Twists approved in new Army hair policy; dreadlocks still banned
More than five months after new Army regulations banned twists and dreadlocks for women wearing the uniform, changes in the regulations announced this week allow twists but keep restrictions on dreadlocks or locks.
The revised changes to Army Regulation 670-1 were announced on Tuesday after the March 28 version on female hairstyles sparked concerns that the policies were too restrictive for African American women. A Georgia National Guard soldier started a White House petition to reconsider the ban on certain hairstyles.
The new changes will affect about 100 women soldiers in the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, said Sharonda E. Mozee, public affairs spokeswoman for the brigade at Kelley Hill.
Changes supporting the use of twists give the women more options, Mozee said.
“Now it’s not so much restricted for the twist style like they are wearing,” she said. “They have the little braids and they are given more options with the braids.”
Under the changes, female soldiers are allowed to wear temporary twists or two pieces of hair neatly twisted together, the Army said in a news release. Twists, cornrows and braids are within regulations if worn up to half-inch in diameter compared with the previous requirement of one-fourth of an inch.
A requirement that no more than one-eighth of an inch of scalp is visible between braids was removed. A female soldier wearing braids, twists and cornrows must have a uniform appearance with the hairstyle. And no more rubber bands are required to secure the ends of the hair as long as they are inconspicuous.
Dreadlocks or locks are still banned as a hairstyle in the new regulations but the definition has been changed to remove the words matted and unkempt. The hairstyle is any permanently twisted of locked coils or ropes of hair or hair tangled closely together.
When it comes to tattoos, the new changes reduce the number, size and placement of tattoos in the March regulation. Tattoos already authorized were grandfathered in under the previous policy but soldiers hoping to become an officer need to get an exception. Restrictions remain in place on sleeve tattoos and allowing more than four tattoos below the elbows or knees. Any permanent ink below the knees or elbows must be smaller than the size of the soldier’s palm with fingers extended.
Raymond Chandler, Sergeant Major of the Army, said wearing of the uniform and overall military appearance should be a matter of personal pride for soldiers. “Our commitment to the uniform and appearance standards is vital to your professionalism,” he said in a statement.
The sergeant major said every soldier has the responsibility to know and follow the standards. “Leaders at all levels also have the responsibility to interpret and enforce these standards, which begins by setting the appropriate example,” Chandler said.
The Army will continue to review its policies. Soldiers are still encouraged to submit the proper form to recommend changes.
This story was originally published September 19, 2014 at 7:24 PM with the headline "Twists approved in new Army hair policy; dreadlocks still banned."