The Army has updated the regulation governing soldiers’ grooming and personal appearance as leaders try to eliminate confusion and standardize how the rules are interpreted.

Army Regulation 670-1, the publication that spells out, among other things, how soldiers can wear their hair, makeup and jewelry, what they’re allowed to do with their fingernails and where and how tattoos can be displayed, has been reworked “to remove ambiguity,” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer said.

“The force is frustrated with the ambiguous language inside [the] current AR 670-1, which means it is hard to enforce a standard,” Weimer said Sept. 8 in a meeting with reporters at the Pentagon, where he was joined by the team of senior NCOs who hashed out the details of the new rules over the past two years.

The changes are outlined in a Sept. 12 Army directive signed by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Soldiers have 30 days from the date of the directive to meet the appearance, grooming and body composition standards. “The intent of this directive is to reinforce uniformity and discipline while fostering consistency and professionalism across the Army,” the directive says.

Last updated in 2021, the regulation included multiple photos illustrating examples of the new rules. This time, photos in the publication are limited, “removing the ability to game the system,” Weimer said.

Instead, rules are detailed in writing down to specific inches, millimeters, diameters, colors and hairstyles so that soldiers and the leaders charged with enforcing the rules have a clear path to compliance, according to Weimer and the team of senior NCOs involved in the update.

For example, women’s ponytails and braids, which are still authorized with utility or physical training uniforms but prohibited for wear with dress uniforms, can be only 2 inches wide and hang within 6 inches from the top of the collar. Previous guidance stipulated that braids and ponytails could come down to the shoulder blade, a standard that was hard to measure from person to person.

The length of men’s hair, specifically the “bulk” at the top of the head, is now maxed out at 2 inches, and fade and taper requirements are stricter. Designs in the hair and asymmetrical cuts are prohibited, and hair color must be natural with “no extreme contrasts.” Shaved heads are authorized for men and women.

Women may wear only clear nail polish, with fingernail length limited to a quarter inch in a square or rounded shape. Previous nail polish guidance stipulated a “neutral color palette,” which was open to wide interpretation. Nail polish is prohibited for men, whose nails may not extend past the fingertip.

“For a lot of males, that's going be something where you're going to have to constantly cut your fingernails and ensure that they're within the standard,” said Sgt. Maj. Christopher Stevens, sergeant major for the deputy Army chief of staff for personnel, G-1.

New rules on women’s makeup prohibit eyelash extensions and lipstick of any color except clear. Women may wear foundation that achieves an even skin tone matching their natural complexion. Men are prohibited from wearing earrings, and women may wear only gold, silver, diamond or pearl studs with a maximum diameter of 6 millimeters or a quarter of an inch.

Relying on a “very diverse group of leaders” to go over the rules with a fine-tooth comb, Weimer explained that the project to disambiguate the rules on appearance began in 2023 at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition, when he introduced his Blue Book outlining Army standards and discipline.

With Army transformation moving quickly, Weimer said, it’s important to establish clear standards so that soldiers know what’s expected of them.

“It’s either … I’m willing to be compliant to what the standard is, or I’m committed to the standard, there is no third option,” Weimer said. “It’s fitness, it’s wearing my uniform properly, it’s how I go to position at parade rest or attention. … Those little things absolutely matter, because if you can’t do that in peacetime garrison, then I’m really worried about what you’re not going to be able to do in a combat situation.”

The directive is available here. Key changes are summarized here.