrase at the discretion of the commander.

"This is how we shift the culture and encompass forwards thinking," Sanders added. "Information technology is time to dig deeper and use our dictionary and vocabulary to describe what is authorized and what does not adapt to a professional military appearance, good gild and discipline."

The updated standard will also include a link to imagery and videos to provide Soldiers with specific examples of proper grooming and appearance standards, Sanders said. Current images are as well vague, outdated, and leave too much room for interpretation without adequate guidance.

"Pictures speak ane,000 words," he said. "Nosotros won't be able to capture every grooming and advent standard, but we will exist able to categorize them to equip Soldiers at all levels" with the information needed to ensure regulatory standards are existence realized in a fair and inclusive style that is easily understood across the force.

Related links:

Regular army News Service

ARNEWS archive

STAND-TO! Army preparation standards and AR 670-ane

Revised Regular army regulation and grooming standards support variety, equity and inclusion and people get-go priority