Can your hair be gelled down so as long as you're in regulation?

2018-02-21T00:17:50-05:00

Response by CW3 Jeff Held made Feb 21 at 2018 12:42 AM

2018-02-21T00:42:24-05:00

What does the regulation say. If the purpose is to be able to have hair that is longer than the reg allows by keeping it “down” that won’t vut it. If your hair meets the reg and as long as the gell were not not excessive, does not interfere with wearing the uniform, it’s not flammable or a safety risk at work - you might be OK. Of course 670-1 is the gospel.

The gospel also addresses things that are fad like and trend setting as no-go’s.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2018 12:57 AM

2018-02-21T00:57:06-05:00

Go and ask your 1SG and see what they tell you.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2018 6:37 AM

2018-02-21T06:37:33-05:00

It sounds like you just want to skirt the regulations and push the boundaries. Do you not have any plans on being promotable and eventually taking on a leadership role? This is not a good start of showing your leadership qualities. You are in the military and there are rules to follow.

From the thousand yard stare to a well kept hair cut, military bearing is prevalent in every facet of military life, though military bearing is much deeper than just appearances; it is the cornerstone of any military career. Military bearing encompasses every facet of life in the military and can be applied to any situation. Military bearing itself is gleaned from several places such as, the articles of the UCMJ, The eleven general orders of a sentry, as well as our own soldiers Creed. From these guidelines one can learn to conduct oneself on a daily basis, on and off duty. To fully understand military bearing in its entirety, one needs to examine the building blocks of military bearing; the your Core Values.
Doing the morally right action even when no one is watching, and the integrity that one takes upon oneself in order to responsibly carry out the orders of ones superiors. Without one of the core values, the other values would not exist, and without the core values, military bearing would not exist.

Military bearing is more than outward appearance. The pressed uniform and close haircut and spit shined boots, back when black boots were worn, is motivated by pride in appearance. You're bearing comes from inside, it is pride of accomplishment, and a culmination of your experiences.

I am an American Soldier.

I am a warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2018 8:59 AM

2018-02-21T08:59:51-05:00

As long as it doesn't present a "faddish" appearance then yes. That being said, your opinion on it doesn't count. Your 1SG and your commander have that opinion. We're not here for a beauty contest. Everyone wants to maintain some form of individuality, but this is one of those areas where it's best to stay well within the guidelines so as not to draw fire. There are easy ways to make life hard in the military...this is one of them.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2018 2:12 PM

2018-02-21T14:12:10-05:00

If you want to be an individual, get out and go be an individual. The uniform is more than just clothes. It is a uniform appearance-- an acknowledgement that you are one member of a TEAM (despite the Army's unfortunate 'Army of One' slogan).

While we are all individuals underneath, we subjugate our individuality to the collective when we sign on the dotted line. When we don the cloth of our country we become symbols-- representing the past, present, and future guardians of our great nation and our way of life. We each represent the whole of the military. When a mother is handed a folded American flag for her fallen son, it is on purpose that the person handing her that flag looks like her son-- because he IS her son. Her son lives through his brothers who wear the uniform, and her son didn't have nasty long gelled hair.
(And please don't digress into a race/ethnicity thing... you know what I mean by 'looks like')

If you are embarrassed of your affiliation with the service and want to grow out your hair so you can look like a nasty civilian out in town while you are trolling the clubs trying to pick up chicks-- then get out. We don't want you.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Feb 21 at 2018 3:02 PM

2018-02-21T15:02:33-05:00

Of course, I had a friend that I served with who had hair that was probably about six inches long and he would slick it back. Keep within the guidelines of the regulation and you will be fine. I cannot say that everyone will appreciate the look as much as you might, but it wouldn't be a violation.

Response by SPC David Willis made Feb 21 at 2018 3:06 PM

2018-02-21T15:06:32-05:00

I would use gel to keep my hair in place and maintain my side part, and when I took off my cover it looked sexy AF and professional but again it all depends on your leadership. If you have a hair farm on top your head you'll run into problems.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Feb 21 at 2018 3:36 PM

2018-02-21T15:36:08-05:00

If the length is within regs, off the ears and collar, neat and conservative in appearance; not extreme/unusual/faddish, then you should be alright.

Note, I said "should". There is room for interpretation by your chain-of-command as to whether its neat, conservative, unusual, etc., so the mere fact you are even asking this, makes me think even you are concerned you're hair is a No-Go.

If you don't meet the standards of AR 670-1 (your appearance bible), you're wrong, and no one's opinion particularly matters. The good news for you is that that ends the debate rather decisively. If you do technically meet the 670-1 standard, but are questioning if your styling choice is acceptable, do one or two things:
1. Just don't try it.
2. Run it up the chain-of-command.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2018 6:30 PM

2018-02-24T18:30:04-05:00

Read AR 670-1 and if you still have doubts or questions, er on the side of caution and cut your hair. At the end of the day, the reg is up to your command's interpretation.

Response by SGT Jake Miller made Apr 16 at 2018 4:29 PM

2018-04-16T16:29:09-04:00

From what I get from this is you want to be that soldier who is following regs, but is pushing the limits. My recommendation is if you want stylish hair get out of the military

Response by CW4 Anthony Carbo made Apr 16 at 2018 5:13 PM

2018-04-16T17:13:32-04:00

read the reg, PERIOD

Response by CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana made May 10 at 2018 9:18 AM

2018-05-10T09:18:04-04:00

Neat, well kept and professional at all times is the standard, whether you wear gel or you get a proper crew cut, or a decent Army trim. You are the best judge of your own image and character Palmer.

Response by SSG George Holtje made Dec 27 at 2020 11:29 PM

2020-12-27T23:29:11-05:00

As long as the length doesn't exceed 3 inches, does not present a ragged, unkempt appearance, does not appear faddish.
My rule of thumb was if I can grab your hair, its too long.