Grooming Standards

When you wear the uniform, you are responsible for presenting a neat, clean, and professional military image. Appearance and grooming standards help present the image of disciplined cadets. A professional military image has no room for the extreme, the unusual, or the faddish. The standards for wearing the uniform consist of five elements: neatness, cleanliness, safety, uniformity, and military image. The first four are absolute, objective criteria for the efficiency, health, and well-being of the force. The fifth standard, military image, is also very important. Even though military appearance is subjective, it is necessary.

Cadet Hair Regulations

Hair will be clean, well-groomed, present a professional appearance, and allow proper wear of headgear
Hair will not contain excessive amounts of grooming aids (e.g., gel, mousse, pomade, or moisturizer),
Hair will not appear lopsided, touch either eyebrow (with the exception of female bangs), or end below an imaginary line across the forehead at the top of the eyebrows that is parallel to the ground. The SASI may temporarily authorize cadets to wear approved caps due to a medical condition.
Hair color, highlights, lowlights, and frosting will not be faddish or extreme and will be natural-looking hair color.

Male Cadets

See bottom of page for more hair style examples.

Men’s Hair will be tapered on both sides and the back of the head
Hair bulk cannot exceed 2 ½ inches regardless of length
Only closely cut or shaved hair on the back of the neck can touch the collar
Hair will not touch the ears or protrude under the front band of headgear

Unauthorized Hair Styles. Include, but are not limited to, mohawks, mullets, cornrows, dreadlocks, or etched designs.

Female Cadets

See bottom of page for more hair style examples.

Hair will have a maximum bulk of 4 inches from the scalp and allow for proper wear of headgear
Hair in a bun will end above the bottom edge of the collar
Hair pulled back and secured behind the head will not exceed a radius 6 inches in any direction and must allow for proper wear of headgear
One or two braids, or a single ponytail, may be worn down the cadet's back with length not extending below a horizontal line running between the top of each sleeve inseam at the underarm through the shoulder blades.
The braid(s) or ponytail or equivalent cannot be worn over the shoulder or pulled in front of the body.
Bangs, or side-swiped hair, may touch eyebrows but will not touch or cover eyes.
Locs, braids, twists, micro-braids, French braids, Dutch braids, and cornrows are authorized.
Additional hair must be a natural-looking color and conservative.
Multiple locs, braids, twists or cornrows may be worn according to previously stated ordinances with uniform dimension, no wider than one inch
Multiple locs, braids, or twists will be approximately ¼ inches in diameter and show no more than ¼ inch of scalp.
A braid/twist must continue to the end of the hair without design and following the contour of the head and may be worn loose or in a secured style within hair standards. Exception: Micro-braids or twists are not required to continue to the end of the hair.

Unauthorized Hair Styles. Include, but are not limited to, mohawks, mullets, or etched designs.

Male Facial Hair Standards

Mustaches. Male cadets may have mustaches. They will be conservative and will not extend downward beyond the lip line of the upper lip or extend sideways beyond a vertical line drawn upward from both corners of the mouth.

Sideburns. If worn, sideburns will be straight and even width (not flared), and will not extend below the bottom of the orifice of the ear opening. Sideburns will end in a clean-shaven horizontal line. Example image provided below.

Beards. Beards are not authorized unless for medical reasons, or for a religious accommodation. When authorized for medical reasons, members will keep all facial hair trimmed not to exceed ¼ inch in length. Individuals granted a shaving profile may shave or trim their facial hair to present a neat, clean, professional image.

Female Hair Accessories

Hair Accessories. If worn, hair accessories ( fabric scrunches, hairpins, combs, clips, headbands, elastic bands, barrettes, etc.) must either match hair color or be black in color. Hair must still comply with bulk and appearance standards. Headbands or fabric scrunches will not exceed two inches in width. Ornaments are not authorized (i.e., ribbons, beads, jeweled pins).

Male Cosmetic Standards

Male cadets are not authorized to wear cosmetics, including make-up and nail polish.

Female Cosmetic Standards

Female cadets may wear conservative-style cosmetics. Female cadets will not wear shades of lipstick that detract from the uniform.

Fingernail polish, if worn by female cadets, will be a single color that does not detract from the uniform. Prohibited polish includes extreme colors, designs, or multi-tone colors. White-tip French manicures are authorized. Fingernails must not exceed ¼ inch in length beyond the tip of the finger and must be clean and well groomed.

Jewelry

While in uniform, all jewelry will be plain and conservative.

In uniform, with the exception of earrings for women, all cadets are prohibited from attaching or displaying objects/jewelry to or through the ear, nose, tongue, eyebrows, lips, or any exposed body part. Plugs for gauge holes in the ear lobes are not authorized.

Rings. Cadets may wear a total of no more than three rings (wedding sets count as one ring when worn as a set). Rings will be worn at the base of the finger, and are permitted to be worn on the thumb.

Necklaces. Necklaces will not be visible at any time in uniform, and if worn, will be concealed under a collar or undershirt.

Bracelets. Cadets may wear one bracelet around their wrist only. If worn, the bracelet will be conservative in design, no wider than ½ inch, gold or silver in color, and will not have any inappropriate pictures or writing. Medical alert/identification bracelets are authorized. Bracelets espousing support for a cause, philosophy, individual, or group are not authorized (with the exception of traditional metal POW/ MIA/ KIA bracelets, which come in colors besides silver, bronze, or gold). No rubber or fabric type bracelets are allowed. Ankle bracelets are not authorized.

Sunglasses. Eyeglasses and sunglasses will not be worn around the neck or on top/back of the head or exposed hanging on the uniform. Eyeglasses and sunglasses may have conservative ornamentation on non-prescription sunglasses or eyeglasses, frames may be black or brown material or gold or silver wire. Conservative wrap-around sunglasses may be worn. Sunglasses (to include darkened photosensitive lenses) are not authorized in formation.

Earrings. Male cadets are not authorized to wear earrings while in uniform. Female cadets may wear small (not exceeding 6 mm in diameter) round or square white, diamond, gold, or silver earrings as a set with any uniform combination. If a cadet has multiple piercings, only one set of earrings is authorized to be worn in uniform and will be worn in the lower earlobes. Earrings will match and fit tightly without extending below the earlobe unless the piece extending is the connecting band on clip earrings. When not wearing earrings, male and female cadets are authorized to wear transparent piercing spacer(s) in lower earlobes while in uniform. Transparent spacers are not allowed in ear holes outside of the lower earlobes or any other piercing holes visible in uniform (nose, lip, eyebrow, etc.). Piercing holes will not be large enough to permit light to shine through.

Tattoos & Piercings

Tattoos/Brands. Whether you are in or out of uniform, tattoos or brands are not allowed if they are obscene or if they advocate sexual, racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination. Tattoos or brands that might harm good order and discipline or bring discredit upon the Air Force are also barred, whether you are in or out of uniform. The SASI may exercise discretion if a new cadet arrives with a tattoo that may not be in full compliance with the above guidelines.

Piercings. Cadets in uniform are not allowed to attach or display objects, articles, jewelry, or ornamentation to or through the ear, nose, tongue, or any exposed body part (including anything that might be visible through the uniform). Cadets may not cover any of these articles with make-up, band-aids, or wearing clear post pins to hide body piercings. Male cadets in uniform may not wear earrings or any other type of facial piercings.

Other Accessories

Backpacks & Headphones

Backpacks. Cadets may wear a backpack on the left shoulder or both shoulders (not to interfere with rendering the proper salute).

Earphones. Wear/use of an earpiece, any blue tooth technology or headphones, while in uniform, indoors or outdoors, is prohibited, unless specifically authorized for the execution of official duties or teacher-authorized classroom activities. Earphones are permitted during public transportation.

Hair Style Examples

Male Hair Examples

Female Hair Examples

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