The following are the AR 670-1 Haircuts & Hairstyles Updates included in the Army Directive 2025-18 Regulation Changes for 2025 & 2026
Certain hairstyles are prohibited when wearing a military uniform.
This includes any hairstyles that distort the fit of prescribed headgear, interfere with the proper use of protective equipment, or create any health or safety hazards.
These restrictions apply regardless of whether the headgear is being worn at the time.
Headgear will fit snugly and comfortably without bulging or distorting its intended shape.
There will be no excessive gaps between the headgear and the head.
Soldiers will not wear oversized headgear to fit bulky or protruding hairstyles.
a. Male Haircuts and Hairstyles
(1) Hair Color.
Hair color must present a professional and natural appearance (defined as any shade of hair that grows from the scalp without artificial coloring).
Only natural shades of hair coloring are authorized, and must be applied in a blended, subtle manner.
Hair color must be free of abrupt or extreme artificial contrasts in shading.
(2) Hair Style.
(a)
Hair will be tapered or faded starting at zero length (skin fade) or at 1/4-inch length at the sideburns and hair around the ears (low, mid, and high fades).
Hair must blend evenly around the sides and back and will not fall over the ears.
The bulk (defined as the distance the hair protrudes from the scalp) of the hair at the top of the scalp will not exceed 2 inches, and the bulk of the hair at the sides of the head will not exceed 1 inch.
Only shaved or closely cut hair on the back of the neck may touch the collar of the uniform.
(b)
Male Soldiers are authorized to shave or trim their heads (whole scalp).
Edged or outlined cuts are authorized if they are natural to the Soldier’s hairline.
If the hair does not part naturally, the male Soldier may cut a part in the area where the Soldier would normally part the hair (no wider than 1/8-inch width).
The part will be one straight line, or if slanted or curved, align with the natural hairline.
Male Soldiers are not authorized to wear locs, braids, or twists.
(3) Shaping and Cutting Designs.
Male Soldiers will not shape or cut designs into their hair or scalp.
Leaders will judge the appropriateness of a particular hairstyle based on the guidelines found within this directive and the ability to wear all types of headgear (such as beret, garrison cap, patrol cap, or service cap/hat) and any protective equipment (such as a protective mask or combat helmet) properly.
b. Female Haircuts and Hairstyles.
Hairstyle techniques will encompass the entirety of the scalp (defined as the skin covering the head, excluding the face).
Bangs must remain above the eyebrows when worn and, at a minimum, be no shorter than the middle of the forehead.
There is no minimum hair length for female Soldiers.
Female Soldiers are authorized to shave or trim their heads (whole scalp).
Female Soldiers are not allowed to wear braided or unbraided ponytails when in any variation of the dress uniform.
Hair must be styled above the collar or secured in a bun above the collar when in service or dress uniform variations.
(1) Hair Color.
Hair color must present a professional and natural appearance (defined as any shade of hair that grows from the scalp without artificial coloring).
Only natural shades of hair coloring are authorized, and must be applied in a blended, subtle manner.
Hair color must be free of abrupt or extreme artificial contrasts in shading.
(2) Buns.
Buns will be worn on the back of the head and may extend a maximum of 3 inches from the scalp and no wider than the width of the head.
Buns will be centered at the back of the head, positioned horizontally in line with the top of the ears when viewed from the side.
The bottom portion of the bun may fall at or above the collar.
(3) Ponytails.
Female Soldiers are authorized to wear their hair in a single braided or a single unbraided ponytail while in the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) or the Army Physical Fitness Uniform (APFU).
Hair must be neatly fastened and secured in a single ponytail.
The bulk of the ponytail must not exceed the width of the head.
The ponytail length must not exceed 6 inches from the top of the collar.
The minimum length is at least 1 inch, measured from the base of the ponytail holder.
The ponytail will be centered at the back of the head and positioned horizontally in line with the top of the ears when viewed from the side.
Female Soldiers are not allowed to wear ponytails when in any variation of the dress uniform.
(4) Braids, Locs, Twists, and Cornrows.
Multiple braids, locs, twists, or cornrows may be uniformly styled and gathered into braids or a single ponytail to ensure a cohesive appearance (when braids, locs, twists, or cornrows are gathered into a ponytail, ponytail must conform to paragraph 1b(3) of this enclosure).
Female Soldiers are allowed to wear up to two braids (must run down the center of the back, parallel to each other and in equal length and width), with no braid exceeding 2 inches in width, and no longer than 6 inches when measured from the top of the collar.
The braids or braided ponytail cannot be worn over the shoulder or pulled in front of the body.
Female Soldiers are not allowed to wear braided ponytails when wearing any variation of the dress uniform.
(5) Hairstyle Techniques.
Female hairstyles involving shorter sides and back, with significantly longer hair on top, are authorized provided they adhere to the following standards:
The top section will not exceed 2 inches in length when measured from the scalp and must blend smoothly into the shorter sides and back, avoiding a stark disconnect.
Styles involving shorter sides and back will not incorporate buns, braids, twists, or ponytails.
A gradual transition in length is required, creating a blended contrast instead of a sharply defined undercut.
Asymmetrical (defined as unbalanced or lopsided) haircuts and hairstyles are prohibited.
(6) Tapered or Faded Haircuts.
(a)
At the discretion of the wearer, female Soldiers may taper or fade their hair, starting at zero length (skin fade) or at 1/4-inch length at the sideburns and hair around the ears (low, mid, and high fades).
Hair must blend evenly around the sides and back and will not fall over the ears.
The bulk (defined as the distance the hair protrudes from the scalp) of the hair at the top of the scalp will not exceed 2 inches, and the bulk of the hair at the sides of the head will not exceed 1 inch.
Only shaved or closely cut hair on the back of the neck may touch the collar of the uniform.
(b)
Edged or outlined cuts are authorized if they are natural to the Soldier’s hairline.
If the hair does not part naturally, the female Soldier may cut a part in the area where the Soldier would normally part the hair (no wider than 1/8 inch in width).
The part will be one straight line, or if slanted or curved, align with the natural hairline.
Female Soldiers may not combine tapered or faded haircuts with other authorized hairstyles.
No part of the hair’s bulk, measured from the scalp in its styled position, may exceed 2 inches in length, except in styles such as buns, braids, and ponytails.
(7) Shaping and Cutting Designs.
Female Soldiers will not shape or cut designs into their hair or scalp.
Leaders will judge the appropriateness of a particular hairstyle based on the guidelines found within this directive and the ability to wear all types of headgear (such as beret, garrison cap, patrol cap, or service cap/hat) and any protective equipment (such as a protective mask or combat helmet) properly.
(8) Devices.
Visible hair-holding devices used to secure hair will closely match the Soldier’s hair color.
Devices must blend naturally with the hair, should be discreet and complement the overall appearance, and be no larger than 1/2-inch thick.
Authorized devices must closely match the wearer’s hair color.
These devices include, but are not limited to, small plain scrunchies (elastic hair bands covered with material), barrettes, combs, pins, clips, rubber bands, and hair or head bands.
Such devices should conform to the natural shape of the head.