Grooming and Appearance (Hard)

Grooming and Appearance Standard

• Supervisors are responsible for grooming and appearance of subordinates.
• Members must maintain a neat and professional appearance.
• All members are required to report to work neatly groomed and dressed.
• Members are expected to maintain personal hygiene habits that are generally accepted in the community: clean clothing, good grooming, and personal hygiene.

Hair Standards

• Hair length, fullness, style, and shape must comply with safety restrictions.
• Hair should be neat, clean, well-trimmed, properly combed, pulled-back, and always restrained.
• Hair should not exceed 4 inches from the scalp while in uniform.
• Hair length should not go past the bottom of the shirt collar.
• Hairstyles must not jeopardize the proper wearing of personal protective equipment or the personal safety of the firefighter.
• The firefighting hood must cover all hair on members’ heads.
• Sideburns must not come into contact with the inner seal of a breathing apparatus face piece.
• Hair may be dyed, tinted, or frosted in colors naturally occurring in human hair.
• Non-flammable hair restraints (rubber bands, barrettes) must match hair color, be black or brown, and have no ornamentation.
• Natural hairstyles are permitted within the defined limitations.

Facial Hair Standards

• Mustaches may be worn, but must be neat and trimmed so the full upper lip is exposed.
• Mustaches should not extend more than ½” below the corners of the mouth.
• Facial hair must in no way restrict the positive inner seal of the breathing apparatus face piece.
• Beards and goatees are not permitted.
• Lower lip whiskers may not exceed one-half (1/2”) inch in any dimension.

Jewelry and Piercing Standards

• Jewelry of a conservative style is allowed as long as it does not present a safety concern.
• Female members may only wear stud earrings in diamond, gold, or silver, not exceeding 6mm in size.
• Only one stud earring per earlobe is permitted.
• Members can wear one (1) ring per hand and a watch.
• One (1) neck chain is permissible if worn on the inside of the shirt and is not a choke type.
• No bracelets, except “medical alert” type, will be worn.
• Body piercings are not authorized while in uniform.
• No articles can be attached to or through the ear, nose, tongue, eyebrow, or any other body part, except for a clear tongue retainer.

Tattoo Standards

• Visible tattoos shall not be inappropriate or offensive in nature.

Other Grooming Standards

• Perfume and cologne should be worn in moderation.
• Cosmetics should be applied lightly with colors that are neither too bright nor too dark.
• Lipstick shades should not distinctly contrast with the complexion, detract from the uniform, or be extreme.
• Fingernails should be kept neatly trimmed and should not extend more than ¼” beyond the ends of the fingers.
• Fingernail polish is permitted but the shade should not be extreme or detract from the uniform.

Contact Information

• Company Officer
• District Chief
• Deputy Chief of Operations
• Assistant Chief
• Fire Chief