HAIRCUTS & HAIRSTYLES

Permitted for Women

• Completely shaved or closely-shaved hair (may be tapered in appearance and if hair doesn’t part naturally, a straight part may be cut in)
• Short or medium length hair (not extending beyond the lower edge of the collar)
• Medium length hair may be worn in a ponytail if you’re unable to form a bun due to hair length or texture (must not interfere with the ability to wear authorized headgear)
• Long hair worn neatly pinned above the lower edge of the collar
• Long hair worn in a ponytail centered on the back of your head during physical training or tactical operations (except when considered a safety hazard)
• Plain hair accessories used to secure your hair that aren’t distracting or decorative
• Hair extensions that have the same general appearance as your natural hair
• Hair highlights with natural colors that blend together in a subtle and natural way
• Hair dyes, tints, or bleaches that match your natural hair color
• Wigs that look natural (may not be used to cover unauthorized hairstyles)
• Hair worn in multiple styles, such as braided twists or locs with a side twist to secure hair, as long as style is neat in appearance and doesn’t impact proper wear of headgear

Not Permitted for Women

• Bulky hairstyles or extremely long hair that interferes with the ability to wear headgear or protective equipment
• Dyes, tints, or bleaches that do not match your natural hair color
• Steel hair picks
• Trendy and exaggerated hairstyles, including shaved portions of the scalp or designs cut into your hair
• Loose hair (while in uniform)
• Extreme or dramatic updo styles (while in uniform)

Permitted for Men

• Completely shaved or closely-trimmed hair (if hair does not part naturally, you may cut a straight part into the hair or style the hair with one part)
• Sideburns that don’t extend below the bottom opening of the ear
• Hair highlights with natural colors that blend together in a subtle and natural way
• Wigs or hairpieces used to cover natural baldness or disfiguration

Not Permitted for Men

• Braids, cornrows, twists, or locs (while in uniform or in civilian clothes on duty)
• Shaved designs cut into hair or scalp
• Styled sideburns that taper, flair, or come to a point

FACIAL HAIR

• Men must keep their face clean-shaven (when in uniform, or in civilian clothes on duty)
• Mustaches must be neatly trimmed, tapered, and tidy
• Beards may be worn for religious reasons but must be worn in a neat and conservative manner

RELIGIOUS GARMENTS (HIJABS, TURBANS, KIPPOT)

• Religious headgear may be worn in solid, subdued colors that closely resemble assigned uniforms (generally black, brown, green, tan, or navy blue)
• Soldiers wearing a combat uniform may wear a hijab, turban, or under-turban in a matching camouflage pattern
• Hair worn under the turban is not subject to general standards, but may not fall over the ears or eyebrows or touch the collar while in uniform

EYEGLASSES, SUNGLASSES, & CONTACT LENSES

Permitted

• Conservative prescription eyeglasses
• Prescription contact lenses (except when health or safety considerations apply)
• Conservative prescription and non-prescription sunglasses while working in a garrison (non-field) environment, except while indoors
• Sunglasses worn for medical reasons, other than refractive error (except when health or safety considerations apply)
• Eyeglass restraints (including bands) when required for safety purposes
• Ballistic spectacle eye protection issued by the Army

Not Permitted

• Eyeglasses or sunglasses with distracting initials, designs, or other adornments
• Sunglasses with lenses in distracting colors such as red, yellow, blue, purple, or orange
• Sunglasses that are so large or so small that they detract from the uniform
• Chains or ribbons attached to eyeglasses
• Eyeglasses or sunglasses worn on top of the head at any time
• Tinted or colored contact lenses (while in uniform), unless prescribed for eye injuries
• Clear contact lenses that have designs on them that change the contour of the iris (while in uniform)

JEWELRY

Permitted

• Religious apparel, articles, or jewelry may be worn with the uniform, including the physical fitness uniform
• One item on each wrist (like a watch, activity tracker, pedometer or heart rate monitor, medical or religious bracelet)
• Rings (no more than two)
• Conservative stud earrings worn by women with the service, dress, mess, and evening mess uniforms

Not Permitted

• Earrings worn by men (while on duty)
• Attaching or displaying objects, jewelry, or ornamentation under the skin, tongue, or any other body part

TATTOOS

Permitted

• Tattoos that are not visible above the collar or below the cuff

Not Permitted

• Tattoos on the head, face, neck, or below the wrist bone
• Tattoos that are extremist, racist, sexist, or indecent are prohibited anywhere on the body, without exception

NAILS

• Women must keep nails no longer than ¼ inch as measured from the tip of the finger
• Women may wear nude and natural nail polish shades, such as light pink
• Women may have square or rounded nails but pointed or exaggerated nail shapes such as ballerina, stiletto, arrow, and coffin are not permitted
• Men must keep nails trimmed (not exceeding beyond the fingertip)
• Men may wear clear nail polish

LIPSTICK

• Women may wear natural shades of solid lipstick or tinted lip gloss
• Women may wear lip liner but only with a matching shade of lipstick