Military Grooming Standards

Male Hair Regulations

• Hair on the back of the neck must not touch the collar.
• Strands must not exceed four inches in length and should not touch the ears or collar.
• Hair should remain above the eyebrows when headgear is removed and should not show under the front edge of headgear.
• Bulk of hair is limited to approximately two inches.

Female Hair Regulations

• Hair length cannot go below the level of the back collar.
• Bulk of hair (without bun) must not exceed two inches, while with a bun, it should not exceed three inches.
• Ponytails must not interfere with headgear and should not exceed three inches below the collar.

Mustache Regulations

• Mustaches must not extend below the upper lip line.
• The mustache should not exceed a horizontal line drawn across the corners of the mouth.

Male Piercing Regulations

• Body piercings are prohibited while in uniform.
• Not allowed in civilian attire during duty status, aboard ships, aircraft, or military vehicles.

Female Piercing Regulations

• One earring per ear, centered on the earlobe, with a size of 4mm to 6mm in ball form.
• Female Officers and Chief Petty Officers can wear gold earrings in Working and Service uniforms; E6 and below can wear silver.
• White pearl earrings are permitted in Dress Uniforms, while white diamond earrings are allowed in Dinner Dress uniforms.
• No body piercings allowed in uniform.

Male Fingernail Regulations

• Fingernails must not exceed the fingertips in length.

Female Makeup Regulations

• Makeup must be tasteful and align with natural skin color.

Female Fingernail Regulations

• Fingernails cannot extend more than 1/4 inch past the fingertip.

Regulations During Duty

• Service members must adhere to grooming regulations when in uniform or on duty status.

Ring Regulations

• One ring per hand is allowed in addition to one wedding ring.
• Rings must be in good taste and not distracting, with no rings permitted on the thumb.

Necklace Regulations

• Only one necklace can be worn in uniform, and it must not be visible.

Bracelet Regulations

• Only one bracelet may be worn and it must be tasteful, not hazardous, and should not be worn on the same wrist as a watch or tracker.

Tattoo Regulations

• Tattoos must adhere to four criteria: content should reflect good order and discretion, no tattoos on the head, face, ears, or scalp, size restriction is limited to one inch for neck and behind the ear, and cosmetic tattoos must correct medical conditions done by licensed professionals.

Dental Ornamentation Regulations

• Prohibition on decorative veneers or caps for dental ornamentation, including designs, jewels, or initials on teeth.