Army grooming standards and hairstyles get more strict under new orders
The Army has tightened hair regulations for men and women and emphasized “natural” grooming standards for makeup, nails and jewelry.
Patty Nieberg
Published Sep 15, 2025 12:30 PM EDT
The Army is tightening its standards for soldiers’ hairstyles.
The service issued a directive Monday to “remove ambiguity” in previous and expired notices that cover appearance and grooming standards, officials said in a statement. Soldiers will have 30 days to comply with the new policies and “make an appointment and see a professional to make changes,” they added.
The rules will be enforced by commanders and noncommissioned officers via “on-the-spot” corrections, according to the directive.
“This definitive guidance gives leaders the tools they need to do just that. You don’t have to memorize it, but you should know what right looks like,” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer said in a statement.
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-grooming-standards-update/