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

[corporal-cam]

Originally posted by Just a Sig Op:
[qb]
No. 3 on top, No. 1 on the back and sides, and taper the back.

[/qb]

How short would that make the sides? I‘m trying to find a hair cut that works for cadets but I‘ve been egtting a number 3 all over for my whole life and I have no clue what anything else looks like (change is exciting, and I‘m a boring  guy    )

[Chop]

I found that the cheapest is

A) Shave your head

B) By yourself electric sheers kit, you can get a decent set for around $25.00, it is a conair and it comes with all of the attachments, scizors, combs and so forth, I put on the #1 attachment and cut my own hair. And if my buddies want to use it I charge them a beer or pop.

[Berry2004]

I thought they made everyone shave there heads for basic at St.jean? Is this true, or if yor haircut meets the standards you can keep it?

[Rocky_Infanteer]

In regard‘s to your question Berry the shaving of the heads is a commen stereo type associated with basic training. If your Hair cut is within the guidelines with the cf dress manual then you should be ok but every course is different so don‘t take my word on it. On one of the courses I was on a troop showed up in uniform with hair that was all over the place and over his eyes An ex Airborne and PPCLI sargeant happened to notice this and Pte Bloggins never made that mistake again!!!!!!!

[Michael O'Leary]

http://armyapp.forces.gc.ca/38cbg_arsd/CD/bmq/MLP/po101/101-06(CFDressRegulationsandAppearance).doc

4.   Hair:

a.   shall be taper-trimmed at the back (can be taper-trimmed square back), sides, and above the ears and the shaving of all the hair on the head is permitted;

b.   be no more than 15 cm (6 inches) in length and sufficiently short that, when the hair is groomed and head-dress is removed, no hair shall touch the ears or fall below the top of the eyebrows ; and

c.   be no more than 4 cm (1-1/2 inches) in bulk at the top of the head, gradually decreasing to blend with the taper-trimmed sides and be kept free from the neck to a distance of 2.5 cm (1 inch) above the shirt collar.



5.   Sideburns:

a.   shall not extend below a line horizontally bisecting the ear and be squared off in a horizontal line at the bottom edge; and

b.   shall be of even width and taper-trimmed to conform with overall hair style.


6.   Moustaches :

a.   shall be kept neatly trimmed and not extend below the corners of the mouth ;

b.   shall not be greater than 2 cm (3/4 inches) in bulk ;

c.   shall not protrude beyond the width of the face, when fully extended horizontally and worn in a waxed, handlebar style ; and

d.   be modified in such a fashion as to accommodate the type of operational equipment required, should a member's safety be put in jeopardy.

7.   Beards :

a.   Subject to procedures established by Commanders of Commands, permission to wear a beard shall only be granted to :

(1)   all ranks who wear the naval uniform, wherever they are serving ;

(2)   all ranks on strength of an infantry pioneer platoon ;

(3)   adherents of the Sikh religion ; and

(4)   personnel, on the direction of a medical officer, subject to medical reassessment at intervals not to exceed 6 months.

c.   Where the wearing of beard is authorized in accordance with the previously mentioned instructions, the following shall apply :

(1)   the beard shall be worn with a moustache and kept neatly trimmed, especially at the lower neck and cheekbones ;

(2)   the beard shall not exceed 2.5 cm (1 inch) in bulk ; and

(3)   when a member's safety is put in jeopardy, facial hair shall be modified in such a fashion as to accommodate the type of operational equipment required to be worn.

[-Skeletor-]

Something to add for the hair.

No mohawks or anything like that are allowed.

[casus belli]

does the haircut at bmq come out of ur pay?

[belkin81]

They don't have army barbers but they do have a barber shop, which you have to pay 10 dollars I believe for a hair cut. Save yourself some money and shave your head before basic.

[space_sldr]

It says "b.   be no more than 15 cm (6 inches) in length and sufficiently short that" but then it says "c.   be no more than 4 cm (1-1/2 inches) in bulk at the top of the head"...
I don't get it. Can someone give me an example?

[gryphon664]

I suggest going to the barber and asking for a no. 1 or a 0.5 haircut... A lot of instructors on basic do not allow shaved heads..  althought now that i did start shaving my head, i find it to be much easier to maintain

[Theoat]

It says "b.   be no more than 15 cm (6 inches) in length and sufficiently short that" but then it says "c.   be no more than 4 cm (1-1/2 inches) in bulk at the top of the head"...
I don't get it. Can someone give me an example?

I would think that would mean that you may have your hair lengh up to 6 inches in lengh, but you can't have it spiked straight up since that would make the bulk too much. So you might have your hair 6 inches long, but have it slicked back, having the overall height/bulk being 1.5 inches. You might also have your hair cut with thinning shears which could cut down on the overall bulk.

So I don't have to shave my skull for the BMQ as long as my hair doesn't exceed the imposed limits in length?

Everyone gets a shave at BMQ from what I gather unless you are female, in which case there are different guidlines for overall lengh and appearance.

[Goldy]

I am also confused now. The "rule" book states the 6 inches, 1.5 inches in bulk etc... but I just watched the CFLRS video from the website, and they shave everyone's heads except the girls.

Any clarification would be dandy.

Thanks

[Michael O'Leary]

Because it probably went down like this:

Instructors warn recruit platoon that they are being marched to the barbershop that afternoon and anyone with any extra hair will be getting it cut. They probably also get advised that there's a camera crew recording recruit training experiences and their haircutting session will be filmed.

A few over-zealous recruits decide that if they look like a movie soldier, they can then act like one and will obviously be taken for a movie soldier. So, when they get in the chair declare themselves to be in desperate need of the shortest allowable cut.

Instructor smiles and says "go ahead" to the barber.

Barber cuts away.

Director cutting scenes to build CFLRS film reviews a few hours of hair cutting video, and what does he select? Why, he selects the scene that best fits his own hollywood inspired impressions of what hair-cutting at basic training should look like. He picks the scene with a couple guys getting close cropped heads. But that doesn't make it the required standard for haircuts.

[Bert]

On my course, you could get your hair cut anyway you wanted as long as it is within the military hair-cut specifications.  I believe the specifications posted
earlier in the thread are accurate.  Some guys prefer shorter hair (like a 0 or a 1 clip) others preferred longer on top.

In BMQ, the staff repeats many times that everyone is the same.  We dress the same, behave the same, eat at the same time, march the same,
get disiplined the same.  During the second week of BMQ, our course had to get in-spec hair-cuts.  One section decided to get their hair cut using
a 0 clip.  Being in the BMQ mode, everyone in all sections got excited and decided to be the same and asked for the same short hair-cut.  It
was kind of the beginnings of platoon teamwork. 

In the Farnham field exercises, I appreciated a short hair-cut due to the rarity of baths or showers.  It was a winter BMQ so we worn our touques
alot.  Most body heat is lost thru the head so a short hair-cut in the heat of summer might not be a bad idea.  Its grows back anyway.

[willy]

For the record, regardless of the official dress regulations, I would not recommend showing up at basic training with six inches of hair.  Nor would I recommend having six inches of hair as a male at any time, even after basic.  I have long hair for someone in the army, and mine's typically about 2 inches long, at the absolute most.  (And when it gets that long, I REALLY need a haircut).  Unless things have changed since I did basic, your instructors are going to make you get a #3 every two weeks or so, and they aren't going to take "no" for an answer on that one. 

Don't worry, it grows back.

[Garbageman]

I am also confused now. The "rule" book states the 6 inches, 1.5 inches in bulk etc... but I just watched the CFLRS video from the website, and they shave everyone's heads except the girls.

When I went through St. Jean, the whole platoon lined up and we all filed into the barber one by one.  Even guys who had regulation cuts, and even those who had it shaved down to the nub (not recommend - you'll get a sunburn on your skull when you're doing PT without headress!).  Essentially, our Sgt's thinking was of the team mentality (i.e. if one guy does something, everyone does it the same way).  We were even ordered to grow sideburns (to the regulation length of course) because a couple of guys had them, so, therefore, we should all have them.  My advice; get used to that kind of thinking, and be prepared to shell out the 10 smacks even if you've already got your hair cut.

[-Skeletor-]

If you want to be all hardcore, get a high an tight, 0 on the sides 1/4 inch on top.

[Redeye]

is a shaved head better? or a little on the top? does it really make much of a difference?

Shaved heads are no good.  You'll get sunburnt in no time.  Get a nice short, neat haircut and that's all you really need to worry about.

[Yes Man]

Why are there different regulations for hair styles between men and women?  It can't have any practical reasons if they let one sex have long hair and the other not.

[Michael O'Leary]

http://armyapp.forces.gc.ca/38cbg_arsd/CD/bmq/MLP/po101/101-06(CFDressRegulationsandAppearance).doc

FEMALE

9.   HAIR:
   
a.   Hair shall not extend below the lower edge of the shirt collar.

b.   Braids, if worn, shall be styled conservatively and tied tightly, secured at the end by a knot or a small unadorned fastener.   Single braid shall be worn in the center of the back and double braids behind the shoulder.

c.   Hair shall be a maximum length, when gather behind the head or braided, which does not extend below the top of the armpit.

[Garbageman]

thanks for the info.,and good to hear that i don't have to cut it real short..contrary to a smartbutts input into the subject...lol
i don't think i'd look as cute as the guys in a shaved head!!!

Many females do decide to cut it short anyway, at least while on BMQ.  Not necessarily a close buzz like the males, but shorter - a lot easier to maintain, particularly in the field.

[yot]

haha... ya I agree that too. Short hair is alot easier to maintain... you don't need much time to try after showering. I want to shave my skull, but I can't do that in reserve... (also my mom disagrees with that)

[Infanteer]

I think there are more important things for you recruits to be preparing for than how to cut your hair....

[Carcharodon Carcharias]

I shave my head Sundays and Wednesdays, and every 2nd day when we are bush. The secret is proper sun screen, and ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS wear a hat, and drink plenty of water daily (well over 6-8L/per day here no worries). I rarely get a sunburn, and if I do, its on civvy time, not military.

The Australian sun is a shocker, and it can turn a  black t-shirt grey in no time if left outside. One of every two Aussies will develop skin cancer during their lives.

Cheers,

Wes

[Aquilus]

Females can also be granted a "transision period" for their hair style. I believe this period is 6 months.