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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.
Air Force Adjusts New Hair Standards for Women After Feedback
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.
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Changes are based on the feedback received from female airmen since the earlier guidance was originally published. According to the latest Air Force Instruction, women’s hair will be allowed to extend to a total width of 12in, or 6in each side from the centre of the head, and 6in protruding from the point where the hair is gathered. 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. Starting June 25, the service will allow women’s hair to fan out across a 1-foot span — six inches to the left and six inches to the right of the midpoint where the hair is gathered. The revised hair regulations, along with all other Air Force grooming standards, also will apply to women in the Space Force until the new service sets its own grooming policies.
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The list is not all-inclusive, and as previously noted, discretion is given to the Commander. Air Force recognizes that Airmen have the right, within established limits, to express their individuality, there are still guidelines that must be met in order to establish the appearance of one cohesive, organized military unit. The outline intends to present standards as to what is deemed acceptable and not acceptable while in any Air Force uniform or civilian clothing in an official capacity. The Air Force enforces different standards for haircuts, including the style and length of hair.
"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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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.
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.
The article stated that the "Air Force chief of staff approved the policy after considering feedback from the force, the uniform board recommendation, and the professional image and standards of the Air Force and U.S. military." The service last year consulted a diverse group of male and female troops, including officers and enlisted, from various ethnicities and occupations as it set out to revise women's hair standards and other dress and appearance regulations to make them more inclusive. The 19-person Air Force uniform board that issued recommendations leading to the initial hair change will continue to consider other potential updates, the service said.
"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.
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.
Initial changes to women’s hair standards were the result of various recommendations issued last fall by the Air Force uniform board. The group of 19 Airmen included a diverse group of men and women with officers and enlisted members from various ethnic and occupational backgrounds across major commands and headquarters directories. Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, the Air Force's deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, acknowledged in the release that the service hadn't considered how the hairstyle rules would affect all female airmen. In February, the Air Force started allowing female airmen and guardians to wear a single ponytail or a single or double braid in uniform, provided that the hairstyle was not wider than the woman’s head. But that hindered women whose hair is too thick or curly to fall straight down behind their heads when pulled up.
Women still must be able to properly wear hats or other headgear if their hair extends beyond the width of their heads, the service said. The USAF grooming standards will be applicable to guardians until the US Space Force (USSF) comes up with its own regulation. “I’ve been in the Air Force for 14 years, so I’m used to putting my hair up in a bun,” Sanchez said.
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.
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.
Air Force allows longer braids, ponytails for women - National Guard Bureau
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The change addresses feedback received since the previous guidance was originally published. Specifically, women voiced concerns over difficulty related to securing hair in a manner that does not extend beyond the head. In November, the Air Force uniform board convened virtually to discuss the ideas gathered from Airmen across the service and participated in a dress and appearance campaign, including recommendations from the Air Force's Women's Initiative Team. But beginning June 25, the Air Force said in a Friday release, women's hair may extend further when it is secured behind the head in a bun, braid, ponytail or other similar hairstyle.
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