Topic: CF Hair Regulations (males, females, cultural, & colouring)

[recceguy]

I would suggest to anyone here that will be attending BMQ in the future, wait until you get there. While your instructors expect you to be properly groomed, they don't expect you to show up, on your first day, conforming to a standard that they have yet to set. They will explain and teach you what they need you to know and how they want it.

I suggest that people who have done their BMQ to be judicious with your advice. Not all courses or instructors are the same. Try and remember your first day, don't ruin the suprise.

I will finally suggest, for the umpteenth time, to people who have yet to personally experience BMQ or it's equivalents, please refrain from dispensing advice, on this site, that you are not qualified to give.

[SierraAir]

I remember being told not to shave your own head... but our MCpl said you can do it just don't tell anyone.

[recceguy]

Mike L,

They don't want you to cut each others hair because most people don't know how and they end up making a mess of it. If the guy doing is competent and knows what he's doing, there's not a problem. It's done on deployment, etc. all the time. A 1 or 2 all over is not normally a problem, that's easy to do, it's the taper at the back of the neck where guys go wrong and end up looking like they had a fight with a weed eater.

Same thing for shaving your head, do it yourself, we all do. Just make sure you get it all.

[Michael O'Leary]

A-AD-265-000/AG-001
CANADIAN FORCES DRESS INSTRUCTIONS
(Supersedes A-AD-265-000/AG-001 dated 1995-09-26)

OPI: DHH 3-2
BPR : DHP 3-2 2001-06-15

Page 2-2-4

b. Women (see Figure 2-2-3). Hair shall not extend below the lower edge of the shirt collar (see below.) Exaggerated styles, including those with excessive fullness or extreme height, are not authorized. Braids, if worn, shall be styled conservatively and tied tightly: secured at the end by a knot or a small unadorned fastener. A single braid shall be worn in the centre of the back. Double braids shall be worn behind the shoulders. Hair shall be a maximum length when gathered behind the head and braided which does not extend below the top of the armpit. With the permission of a Commanding Officer, a 60-day transition period may be granted a member to grow her hair longer for re-styling, during which time hair may extend below the lower edge of the shirt collar; all the while maintaining a positive military appearance, and subject to the member's safety.

[Cpl Bloggins]

basic is not the same as the rest of the CF. Basic training is basic training. Things are not always as they are everywhere else.

That is correct. On my basic, we females were not permitted to wear our hair in anything other then a tight bun except for the field or on the obstacle course. Guys also had to keep their hair shorter then what the regulations would allow for, it seems to be that way for courses in general.

When in doubt, follow what the instructors tell ya. You can't go wrong with that!

For more on hair: http://forums.army.ca/forums/index.php/topic,22553.0.html

[recceguy]

Questions been answered.
To reiterate, wait till your told by your instructor what they want to see and then follow their direction.

[Chimo]

I see this as an NCO/Leader problem. Once we all get on the same sheet of music and enforce the existing regulations this discussion will end. It has been my experience most NCOs are hesitant to correct a female soldier on her hair. The regs are clearly stated. The RSM sets the standard for a Regiment and the NCOs duty is to enforce the standards and regs.

Now get on with it. If you don't like it, voice your concern in a constructive way, then continue to enforce the standard.  

[Allan Luomala]

I see this as an NCO/Leader problem. Once we all get on the same sheet of music and enforce the existing regulations this discussion will end. It has been my experience most NCOs are hesitant to correct a female soldier on her hair. The regs are clearly stated. The RSM sets the standard for a Regiment and the NCOs duty is to enforce the standards and regs.

Now get on with it. If you don't like it, voice your concern in a constructive way, then continue to enforce the standard. 

I think we can all agree on your main points (leadership, enforcing standards), but it seems that today everything is far from clear. I haven't waded into the latest amendments on the convoluted hair debate (specifically colour), but I have seen far too many people (male and female) wandering around with questionable hair colouring. I know that there are more pressing concerns than what somebody has attached to their head, but I feel that there is too much vagueness in the regulations in that regard. For example, would a person of African descent (i.e a Negro) be allowed to have their hair coloured a colour that nature, or more precisely their genes, wouldn't allow, such as blonde? Or myself, who is of Finnish descent, and fair haired and fair skinned, to dye my hair black, and perhaps into a (no more than allowed by regs for bulk) Afro? They are "natural" colours and styles, but not for that individual.

To be honest, hair is only hair. You either have it, or not (at the moment, I fall into the latter category).  It shouldn't define who you are, and if it does, wow!!! What happens when you lose it? Do you cease to exist? I'm moving off into the existential, so that is a sure sign that I should sum up....

Al

[Moose]

For practical means, hair being short and off the collar is much more comfortable when it is very hot/humid outside...keeps you MUCH cooler, but conversely in the winter there is less insulation of the head Leniency during the winter months make sense I suppose.

[recceguy]

For practical means, hair being short and off the collar is much more comfortable when it is very hot/humid outside...keeps you MUCH cooler, but conversely in the winter there is less insulation of the head Leniency during the winter months make sense I suppose.

As most old time barbers will tell you, the human hair is not hollow like most mammals. It provides no insulating value worth speaking of. Might act as a wind break of sorts, but so does a proper hat.

[wulfzbane]

so i have a mohawk.. would that be considered acceptable or would i have to shave it all off

[Michael O'Leary]

so i have a mohawk.. would that be considered acceptable or would i have to shave it all off

You'll be losing it.

[George Wallace]

You are a woman, and there are a couple of acceptable ways for women in the CF to wear braids.  This has been covered before, and someone has even been able to post pictures of the acceptable ways to wear your hair.

You may put some thought into what the words "uniform" and "uniformity" mean.  That may greatly benefit you during Recruit Training.

[armywife411]

I have heard (rumor) that a bun cannot be worn with a helmet. Is this so? I'm only concerned besause I have no clue how to french braid hair. I've seen the pics, but seeing and doing are turning out to be quite different. If this is the case I may just line up with the guys and take the GI Jane cracks. 

[beach_bum]

babybinrat.  I have long hair and manage to put it in a bun and still wear a helmet.  It does work. 

[Law & Order]

The bun just has to sit lower then normal.

[Thaern]

Alright, I'm 100% new to this forum, and if my interveiw goes well the army reserves, so forgive me if theres already a post somewhere about this.  I was wondering what suggestions you guys could make about hair style.  My GF really hates short crewcut hair so i was wondering what types of other hair styles meet the standards and still at least look longer than a crewcut.  Note, im not trying to bend or break any of the regs i was just wondering if anyone has any tips on atleast making it look a bit longer or how to get it cut so it looks  grown out by the end of bmq.

[boehm]

You girlfriend better get used to short hair because you'll be getting a nice 1 all over just before your grad parade. Luckily you will be used to it because you will have gotten them every couple of weeks since the first day of basic.

[beach_bum]

Alright, I'm 100% new to this forum, and if my interveiw goes well the army reserves, so forgive me if theres already a post somewhere about this.  I was wondering what suggestions you guys could make about hair style.  My GF really hates short crewcut hair so i was wondering what types of other hair styles meet the standards and still at least look longer than a crewcut.  Note, im not trying to bend or break any of the regs i was just wondering if anyone has any tips on atleast making it look a bit longer or how to get it cut so it looks  grown out by the end of bmq.

Did you read the last 25 pages?  I don't think there is a single thing left to discuss on hair cuts that hasn't already been addressed.