Appearance and Grooming Standards Summary

The below is a summary of the appearance and grooming standards based on Army Regulation 670-1 and it is meant to familiarize applicants with the appearance and grooming required to volunteer with the MDDF.  MDDF complies with these standards.   The below is a summary and it is not intended to cover all of the details involving the appearance and grooming standards that all volunteers must follow. 

TATTOO, BRANDING, AND BODY MUTILATION

The following types of tattoos or brands are prohibited anywhere on a Soldier’s body:

(1) Extremist. Extremist tattoos or brands are those affiliated with, depicting, or symbolizing extremist philosophies, organizations, or activities. Extremist philosophies, organizations, and activities are those which advocate racial, sex, or ethnic hatred or intolerance; advocate, create, or engage in illegal discrimination based on race, color, sex, ethnicity, religion, or national origin; or advocate violence or other unlawful means of depriving individual rights under the U.S. Constitution, and Federal or State law (see AR 600–20).

(2) Indecent. Indecent tattoos or brands are those that are grossly offensive to modesty, decency, propriety, or professionalism.

(3) Sexist. Sexist tattoos or brands are those that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on sex.

(4) Racist. Racist tattoos or brands are those that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. 

Tattoos or brands, regardless of subject matter, are prohibited on the head, face (except for permanent makeup, neck (anything above the t-shirt neckline to include on or inside the eyelids, mouth, and ears), below the wrist bone, and hands, except volunteers may have one ring tattoo on each hand, below the joint of the bottom segment (portion closest to the palm) of the finger. The wrist bone is defined as the joint that bridges the hand to the forearm. 

Applicants, for enlistment or appointment, may not cover tattoos or brands with bandages or make up in order to comply with the tattoo policy

Volunteers are prohibited from any unauthorized form of body mutilation, which is the willful mutilation of the body or any body parts in any manner. This prohibition does not include authorized medical alterations performed at a medical treatment facility or cosmetic, reconstructive, or plastic surgery procedures the commander normally approves. Examples of unauthorized body mutilation include, but are not limited to, tongue bifurcation (splitting of the tongue), ear gauging (enlarged holes in the lobe of the ear that are greater than 1.6 mm), unnatural shaping of teeth, ear pointing (or “elfing”), scarification (cutting to create intentional scarring), or body modifications for the purpose of suspension (hanging by body hooks). Soldiers who entered the Army with approved body mutilation before 31 March 2014 may request an exception to policy from DCS, G–1. See DA Pam 670–1 for processing guidance.

JEWELERY

Attaching, affixing, or displaying objects, articles, jewelry, or ornamentation to, through, or under their skin, tongue, or any other visible body part is prohibited. This applies to all volunteers on duty. The only exception is the wear of earrings consistent with paragraph 3–4d, AR 670-1.  The term “skin” is not confined to external skin but includes the tongue, lips, and inside the mouth.

The use of dental gold caps, platinum caps, or caps of any unnatural color or texture (permanent or removable) for purposes of dental ornamentation is prohibited. Teeth, whether natural, capped, or veneered, will not be decorated with designs, jewels, initials, or similar ornamentation. Unnatural shaping of teeth for nonmedical reasons is prohibited. 

BEARDS, MUSTACHES

General Rule:  The standard MDDF policy requires volunteers to be clean-shaven when in uniform or in civilian clothes on duty. 

Medical Exemptions:  Volunteers may be granted an exemption for medical reasons, such as skin conditions that are aggravated by shaving. These waivers are often temporary or require annual review. 

Religious Accommodations:  Volunteers can request to wear beards for religious reasons, and the Army has expanded its policies to allow this under certain circumstances. 

Mustaches: Mustaches are permitted, but must be neatly trimmed and tapered, with no handlebar or other exaggerated styles.  Must comply with AR 670-1 guidelines. 

HAIR

Extreme, eccentric, or faddish haircuts or hairstyles are not authorized. If volunteers use dyes, tints, or bleaches, they must choose a natural hair color. Colors that detract from a professional military appearance are prohibited.  Therefore, volunteers must 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.  

Males: The hair on top of the head must be neatly groomed. The length and bulk of the hair may not be excessive and must present a neat and conservative appearance. The hair must present a tapered appearance. A tapered appearance is one where the outline of the hair conforms to the shape of the head, curving inward to the natural termination point at the base of the neck. When the hair is combed, it will not fall over the ears or eyebrows, or touch the collar, except for the closely cut hair at the back of the neck. The blockcut fullness in the back is permitted to a moderate degree, as long as the tapered look is maintained. Males are not authorized to wear braids, cornrows, twists, dreadlocks, or locks while in uniform or in civilian clothes on duty. Haircuts with a single, untapered patch of hair on the top of the head (not consistent with natural hair loss) are considered eccentric and are not authorized.

Females

Female hairstyles may not be eccentric or faddish and will present a conservative, professional appearance.  Faddish and exaggerated styles, to include shaved portions of the scalp other than the neckline, designs cut in the hair, unsecured ponytails , and unbalanced or lopsided hairstyles are prohibited. Hair will be styled so as not to interfere with the proper wear of all uniform headgear. All headgear will fit snugly and comfortably around the largest part of the head without bulging or distortion from the intended shape of the headgear and without excessive gaps. When headgear is worn, hair should not protrude at distinct angles from under the edges. Hairstyles that do not allow the headgear to be worn in this manner are prohibited. Examples of hairstyles considered to be faddish or exaggerated and thus not authorized for wear while in uniform or in civilian clothes on duty include, but are not limited to hair sculpting (eccentric texture or directional flow of any hairstyle to include spiking); buns with loose hair extending at the end; hair styles with severe angles or designs; and loose unsecured hair (not to include bangs) when medium and long hair are worn up. 

Reference: Army Regulation (AR) 670-1