I had to post this because I am curious what others have to say... below is the AR quote on hair color. The part I have questions about is when it says "natural hair colors". What does that mean? I read it as the soldiers natural hair color before... but now I think it means you can tint your hair with any other natural hair color. For example, a female with dark hair and blonde highlights. This seems to be okay as long as the highlights are not an unnatural color like purple, red and others. SO, define what that means to some of you...
Personally I think any kind of highlights looks unprofessional in uniform.
AR 670-1, 1-8(b) Extreme, eccentric, or trendy haircuts or hairstyles are not authorized. If soldiers use dyes, tints, or bleaches, they must choose those that result in natural hair colors. Colors that detract from a professional military appearance are prohibited. Therefore, soldiers should avoid using colors that result in an extreme appearance. Applied hair colors that are prohibited include, but are not limited to, purple, blue, pink, green, orange, bright (fire-engine) red, and fluorescent or neon colors. It is the responsibility of leaders to use good judgment in determining if applied colors are acceptable, based upon the overall effect on soldiers’ appearance.
EMOTIONAL TERMOIL ----------------------- The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is recoil.
I worked in a warehouse full of women and we pretty much came to the idea as long as it was done in good taste and held somewhat close to there ethnicity it was ok to have highlights. Natural Hair colors are usually a go but when they start coming with Blue or green is when it is unproffesional. So Red, blonde. Brown, Black etc Honeys and such and such is ok.
But as long as it is in good taste and within a natural haircolor they are good to go. My problem was always the hair so big that the beret couldn't fit. That's the only time the Young Sarge would get hype as they said.
highlights are one thing, most of the time when a male notices a female's highlights, they are either a stylist, or it's really "chunks". highlights done correctly can look natural, and i think that's what the reg is going for when it states that "Extreme, eccentric, or trendy haircuts or hairstyles are not authorized."
like it's in reference to slant cuts, reverse bobs, stuff like that, to include chunky highlights.
as far as coloring is concerned, i think as long as it is on the conservative it's good to go, like fire engine red is a natural hair color for some scotch men and women but is listed as prohibited.
at the end of the day it all falls down to the command sop. 101st says highlights are ok so long as they are natural in appearance, but some battalions within 1st brigade say no highlights period and are staunch about it.
when i was enlisted, i just made sure i didn't look like i had dyed my hair. as long as it looks reasonably natural there shouldn't be a problem.
as far as males with highlights, if their haircut is within army regulations as far as the cut goes and they get highlights, then they need to be smacked, there just isn't enough hair on their head to pay for the price of highlighting, around here it's about $50 and up.... insanity i tell you....
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Advice... Go upstairs, grab your big girl panties, and put them on....
Posts: 255 | Location: Fort Campbell, KY | Registered: 15 February 2008
of course, i am also of the opinion that females should have to cut their hair too. not like males, but short and proffesional. i know i had mine short because i hated walkin around and seeing all the females who had a million bobby pins in their hair and it looked like a rat's nest gone wrong and it was still falling. it just doesn't seem fair, ya know? next thing you know men can grow their hair out so long as it's in a bun when in uniform....
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Advice... Go upstairs, grab your big girl panties, and put them on....
Posts: 255 | Location: Fort Campbell, KY | Registered: 15 February 2008
Well I dont make a big deal about and I actually agree with all of you. I can even conceed to tasteful and appropriate highlights with one condition. On deployment do they maintain their highlights or get back to there natural hair color? Because the roots wil show up. Maybe this sounds petty but I think it's all important. It's easy to deal with the males but I see some leaders are a little scared to corrrect females. Not all but there are a few here and there.
EMOTIONAL TERMOIL ----------------------- The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is recoil.
Well to put in my two cents. I am not willing to cut my hair and have it above my collar simply because it "looks" better. My hair is to the middle of my back and I have no issues keeping it up and looking better then half of the females I see walking around with either long and short hair. I do not have "a million" bobby pins sitcking out, simply 2-3 hair ties that you really can not see because they match my hair color.
I am not trying to nit pick but if you are able to be with in regulation and it is tasteful then there should be no issues. It's the Soldiers that come out of AIT these days with pony tails saying that it is ok. My reply is: at 0900 show me in the regulation it states that, we are in the Army not the Airforce. If you have to have "a million" bobby pins in your hair then figure something else out. Again I can get my hair up and unmovable with three hair ties and a little hair spray if I need it.
Originally posted by k9nermp: Well to put in my two cents. I am not willing to cut my hair and have it above my collar simply because it "looks" better. My hair is to the middle of my back and I have no issues keeping it up and looking better then half of the females I see walking around with either long and short hair. I do not have "a million" bobby pins sitcking out, simply 2-3 hair ties that you really can not see because they match my hair color.
I am not trying to nit pick but if you are able to be with in regulation and it is tasteful then there should be no issues. It's the Soldiers that come out of AIT these days with pony tails saying that it is ok. My reply is: at 0900 show me in the regulation it states that, we are in the Army not the Airforce. If you have to have "a million" bobby pins in your hair then figure something else out. Again I can get my hair up and unmovable with three hair ties and a little hair spray if I need it.
Female Airman have to have there hair in a neat well kept apperance as well. I'm offended by that.
The regulation says "natural hair colors". My reply is the question: What is "natural hair color"? Obviously the prohibited colors are not natural (except the Scottish red or Northern European blonde). But, there seems to be some question as to everything else. First, is blonde, red, etc. a natural hair color for a person of African or Asian descent? Second, is any highlight a natural hair color? I understand some people are born with a naturally blended color, however, is anyone born with two different hair colors? I have never read, heard, or seen it. Has anyone else? Finally, could there be a more ambiguous regulation? Some clarity from DCSPER please!
A man's feet must be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world. -George Santayana
"Is proeliator ero paratus necnon promptus pro suus bellum advenio"
Posts: 1 | Location: Southaven, MS | Registered: 03 July 2008
technically, all females have some kind of highlight if they are or have been deployed. it may not be drastic, but its there... as far as the natural color, of course you cant have like pink, green, or blue highlights...it must be something that goes with your hair..
"reach for the moon because even if you miss you will land among the stars"
Posts: 80 | Location: the wonderful taji, iraq | Registered: 18 July 2008
Oh lord I had to catch up on this threat because I was almost instantly in attack mode, I hate seeing females that can not control their hair, mroe so the higher ranking NCO's and Officers that seem to think they have been in long enough that the AR does not apply to then and their little pony tails or the hair over the collar. It kills me, even more so when they have that Drill Sergeant pin on their uniform. COME ON!! You made your soldiers be within regs now follow it yourself!!
Again I have two, and come count them, two hair ties in my hair and it stays up with no problem. Put it up wet and it is still wet when I take it down 12+ hrs later. I will not be told I have to cut my hair, I can be within Regs with no problem and like I said about it a lot better then the higher ranking NCO's and Officers that think they are exempt.
Spc Ivy come down here to Ft Stewart and show me where techincally I have highlights. I put no dye what so ever in my hair.
Lord give me the strength to make it through the next 2+ years as a Drill Sergeant... I will not coddle any female that crosses my path, my last unit and my current BN know that for a fact. Those in my section literally pull me the other way when they see something on a female that is not right, unless I am already half way there and they can't catch me!!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: k9nermp,
well, what i said was true... i didnt say you had to put dye into your hair... i simply said everyone who has been deployed has some kind of highlights simply because being in the sun for so long lightens it... unless you have really black hair in which i have seen that get a little lighter with time as well... you might want to read a little more into what i said.
"reach for the moon because even if you miss you will land among the stars"
Posts: 80 | Location: the wonderful taji, iraq | Registered: 18 July 2008
I seem to remember wearing a ACH while deployed for a lot of my deployment, leading to the sun hardly hitting my hair.. I hardly saw sunlight without gear but I will take your word as gold there SPC Ivy. Maybe you should be going Drill Sergeant instead of me. `
ArmyStudyGuide Community 
I will not coddle any female that crosses my path, my last unit and my current BN know that for a fact. Those in my section literally pull me the other way when they see something on a female that is not right, unless I am already half way there and they can't catch me!!
Maybe you should be going Drill Sergeant instead of me. `
