Army Hair Cuts

cailinlowe

I'm joining the Army and trying to decide if i want to keep my hair longer and put it up every day, or just cut it all off so i don't have to deal with it at basic training.

thoughts? opinions? personal experiences?

lovemusclesgirl

I kept my hair long the entire 9 1/2 years I was in the army so much easier to take care of for me. I just pulled it into a ponytail and then pinned my hair in a bun. :-) I even was in the Gulf War and I still kept my long hair. :-). But you have to do what makes your life easier.
Take Care!

mghanie

Congrats on your decision to join the army, I wanted to join the Navy but unfortunately my headscarf would be in violation of the uniform and I wouldn't be able to wear it . I'm a little jealous of you right now. I think tying up your hair everyday will get annoying after a while especially while doing basic training, but if you don't mind doing it then maybe just cut it a little shorter so its not as long. Good luck! Wishing you the best

cailinlowe

bumpity bump bump

cubbie_girl

I'm AF and I cut mine really short for basic training, which was the best decision for me. My TI was a female and she was SO strict about our hair. Only 5 minutes to get dressed and get it pulled back and any little fly-aways (including the short hairs around your neck) were grounds for 20-20-20 or discipline in her book. The couple of us with short hair never had to worry about that - just make sure it's still within regulation.

Since then I've grown it out and have kept it long, even during deployments. The only time long hair sucks now is during training or exercises when we have to wear a gas mask. You have to take it down to don the mask but put it back up when the mask comes off.

Whatever you decide, good luck with your military future!

cailinlowe

..

Doingitforme72

congrats on signing up.
I'm a SSG and a platoon leader for an Army Reserve unit with female Soldiers that I am responsible for. How you wear your hair is up to you. As someone stated before, you have only so much time to get ready in the morning and be out the door for training. Only can decide what will be easier for you. If it takes you awhile to get your hair ready, then cut it. It's hair... it will grow back. If you want the specifics on how to wear your hair, you can reference AR (Army Regulation) 670-1 Wear and Appearance of the Military Uniform. This covers every aspect of how you should look in your ACU's and ASU's.
If you have any other questions please feel free to message me. I deal with a lot of pre-basic Soldiers.

HotMummyMission

This is nothing to do with me but you all are just amazing

panicintheattic

I've never been in the army but I can say that having really short hair is the easiest thing in the world to deal with. And like Doingitforme7 said, it will grow back. My head was completely shaved for a while and it was great, no hair sticking to my forehead when I was sweating working out, and I never had to style it in the mornings. But, I got to a point where I really started to miss it. So, if you're willing to keep up with it I'd say cut it for ease. But, if it's something that doesn't take you long to do in the first place, then keep it. I'd say it just depends on how much effort you're willing to go through with it.

digitalbill

Not a female but a Veteran nontheless.

I forgot about gas mask training.
Yeah, crop it as short as you feel comfortable cutting it. It is not like you will have a lot of time in Basic or in AIT to really care for it anyway.
I know that people with hair use shampoo, conditioner, and other stuff. You won't really have time for that.
And I can only imagine what happens when those rubber straps from the gas mask get wrapped up in your hair...

cailinlowe

bumping again for more opinions!

RGv2

I would cut it short for Basic, and if you like longer hair grow it out in AIT.

You have little time to prep in the morning in Basic plus, as stated earlier, the gas mask.

You need to be able to get the mask on, straps tight/located correctly, and cleared in 8 seconds in order to pass. I wouldn't want any hair in the way of that.

jgardner38

I'm joining the Army and trying to decide if i want to keep my hair longer and put it up every day, or just cut it all off so i don't have to deal with it at basic training.

thoughts? opinions? personal experiences?

don't cut it all off...there is no need...trust me

jgardner38

This is nothing to do with me but you all are just amazing

Thank you

cailinlowe

I'm joining the Army and trying to decide if i want to keep my hair longer and put it up every day, or just cut it all off so i don't have to deal with it at basic training.

thoughts? opinions? personal experiences?

don't cut it all off...there is no need...trust me

1. i wasnt going to cut it ALL off, just get a short cut.
2. why should i trust you?

sgtrowley

Congrats on Joining!... cant really give good advice... they shaved my head when I enlisted.. have been doing that ever since!

LMT2012

I am a huge fan of very short hair to start with, and think you have a great face for it. It will be faster not only in the mornings, but drying after showers and such. Best wishes!!!!

ashleycassibo

I've had my hair long and short while in the Army. Short hair is a little faster to do in the morning it just requires getting it cut every 4-6 weeks to keep it within regulation depending on how short you go or if you do more of a bob style. Putting it in a bun does get easier and faster the more you do it too. I think there are benfits to both hair styles.

Ocarina

I vote for bun! Then you can doll yourself up with curls and cute updos when you aren't at work.

Short hair is cute too!

mikey1976

bump just for you congratulations on joining you look great either way you choose

jnichel

They took all my hair for both Army boot, and Navy boot two years later. They should take it off the women too...equal rights and all. :laugh:

Seriously though, I would think short is your best bet. You're going to be pressed for time in the early days of boot, and anything that helps you save time (like being able to run a bar of soap over your head, towel dry, etc) will be your friend.

cailinlowe

bump just for you congratulations on joining you look great either way you choose

thank youu! :]

JessWolf1002

I was in the Army and my hair was LONG during Basic and my entire military career. I either wore it in a French braid and pinned under so the ends didn't touch my collar or in a bun. Do a YouTube search for how to do a "sock bun". It's the easiest way to get your hair super neat and clean and up to military standard. Oh and I'm not sure if they still do this, but when I went to basic in '04 if you had any kind of highlights or unnatural color in your hair you had to go get it dyed by the Army hair dresser. Luckily mine was plain brown but I would try to avoid going there at all costs lol.

buggrrrl_01

I completed BCT this summer with very fine, long hair. I did have some trouble at first with it falling down and my DS threatened to have my head shaved until another female showed me the trick. Gel and lots of it (it's easier with long or no layers). I also had to practice with bobby pins a little more. Now I can go through taking off and putting on my ACH (helmet with straps) all day and still stay in regulation. The time didn't seem to be much of an issue to me. Also, some females would sleep with their hair already put up. One drawback to that was they also risked mildew in their hair.

kms1320

Depends on where you go for basic. Ft Jackson is HOT in the summer but the di's are a little easier. If it's Ft. Benning I would not leave a single hair to chance. Other places have their trends too.

RunDoozer

As a guy this decision was made for me.

Your hair just has to be up so it isn't touching your collar. Most of the women that I remember either had it braided or up in some bun that wouldn't come out so they didn't have to mess with it. Also saw a lot of girls come out of basic with corn rows which was unfortunate

fae14

Just bring the top of a tube sock with you to roll your hair around (same color as your hair if you can find it) and you should be fine. I went in the AF with my hair down to my butt, and I was fine. You'l make friends with the other girls and can help each other catch the stray locks.

However, if you don't want to bother with it, make sure your hair doesn't touch your collar or the tops of your ears. Try looking up the actual regulation on how a female hair should be.

I'm former AF and currently and Army wife. I hear about all this all the time.

cubbie_girl

Just bring the top of a tube sock with you to roll your hair around (same color as your hair if you can find it) and you should be fine. I went in the AF with my hair down to my butt, and I was fine. You'l make friends with the other girls and can help each other catch the stray locks.

However, if you don't want to bother with it, make sure your hair doesn't touch your collar or the tops of your ears. Try looking up the actual regulation on how a female hair should be.

I'm former AF and currently and Army wife. I hear about all this all the time.

Just a note: There is nothing in AFI 36-2903 that states a female's hair cannot tough the top of her ears. That's a requirement for males only. I haven't studied Army Regulation 670-1 in the same amount of detail as I have the AF reg, but I haven't seen anything about that for the Army females either. Either way, it is a great idea to read over the appropriate reg (or regs, don't know if there are others out there for Army) before making any decisions.

Gallowmere1984

Demi Moore, GI Jane, just sayin'...then again, I don't think there are many women who can pull that off and still be quite that attractive.

Achrya

Hmm. I did some time in the navy and I, personally, cut all of mine off. Well, most of it anyway. It made things so so easy for me.

bonjour24

i have never been in the army, but i did shave my head last year to raise money. best thing ever! i LOVE having short hair and don't think i'll ever have it long again.