Air Force members must be ready to heed new federal grooming guidance in the weeks ahead.
That is according to updated medical guidance for shaving profiles announced Monday by the Department of the Air Force (DAF), telling members that new grooming standards will go into effect Jan. 31, 2026, as part of the standards set in motion[1] in September by the Department of Defense and Secretary Pete Hegseth.
All shaving profiles issued before March 1, 2025, are invalid and any airmen and guardians who have medical shaving profiles issued prior to that date are being instructed to schedule an appointment with a military health care provider for further evaluation before the January deadline.
Instructions have simultaneously been given to equip primary care providers, medical profile officers and unit commanders with guidance in order to approve or deny a medical shaving profile.
Maj. Caitlin Oviatt, 55th Logistics Readiness commander, inspects a shaving waiver during an open ranks inspection on July 9, 2024. Open ranks was being conducted as part of an Air Combat Command initiative to boost troop readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Watkins)
“With the recent release of updated guidance on medical shaving profiles, the Department of the Air Force is coordinating additional implementation guidance to meet the intent of the Secretary of War’s grooming standards for facial hair policy,” a DAF spokesperson told Military.com[2].
“To ensure consistency and fairness, the department will provide detailed instructions as soon as they are finalized and will address updated standards, non-compliance procedures, religious accommodations and readiness considerations,” they added.
'No More Beardos'
The new profile comes on the heels of Hegseth in September ordering the Pentagon “to revert to pre-2020 standards” and do away with permanent shaving profiles for medical conditions, such as razor bumps. He used the phrase “no more beardos” when discussing appearance and U.S. military standards to generals and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico[3] in Virginia.
“The era of rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles is done,” Hegseth said during his September speech. “Simply put, if you do not meet the male-level physical standards for combat positions, cannot pass a (physical training) test or don’t want to shave and look professional, it’s time for a new position or a new profession.”
It has led to not just DAF but other branches issuing updated guidelines. The U.S. Army, for example, announced changes that include precise definitions for hairstyles such as authorized lengths, styles and accessories for both male and female soldiers. Standards for cosmetics, fingernails and jewelry have also been clarified.
Violation Process
DAF said that no single shaving profile may exceed a six-month period. Starting on Feb. 1, 2026, any airmen and guardians who accumulate more than 12 months of shaving profile within a 24-month period will be referred to their commander.
The memorandum does not apply to shaving waivers granted for religious accommodations.
Recruit Anthony Escalante with Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, gets his hair cut aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Aug. 26, 2020. (Dylan Walters)
The chain-of-command for assessing, potentially reporting violations is as follows:
Primary care managers will evaluate members for medical conditions, recommend profiles, and submit profile recommendations to a medical profile officer.
Medical profile officers will review the primary care provider’s recommendations for profiles of 30 days or less. For those greater than 30 days, senior profile officers will review recommendations. DAF said that profile recommendations that meet all review criteria earn a “concur” and are submitted to the unit commander for consideration.
Commanders have final approval authority for medical shaving profiles, recording electronic approval or denial via the Aeromedical Services Information Management Systems (ASIMS) within seven days. They may also request service members to be evaluated due to operational concerns stemming from a medical condition.
Sensitive Skin
The new guidance provided in the Dec. 15 memo is also intended to assist health care providers in evaluating airmen and guardians for a Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) diagnosis.
PFB is described by the National Institutes of Health as a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by papules, pustules, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The condition, which occurs more frequently in men of African and Asian descent, could also lead to itching and the development of keloids and potential scars.
The DAF memo differentiates between shaving irritation and PFB, and provides criteria to distinguish between mild, moderate and severe cases of PFB.
“We recognize the complexities involved, as updated medical shaving profile guidance may raise questions beyond shaving and profiles alone,” DAF told Military.com[4]. “The department remains focused on providing clear, timely guidance to help airmen and guardians understand and comply with the grooming standards.”
