Air Force Unveils New Policies on Shaving, Nail Polish, Hair Length in Leaked Memos
Medical shaving waivers for thousands of airmen and Space Force Guardians will be reset and reevaluated, according to new Department of the Air Force memos, marking one of several new changes as the service's top officers continue to push for a return to certain dress and grooming standards.
The Air Force Surgeon General's new memo calls for a reset and reevaluation of all airmen's shaving profiles starting March 1 after a service member's most recent health assessment. Medical shaving waivers are often due to pseudofolliculitis barbae, a skin condition known as PFB that causes frequent and painful razor burn that disproportionately affects Black men.
Lt. Col. Karl Wiest, a spokesperson for Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, confirmed to Military.com that the shaving waiver guidance was "connected" to the top uniformed leader's new push earlier this month for unified standards throughout the service.
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"Extended duration shaving profiles are generally reserved for severe cases of PFB, while mild-to-moderate cases may benefit from more frequent management, follow-ups and temporary shaving profiles," according to the memo, which was leaked online and confirmed as authentic by the Air Force.
Military.com reported last year that shaving waivers had exploded in popularity among the Air Force and Space Force in recent years. Between 2021 and 2023, the number of active-duty airmen with medical shaving waivers grew from 10,965 to 18,991.
Another Jan. 24 memo signed by Allvin, which was leaked online and confirmed by Military.com as authentic on Tuesday, also called for various changes starting Feb. 1.
It says that "Duty Identifier Tabs" are "no longer authorized for wear," nail polish must be "clear or French or American manicure," and hair must "not touch the ears." The memo also calls for a "gig line" when in dress uniform -- or neatly lining up the front button edge of the shirt, belt buckle and fly of the pants.
Like the Air Force Surgeon General's memo, Allvin's also stated that, "unless male airmen have a current medical waiver or religious accommodation ... airmen must be clean shaven."
Allvin, in a video to the entire Air Force earlier this month, called for the service to "come together in uniform" and in formation for inspections on their appearance and to make sure everyone is in compliance with regulations.
In recent years, there have been a large number of updates to dress and appearance standards for the service, ranging from changes to hair and mustache length, approved nail polish colors and certain wardrobe changes.
The Air Force did not respond to follow-up questions asking if the policy change, since it widely impacts Black airmen, was connected to President Donald Trump's recent executive orders calling for the removal of programs, initiatives and efforts tied to diversity within the ranks.
Black service members have advocated for changes to shaving waivers for years. Studies by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology identified that pseudofolliculitis barbae occurs in about 60% of Black men.
In recent years, the Air Force's Barrier Analysis Working Groups advocated for and studied the idea of a beard pilot program for Black airmen, given the research. Last week, the service dismantled all of those groups, which were hoping to improve quality-of-life issues for minority, LGBTQ+ and female airmen, in response to Trump's executive orders, Military.com reported.
The memo detailed that the new rule "does not apply to religious accommodation shaving waivers," which have been offered for Sikhs, Muslims and Norse Pagans in the past.
Related: Air Force to Put Renewed Emphasis on Safety and Uniform Standards
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