Female soldiers can wear their hair in cornrows, a “neat” ponytail or plait under a new army dress code aimed at boosting diversity in the forces.
Under previous rules, servicewomen had to wear their hair in a bun even though their male counterparts were allowed other styles, including dreadlocks for religious purposes, for example if they were Rastafarians.
However the hair policy for women was updated today “to better reflect modern society”, an army spokesman said. The policy states female soldiers can wear hair in a single ponytail, braid or plait, in corn braids or rows or as an afro on parade and in working dress.
On parade, they must wear their hair off the collar in a bun or corn braids secured off the collar. Servicewomen can also wear hair extensions or wigs.
The RAF confirmed similar changes to its policy on hairstyles, saying the new policy would “offer greater choice”, adding in a tweet: “The new policy reflects our diverse whole force whilst continuing to uphold the excellent appearance standards expected of serving personnel.” Photographs of acceptable hairstyles were uploaded to both the army and RAF accounts on the social networking site.
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The RAF said service personnel can wear a single plait or ponytail “that can reach down to the top of their belts”. However, where a valid occupational, operational or safety requirement exists, women may still need to wear their hair tied up, such as medical personnel who are to wear their hair off the collar when carrying out “clinical duties”.
Whatever style is chosen, it must still allow service issue headdress to be worn correctly, an RAF spokesman said. The changes apply to all serving women, both regular and reserves, and young female air cadets and came into immediate effect.
Announcing the changes, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, chief of the air staff, said he was modernising the appearance policies “to better reflect the society we serve, empowering people with choice, but maintaining the values and high standards we expect from anyone in Royal Air Force uniform”. He said there would be more announcements on uniform and appearance in due course.
The changes were made to bring the army and RAF in line with the changes to the female appearance policy made by the Royal Navy and the US military and is a “reflection” of the military’s diverse workforce.
The British Army tweeted: “We have updated our hair policy to better reflect modern society. In working dress, servicewomen’s hair can be worn in a bun, ponytail, plait or cornrows.” Male soldiers were already allowed “well-groomed hair”, including twists, cornrows and locks, provided it does not cover the face or touch their collar or ears.
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They can also grow beards, with the commanding officer’s permission, although this is usually only granted on medical or religious grounds and they must be “neat and tidy”.
The move comes after the Royal Navy announced female personnel could have ponytails, plaits, twists, corn rolls, weaves and extensions, as long as they were “well groomed and styled back from the face”.
The navy hair policy states that long hair should be worn up and properly secured in a “neat and tidy fashion using grips, hairpins, nets and conservative scrunchies where appropriate”.
An army spokesperson said: “The army has revised its policy on hair with the most significant change being a relaxation in the requirement for females to wear long hair in a bun.
“This change has been made to provide individuals with greater choice, reflecting the needs of our diverse workforce and the society we represent. It does not signify a lowering of overall standards of dress and presentation.”