Overview

• An Aug. 20 memo released Monday sets a force-wide grooming standard of being clean shaven and instructs unit commanders to initiate separation if a medical shaving waiver is still required after 12 months of treatment.
• Waivers now require a written recommendation from a military medical officer, commanders are the final approval authority, and approved service members must participate in a documented treatment plan.
• The Army issued a detailed directive with a 30‑day compliance window, prescribing tapered or faded men’s haircuts (max 2 inches on top, 1 inch sides/back), banning locs, braids and twists for men, and limiting women’s ponytails to six inches from the top of the collar with specific styling rules.
• Makeup, nails and jewelry rules tightened: lipstick and eyelash extensions are prohibited, women’s nails are capped at one‑quarter inch with only clear polish, women may wear one small stud earring per ear, and men may not wear nail polish or earrings.
• The Pentagon memo does not specify whether mustaches or religious accommodations are affected, and medical experts warn the one‑year waiver limit could disproportionately impact troops with pseudofolliculitis barbae, a condition more common among Black men.