New 2025 U.S. Military Grooming Standards Revealed: Full Breakdown of Hair, Tattoo & Beard Rules

U.S. soldiers have just received a fresh set of appearance rules after the Army published Directive 2025-18, the most sweeping update to AR 670-1 since 2021. Effective immediately, the directive tightens hair length, cosmetics, and accessory standards while also clarifying commanders’ authority to pull troops from duty for non-compliance.<https://www.army.mil/article/288397/army_updates_standards_for_appearance_grooming_uniform_wear_in_new_directive /> Key changes soldiers need to know • Hair length limits return. Male troops may keep no more than two inches of hair on top, which must “blend smoothly” into the faded sides and back. Female soldiers lose the ponytail/bun option outside of training environments and must secure hair so it doesn’t extend below the collar.<https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2025/09/15/army-imposes-stricter-grooming-standards-for-hair-nails-makeup/ /> • Natural color only. Highlights and dyes are still allowed, but “extreme contrasts”—think neon streaks—are banned again. • Cosmetics rollback. Women can no longer wear lipstick, colored nail polish, false eyelashes, or acrylic nails in uniform. Men are barred from clear polish as well.<https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2025-09-15/army-grooming-standards-hair-nails-makeup-19031962.html /> • Facial-hair crackdown. Medical shaving waivers will be re-evaluated every 90 days, and soldiers who fail to keep beards trimmed to ¼-inch risk separation, according to a parallel Pentagon memo posted Monday.<https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/pentagon-shaving-waiver-separation/ /> • Body-composition link. Commanders may now direct an on-the-spot body-fat assessment if a service member’s appearance “fails to reflect good order and discipline,” tying grooming to overall fitness. Why the policy shifted Army leaders said the 2021 relaxations—aimed at inclusivity—“blurred the line between individuality and professionalism.” In a press briefing, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer noted that tightening standards “restores the uniform look that signals readiness to America’s adversaries.” The update also aligns the Army more closely with the Marine Corps’ longstanding grooming expectations. Implementation timeline The directive is in force, but soldiers have until 1 January 2026 to come into full compliance. Units are expected to conduct spot checks during morning formation, and commanders must document counseling statements before issuing non-judicial punishment. Reactions from the ranks Early social-media posts show a split reception: some troops applaud the return to “clean-cut discipline,” while others—especially those who invested in protective styles or previously approved nail colors—call the reversal “whiplash.” A Change.org petition urging the Army to keep lipstick allowances gained 8,000 signatures overnight. What soldiers should do now 1. Schedule a regulation haircut; bring the new graphic from the directive to your barber. 2. Remove any colored nail polish, acrylics, or eyelash extensions before your next duty day. 3. If you have a shaving waiver, confirm it is less than 90 days old and carry a copy at all times. 4. Leaders should host a platoon-level brief and provide waist-tape demonstrations to preempt body-fat surprises. Looking ahead Other branches are monitoring the Army’s move. Personnel officials in the Air Force confirmed to Air & Space Forces Magazine that their grooming working group “will study Directive 2025-18 for potential blue-suit applicability” later this fall. If history is a guide, a joint-service push for uniform grooming across DoD could follow by FY 2027. Search interest in “2025 Army grooming standards,” “AR 670-1 hair rules,” and “military nail polish ban” has surged since the directive dropped, and with a multi-month adjustment window, compliance—and controversy—will stay in the headlines for months to come.