I will be start basic on 29 DEC 04, but I was advised of a problem. I am an african american female with dreadlocks that hang to the nape of my neck. I was advised by my recruiter that i could just wear a ponytail or bun in my hair with no problems. I went on a military site and it states that dreadlocks are prohibited :shock: What can I do? I keep my hair very neat, but now I am nervous.

Dreadlocks are absolutely prohibited in the Army. AR 670-1.
You'll have to find the way to get rid of it, otherwise they will just shave it off in Basic

What he said. You need to present a neat and well taken care of appearance. Dreadlocks make you look like unclean. No offense but they do.

I hate to say this but when I was in AIT I had a female in my platoon that had to cut her hair as short as mine was and i'm a guy. (sorry) GOOD LUCK!

just have to find a hairstyle that is suitable for you AND the Army.

do you have dreadlocks, or cornrows? the small rows are authorized, and if you like the style of dreadlocks my suggestion is get your hair redone into small rows, which can be tied up in a bun and still be within regulation.

and hopefully I made sense ... if I confused you, I'll try to explain better ...

Suggestion, you need a hair style that does not interfere with putting on & wearing the protective mask. I kept my hair long during Basic and AIT, braiding and tucking it up with two long hair pins... it was neat, but cause me some problems with the protective mask a few times.

Of course, for Desert Storm I got it cut short, best move i ever did. With the first real MOPP-4 alarm, one of the other ladies in our platoon got her hair tangled and caught and couldn't get her mask on. Instant hysteria on her part; concern on ours, because we had to put ours on first before we could help her.

Also you want a hair style that requires no real upkeep, except for washing it...you don't have time for anything else.

This may have just been an AirForce thing but my wife and other females of ethnic heritage were allowed to wear braids as long as they were kept nice and not a bunch of baby hairs all over the place.

My wifes freinds have all gone with a nia long type of haircut and after work put there sexy hair back on....Trust me you can work around it I promise you that one.

Thanks everyone. I guess its just time for me to let go of my locks [/code][/quote]

Heres my advice,
Let the dreads go, braids look really good on black females, there cleaner, and trust me in basic thats important because you don't have much time for anything also depending on your MOS its all you'll have time for. If you have long hair and you pull it back in bun/tucked ponytail in training your golden, and my drills let the black females relax their hair after the first few seeks so it didn't have a nappy appearance. Really the most important thing is to make sure you can mask properly, sucking CS gas is no fun, especially if your doing push ups in it.

wonderone, dreads have to be cut out, don't they (((hugs)))

I know it can be difficult to change a long time vision of one's self. That is life, a series of changes and choices. Remember, even without your dreads, you are still you. Someday in the future you will have the choice of locks again.

Best wishes on your new adventure!

Yep when I came in I had to cut my braids. Lol they cut all of my hair actually.

What about upkeep? I usually have to put moisturizer in my hair and then wrap it up in a scarf everynight. Plus, when it comes time to wash my hair I need a blow dryer, curling iron, and atleast an hour to tame it or I end up with a huge mass of really frizzy hair. I't really complicated for some african american women to take care of their hair, and I am one of them. I'm sure there's no time for this sort of thing in basic training...right?

no time at all...you roll out the bed in the morning and hit the floor running. If there was 15-30 minutes between lights on and first formation, that might been a lot, because it sure seem like less.

Do all the personal hygiene you can the night before. All you will have time for in the morning is the bathroom, teeth and a splash of water on your face to wake up. :shock: you have to be dressed, bunk made, everything picked up/put away/straight and out in formation with appropiate gear, all in that same time period. They will tell you the night before what gear is needed for the next day.

Don't forget there is also going to be 50+ of you trying to do it all at the same time.

I would braid my hair at night damp after shower (my choice) and in the morning, tuck it up and and shove a couple of long hair pins in, to hold it.

If corn rows are allowed for african american females, that sounds like the way to go...have it done before you go.

Get your hair as close and tight to your head as you can, with nothing dangling, especially down the back of your neck and on your forehead.

8)