New female grooming standards for Navy include updates to ponytails, braids

Photo By Riley Eversull | The end of the braid or ponytail may extend up to three inches below the lower edge of the collar of the shirt, jacket or coat.  

CAMP LEJEUNE , NC, UNITED STATES

08.16.2018

Story by Riley Eversull 

Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune

Updates to uniform and grooming policies released by the United States Navy may raise some eyebrows. On 18 July, a release of naval administration (NAVADMIN) passed down from Washington, DC addresses several uniform changes, but the greatest adjustment is found in new regulations to female grooming standards. NAVADMIN 163/18, Section 3 reads, “Effective immediately, the female hair grooming standards are expanded. Wearing of approved hairstyles is authorized provided doing so does not prohibit the proper wear of safety and damage control equipment…and does not present a safety hazard to the Sailor as determined by the unit commanding officer.” Among the newly-relaxed hairstyles are braids, ponytails, hair buns and locks; major takeaways from the NAVADMIN include:
• Policy now permits a single braid, French braid or single ponytail worn in Service, Working, and PT uniforms. The end of the braid or ponytail may extend up to three inches below the lower edge of the shirt collar, jacket or coat except where there are operational hazards.
• Expanded policy now allows for the width or diameter of a hair bun to not exceed the width of the back of the head. Previous policy mandated that the hair bun could not exceed three inches when measured from the scalp.
• Lock hairstyles (Locks), which are defined of as “one section of hair that twists from or near the root to the end of the hair and creates a uniform ringlet or cord-like appearance”, can be worn in short, medium and long hair lengths in several different manners:
o One direction (no patterns, zig-zagging, etc.) - encompassing the whole head with partings being worn in a square or rectangle shape to maintain neat appearance.
o Loose – spaced no more than three-eighths of an inch apart, diameter/width will not exceed three-eighths of an inch, and locks will be tightly interlaced to present a professional military appearance. Locks may also be worn in a bun, but not in combination with hairstyles.
o New growth – growing naturally from the scalp and not yet been locked, cannot exceed one-half inch.
The NAVADMIN updates are already in effect at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune (NMCCL), but Commanding Officer CAPT Jeffrey W. Timby reminds shipmates to be aware that the medical center remains a tenant command aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. “What I would say to everyone is to self-regulate when it comes to these new standards,” said Timby. “If you work in a clinic that predominantly serves our active-duty Marines, be mindful that the Marine Corps’ grooming standards are different. As members of the military, it’s our responsibility to police ourselves and watch out for others.” Senior Chief Tonya Callahan, Leading Chief Petty Officer for the Directorate of Clinical Support Services, feels the updates to uniform and grooming regulations are a positive change for Sailors. As a DLCPO, Callahan said the Chief’s Mess will continue to give guidance on the NAVADMIN regulations, “As with any other regulation, we will ensure Sailors are educated and adhere to the standard.”
For more detail on the new female grooming standards and additional Navy uniform changes, reference the entire NAVADMIN online at http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/NAVADMINS.

• Date Taken: 08.16.2018
• Date Posted: 08.16.2018 14:20
• Story ID: 289075
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE , NC, US