Afi 36 2903 Shaving Waiver

- Will be clean, well-groomed, present a professional appearance, allow proper wear of headgear, helmet, or chemical mask and conform to safety requirements. - Will not contain excessive amounts of grooming aids (e.g. gel, mousse, pomade, or moisturizer), appear lopsided, touch either eyebrow or end below an imaginary line across the forehead at the top of the eyebrows that are parallel to the ground. - If applied, dyes, tints, bleaches, and frostings must result in natural hair colors. Examples of natural hair colors are brown, blonde, brunette, natural red, black, or grey. Prohibited examples (not all-inclusive) are burgundy, purple, orange, fluorescent, or neon colors. - Commander may temporarily authorize cancer patients to wear approved caps (black/tan) due to a temporary medical condition (i.e., radiation/chemotherapy)

- Are authorized and will meet the same standard required for natural hair, be of good quality, fit properly, and comply with safety, functionality and professionalism. (Note: Extensions are still prohibited for males). - Wigs/Hairpieces/Extensions will not be used to cover unauthorized hair styles. Synthetic hair or other materials are not authorized when prohibited by safety and mission requirements.

- Worn as required for health or safety reasons. Made of natural or synthetic material; must be conservative (plain and moderate, being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme), solid color similar to the member's hair color, also strong enough to support and control hair and contain no metal fasteners. - Hair-nets are only authorized when performing related duties as determined by applicable commander.

- Tapered appearance on both sides and the back of the head, both with and without headgear. A tapered appearance is one that when viewed from any angle outlines the member's hair so that it conforms to the shape of the head, curving inward to the natural termination point without eccentric directional flow, twists or spiking. A block-cut is permitted with tapered appearance. - Hair will not exceed 1¼ inch in bulk, regardless of length and ¼ inch at natural termination point; allowing only closely cut or shaved hair on the back of the neck to touch the collar. - Hair will not touch the ears or protrude under the front band of headgear. - Cleanly shaven heads, military high-and-tight or flat-top cuts are authorized. Prohibited examples (not all-inclusive) are Mohawk, mullet, cornrows, dreadlocks, or etched design. - Men are not authorized hair extensions. - See figure 3.1 for graphic examples of appropriate sideburns, and mustache and male hair standards.

- If worn, sideburns will be straight and even width (not flared), and will not extend below the bottom of the orifice of the ear opening. - Sideburns will end in a clean-shaven horizontal line. See figure 3.

- Male Airmen may have mustaches; however they will be conservative (moderate, being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme) and will not extend downward beyond the lip line of the upper lip or extend sideways beyond a vertical line drawn upward from both corners of the mouth. See figure 3.1

- Beards are not authorized unless for medical reasons, when authorized by a commander on the advice of a medical official, or as authorized pursuant to a request for a religious accommodation. - Beard wear authorized for religious reasons are governed by Attachment 8 of this instruction. - If commander authorizes, members will keep all facial hair trimmed not to exceed ¼ inch in length. - Individuals granted a shaving waiver will not shave or trim any facial hair in such a manner as to give a sculptured appearance. Commanders and supervisors will monitor progress in treatment to control these waivers. - If necessary for medical reasons, facial hair will be kept neat and conservative (moderate, being within required limits (not more than ¼ inch); not excessive or extreme), as defined by the local commander. - During tours of less than 30 days, Air Force Reserve (AFR) and Air National Guard (ANG) chaplains not on extended active duty may request a beard waiver for religious observance when consistent with their faith. For AFR waiver processing instructions see AFMAN 36-2136, Reserve Personnel Participation. For ANG waiver process instructions contact ANG/HC.

- No Minimum hair length, to a maximum bulk of 3 ½ inches from scalp and allows proper wear of headgear. - Hair will end above the bottom edge of collar and will not extend below an invisible line drawn parallel to the ground, both front to back and side to side. - Bangs, or side-swiped hair will not touch either eyebrow, to include an invisible line drawn across eyebrows and parallel to the ground. See figure 3.2. - When in doubt, assess correct length of hair with Airman standing in the position of attention. - Exception: While wearing the Physical Training Gear (PTG), long hair will be secured but may have loose ends and may extend below the bottom edge of the collar.

- The intent is for pinned-up hair to be styled in a manner that prevents loose ends from extending upward on the head. For example, when using a clip or hairpins, hair will not present the appearance of a rooster tail. When hair is in a bun, the bun must be a single bun; no wider than the width of the head and all loose ends must be tucked in and secured. - When hair is in a ponytail, it must be a single ponytail that does not exceed bulk and length standards and does not extend below the bottom of the collar (except while in the PTG). - As with all hairstyles, a neat and professional image is essential.

- If worn, hair accessories (e.g., fabric scrunches, hairpins, combs, clips, headbands, elastic bands, barrettes, etc.) must match hair color. - Black hair accessories are authorized regardless of hair color. Hair must still comply with bulk and appearance standards. - Headgear must fit properly. - Headbands or fabric scrunchies will not exceed one-inch in width. - Ornaments are not authorized (i.e., ribbons, beads, jeweled pins). See figure 3.3.

- Locs, braids, twists, micro-braids, french braids, dutch braids and cornrows are authorized. - Locs are defined as portions of hair that have been intentionally or unintentionally fused together to form a loc or locs. - A braid or twist is two or more portions of interwoven hair. - If adding additional hair, it must be a natural-looking color, similar to the individual's hair color. It must be conservative (moderate, being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme) and not present a faddish appearance. - Hair must not exceed bulk and length standards and must not extend below the bottom of the collar (see figure 3.4). - Headgear must fit properly.

- All locs, braids and twists, when worn will be of uniform dimension, no wider than one inch, with natural spacing between the locs, braids, and twists and must be tightly interwoven to present a neat, professional and well-groomed appearance. - When worn, multiple locs, braids, or twists shall be of uniform dimension, small in diameter (approximately ¼ inches), show no more than ¼ inch of scalp between the locs, braids, or twists and must be tightly interwoven to present a neat, professional appearance.

- A braid/twist must continue to the end of the hair without design and following the contour of the head, and may be worn loose or in a secured style within hair standards in paragraph 3.1.3 above. - Exception: Micro-braids or twists are not required to continue to the end of the hair.

Mohawk, mullet or etched design.