Lice were rampant and often an issue with soldiers living close together, and hygiene was not always possible. It was easier to remove the hair that lice would often thrive in, and it was easier for field sanitation. Today, the induction haircut is both tradition and a means of standardization.
No minimum hair length. Allowing multiple hairstyles for women, which were previously limited to buns for longer hair. Allowing earrings to be worn with the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) Adding more lip and nail colors for female soldiers.
The military is very big on uniformity (less variables to deal with). Having thicker or longer hair makes it difficult to wear military headgear properly, also thick hair can impede the proper fit and function of safety equipment like a chemical mask for example. For these reasons short hair is preferred.
After the Civil War, the frontier was being expanded westward and cavalry Soldiers would wear their hair long, but tied up in a “clubbed” style where it was twisted, folded and tied at the back of the head. It wasn't until World War I that shaving was required. The reason — to get a good seal on a gas mask.
Haircuts are a rite of passage during military basic training. Almost immediately after arrival, your hair will be cut so short that it almost feels like you were shaved bald (guys only). After the initial haircut, you'll get a trim at least once per week during basic training.
The required haircut for a male recruit is a number two all over, so if you want to get your haircut you should choose this style; however, all male recruits will have a haircut in the first week of training, if you have a haircut prior to arrival, you will have it cut again once you get to 1RTB.
you'll be given an order to sit and get your haircut according to regulations. If you refuse that order you will consoled and corrected, that this is not a request that is open to debate. You will obey the order given to you.
Women's Military Hair
Hair can be worn long. Hair can be completely shaved or closely shaved. If the hair length is short or medium, it cannot be longer than the lower edge of the collar in their uniform. Hair can be styled in a ponytail or braid, as long as it does not interfere with their headgear.
Beards and sideburns are banned in all military and police forces since the early 20th century. A clean-shaved face is considered part of a spirit of order, hygiene and discipline. Stubble is also considered unacceptable and controlled with severity.
Long hair should be worn up in a bun and properly secured in a neat and tidy fashion using conservative ties, grips, hairpins, and nets of natural hair colour. granted only on medical or religious grounds, or where tradition permits. The appearance of the beard and whiskers is to be neat and tidy.
The Coast Guard, Army and Air Force allow beards in limited circumstances, including on religious and medical grounds.
Current military policies require all male members to maintain a clean shave whenever in uniform, unless waivered.
US Army tattoo policy 2022
Specifically, soldiers can now have one tattoo on each hand as long as it doesn't exceed 1 inch in length. They can have one tattoo — no larger than 2 inches — on the back of their neck. One, 1-inch tattoo is also allowed behind each ear.
In the military barracks, everything is communal including the personal space for hygiene. Thus, recruits often shower together with a unit and are also expected to keep the shower "clean, dry, and ready for inspection" .
The new regulations also allow the exact opposite. Female soldiers going through Ranger or special operations training get their heads shaved, like male soldiers do. But when they leave training, their hair is too short, based on the Army's previous minimum length requirements.
Operators have special grooming standards, separate from the rest of the military. They're allowed to have beards and long hair if they choose to when other service members may not.
4, 2019, following a series of reviews by the Naval Safety Center that said beard hair posed a safety risk for face seals on breathing devices such as respirators. Beards are typically not allowed in the service except for religious and medical exemptions.
Facial hair that lies along the sealing area of a respirator, such as beards, sideburns, or mustaches will interfere with respirators that rely on a tight facepiece fit to achieve maximum protection. The areas of the skin, which contact the face or neck seal and nosecup seal, must be free of any hair.
Trivia answer: Special Operations Forces are allowed to have beards and long hair so that they have the opportunity to blend in with the communities they work in, such as in Afghanistan, where beards are common.
Religions such as Orthodox Judaism, Rastafarianism, and Sikhism all prohibit haircuts, the removal of facial hair, or a combination of the two due to beliefs that hair is sacred or a gift from God.
World War I was the first conflict where shaving was required. There were two reasons: to get a proper fit and seal on the gas mask and personal hygiene. Beards were outlawed, and the maximum permitted hair length was one inch.
'In observance with your Christian faith, you may wear uncut hair in accordance with Army uniform and grooming standards provided in Army Regulation (AR) 670-1,' a memo to DiPietro from Lieutenant General Gary M. Brito, the head of Army personnel read.
Generally speaking, your face must be clean-shaven and facial hair is not allowed (aside from mustaches) as a function of the armed forces' interest in becoming and appearing as one, cohesive unit.
Hair cannot be longer than four inches and cannot touch the ears, collar, or eyebrows. The length and bulk of the hair cannot interfere with properly worn headgear and may not be styled in a manner that allows the hair to extend more than two inches from the scalp.
Although all branches of the U.S. armed forces employ the tradition of the induction haircut, the U.S. Marines have adopted the most severe version – a "zero-length" clipper blade to the scalp, although not shorter to avoid any minor injuries to recruits' head moles or other lesions.