Posted on Apr 6, 2018
How should I handle a revolving issue with an E-6 regarding my haircut?
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So I have always cut my hair the same way which is combed over on the top and faded on the sides and is in regs. Well I had my NCOIC (SSG) tell me that it wasn't in regs. and that he didn't like the way it appeared. I cut it a little shorter on the top and when to my TL (SGT) and she agreed that there is nothing wrong with it. That SSG told me I had to have a meeting with him and the 1SG but the 1SG never came, it was just myself and the SSG again. He told me again how it wasn't within regs. and looks like I'm a rebel. Few days later, (last night) I saw that SSG and before I could even say hello her said, "Take your hat off, let me see your hair." I showed him and he said, "You better fix it by tomorrow or else you know what'll happen." (He wants my to get a basic training cut) Now today, my TL (SGT) just came into my office and said that I have to go see that SSG at 1500 and that he refused to tell her what it was about. I know it'll be about my hair again. My SGT told me to tell him that I understand that it's his opinion that he doesn't like it but I would like to get a second look by the 1SG before I shave my head. Can any Senior Leaders help me on this one? I'm not just some Joe trying to start problems. I'm squared away, show up to work on time, have no negative counselings, and to top it off...The 1SG saw my hair the same way when I first met him and he said, "Look at Pavlock, his hair is always on point!" Someone please give me some advice!
Posted in these groups: 
Army Regulations
Leadership
Army Regulations Leadership
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 104
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To easy, I would ask for an open door policy meeting with your 1SG. Ask your 1SG if your hair is with in regulation. If Top says fix it, then fix it. However, if Top says it’s good to go, then you will be in the clear.
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SFC Vernon McNabb
SGM Erik Marquez - I never said it was "new". What I was eluding to was the fact that it is readily available a their fingertips almost anywhere they go [internet]. My leadership never had any issue with Soldiers getting smarter on regs, but before the internet age, finding a library full of regs with every reg up to date was a rare thing indeed. Maybe before you go on the offense next time, try reading into the statement and fully understand what the writer is posting.
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SGM Erik Marquez
SFC Vernon McNabb - Well you used the word "Nowadays" to preface your comment.... so yes, I read your use of "Nowadays" to mean, before Nowadays, it was not done.....
You said "Nowadays, all SMs have quick, ready access to regulations and are encouraged to read, understand and comply with them."
And I was not offended, I was responding to your words..If you wanted them to mean something else, perhaps form them in a way they makes that known.
Oh, and every company had a Reg library of common and update regs, in fact it was a Inspectable item on every command inspection checklist I ever saw..so still, we will have to disagree based on the 9 units I was in over 28 years.
You said "Nowadays, all SMs have quick, ready access to regulations and are encouraged to read, understand and comply with them."
And I was not offended, I was responding to your words..If you wanted them to mean something else, perhaps form them in a way they makes that known.
Oh, and every company had a Reg library of common and update regs, in fact it was a Inspectable item on every command inspection checklist I ever saw..so still, we will have to disagree based on the 9 units I was in over 28 years.
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SPC Tom DeSmet
Rest assured you may win this battle. He will eventually catch you on something legit and will give you no slack to teach you who is the chief and who is the indian. Choose your battle wisely. BTDT with an E-7.
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SFC Jeff Holcombe
There are those leaders that view any push back against what they see as a squared away looking Soldier gets earmarked with extra bad attention later. I saw it happen myself when I was lower enlisted. It's a mark of weakness and insecurity.
You can ask yourself this question: Is it a legal order for him to tell you to cut your hair shorter? technically it is legal so long as the result is within regulation, so if he ordered you, technically you are required to follow it. An extreme example of this is your first Army haircut in Basic Training. Completely legal. Is it sound leadership that instills trust, admiration, and faith from the Soldier? if the hair is currently within regulation, I think further appearance control beyond that regulation will erode trust in the leader to interpret and apply common sense regulatory guidance.
Is the hair kept in such a way that interferes with any required headgear or safety and PPE equipment (such as pro mask seal) - then it is out of regulation and must be cut.
Is the hair faddish, extreme, or eccentric? - If it is, then by regulation, it must be fixed. Here is where they can get you. The requirement for hair grooming standards is necessary to maintain uniformity within a military population. Many hairstyles are acceptable, as long as they are neat and conservative. It is the responsibility of leaders at all levels to exercise good judgment when enforcing Army policy. In other words, faddish can be a leader's judgment of a hairstyle, and therefore deemed out of regulation. Like comments above, you can request to speak with a senior leader for an opinion that essentially outranks your SSG, but that may come with consequences, and hard to prove those consequences later are a result of doing that now. If it were me, I'd embrace the new sleeker look and find an interested social partner to run their fingers through it. All worries about the new "do" are out the window then. ;)
You can ask yourself this question: Is it a legal order for him to tell you to cut your hair shorter? technically it is legal so long as the result is within regulation, so if he ordered you, technically you are required to follow it. An extreme example of this is your first Army haircut in Basic Training. Completely legal. Is it sound leadership that instills trust, admiration, and faith from the Soldier? if the hair is currently within regulation, I think further appearance control beyond that regulation will erode trust in the leader to interpret and apply common sense regulatory guidance.
Is the hair kept in such a way that interferes with any required headgear or safety and PPE equipment (such as pro mask seal) - then it is out of regulation and must be cut.
Is the hair faddish, extreme, or eccentric? - If it is, then by regulation, it must be fixed. Here is where they can get you. The requirement for hair grooming standards is necessary to maintain uniformity within a military population. Many hairstyles are acceptable, as long as they are neat and conservative. It is the responsibility of leaders at all levels to exercise good judgment when enforcing Army policy. In other words, faddish can be a leader's judgment of a hairstyle, and therefore deemed out of regulation. Like comments above, you can request to speak with a senior leader for an opinion that essentially outranks your SSG, but that may come with consequences, and hard to prove those consequences later are a result of doing that now. If it were me, I'd embrace the new sleeker look and find an interested social partner to run their fingers through it. All worries about the new "do" are out the window then. ;)
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Having been through something similar I can offer the advice I received and gave to others, below is an excerpt from AR 670-1: (2) Male haircuts. The hair on top of the head must be neatly groomed. The length and bulk of the hair may not be excessive and must present a neat and conservative appearance. The hair must present a tapered appearance. A tapered appearance is one where the outline of the Soldier’s hair conforms to the shape of the head (see scalp line in fig 3–1), curving inward to the natural termination point at the base of the neck. When the hair is combed, it will not fall over the ears or eyebrows, or touch the collar, except for the closely cut hair at the back of the neck. The block-cut fullness in the back is permitted to a moderate degree, as long as the tapered look is maintained. Males are not authorized to wear braids, cornrows, twists, dreadlocks, or locks while in uniform or in civilian clothes on duty. Haircuts with a single, unta-pered patch of hair on the top of the head (not consistent with natural hair loss) are considered eccentric and are not au-thorized. Examples include, but are not limited to, when the head is shaved around a strip of hair down the center of the head (mohawk), around a u-shaped hair area (horseshoe), or around a patch of hair on the front top of the head (tear drop). Hair that is completely shaved or trimmed closely to the scalp is authorized.
Tapered is the key here, tapered doesn't seem like your hair style since you said you can comb it over. Haircuts are in many cases interpretive when it comes to the regs, you have to ask yourself is a bit of hair worth the hassle of bringing bad attention down on yourself, A wise old MSG once tole be that I should always "Choose my Battles wisely, for not all battles are wise to choose". You have to ask yourself in the end even if you are in the right about this what do you gain by doing this so early in your career? I had my hair fairly long for an Airborne unit in which High and Tight was the SOP, I asked myself was a little bit of hair worth the attention and decided no it wasn't and cut my hair. Good luck and think before you choose what you want to do.
Tapered is the key here, tapered doesn't seem like your hair style since you said you can comb it over. Haircuts are in many cases interpretive when it comes to the regs, you have to ask yourself is a bit of hair worth the hassle of bringing bad attention down on yourself, A wise old MSG once tole be that I should always "Choose my Battles wisely, for not all battles are wise to choose". You have to ask yourself in the end even if you are in the right about this what do you gain by doing this so early in your career? I had my hair fairly long for an Airborne unit in which High and Tight was the SOP, I asked myself was a little bit of hair worth the attention and decided no it wasn't and cut my hair. Good luck and think before you choose what you want to do.
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SP5 James Darrow
I used to have that portion memorized. Still had a few times where I was ordered to get one anyways. Though not a recommended approach, when I had to obey such orders, I took it to the other extreme. When I had to get a regulation haircut, despite having one already, I went and got the absolute worst one possible. As I wore a size 8 headgear, and have a square shaped head, bald looks rather ridiculous on me, which is why it was my go to for unnecessary haircuts. I'm now suddenly amazed I made it through with no article 15s
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1SG Dennis Hicks
SSG Ralph Watkins - at the risk of angering the gods of the diamond, we are right most of the time but we do make the occasional mistake just to test to see if anyone is using their attention to detail powers :) cough, cough.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
PFC (Join to see) Ah-ha! Now w re getting somewhere!
So, maybe there are “things” you have an inkling of! Address them! .
So, maybe there are “things” you have an inkling of! Address them! .
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It is AR 670-1, not AR 670-SSG.
However, any Sr NCO worth a damn will be able to tell you at a glance if you are in compliance or not. Go see your First Sergeant, tell him the skinny, and get it from him/her whether in their judgment you are within standards. If the 1SG says cut it, then do so.
I will say this - if your haircut is such that different folks (not just this guy) say something about it, you are too close to the edge. Scale back a bit.
However, any Sr NCO worth a damn will be able to tell you at a glance if you are in compliance or not. Go see your First Sergeant, tell him the skinny, and get it from him/her whether in their judgment you are within standards. If the 1SG says cut it, then do so.
I will say this - if your haircut is such that different folks (not just this guy) say something about it, you are too close to the edge. Scale back a bit.
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A1C Ronald Harris
I got called in on a straight up "Sgt Carter" flattop. I just ran a #2 across it and went on my way. If that SSGT is in your CoC just suck it up and get a haircut to get him off your ass. It's not wort it.
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SGT Jonathan Farber
Would it be within any NCO's "command authority" (if not explicitly delegated by the commander) to cut his hair in a specific way within regulations?
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1SG (Join to see)
SGT Jonathan Farber - Yes, but I think it best if this issue go up the chain a notch.
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For everyone that has asked for an update:
I received a negative counseling from that particular NCO and the reason stated was that I was not IAW AR 670-1. I simply signed the disagree box and continued the day. My first line leader, the E-5 I mentioned emailed the NCO that I would like to privately speak with the 1SG. About 15-20 minutes later I was sitting in my 1SGs office. We talked for a long time but here was the basis of the conversation. He told me multiple times during the meeting that I was NOT WRONG. He said that because our regs. are so vague NCOs will interpret them the way they want to. Among the great knowledge, words, and experiences he shared with me, he left me with this: There is always going to be someone telling you that you are wrong even when you are 100% right, however, sometimes you have to play their games to win. He said, "This whole conversation I have not given you the right answer. That's because there isn't one. But I will tell you this, you could either tell SSG that you will continue to grow your hair out until the 1st of May and at that time you both can go to the barber shop and he can watch you get a haircut. Or, you can be extreme and shave your head and say 'here ya go SSG, problem solved." That SSG is now not talking to me and I have not heard anything since.
TO RESPOND TO THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS:
This was not about a haircut. I don't care if my head is "stylish" or buzzed. Let me tell you what this was about. I have been falsely "corrected" by this same SSG on an occasion where I saluted the flag during Retreat while in civilian clothing. As soon and it stopped, I was yelled this question, "SINCE WHEN DO WE SALUTE THE FLAG IN CIVI'S!?" (for those of you that don't know the answer is since 2009). (feel free to ask me for the source). As you may or may not see, this issue is about respect, knowledge, and professionalism. As SM we need to have these three characteristics at the top of our tool belt. Regardless of rank or position, we need to all be able to respect each other (even if you have different opinions) and be professional with one another. If you don't know a regulation, chances are a junior enlisted fresh out of HR School does. So if you are going to correct someone, I feel like you need to have the KNOWLEDGE to do so rather than just having the authority to. Remember, "Knowledge is power." So before you look at me as some PFC that doesn't know what he's talking about, or some dirtbag who just doesn't want to accept correction, or tell me to, "get my head out of my ass" all I ask is that you have the facts/knowledge to supplement your corrections.
I received a negative counseling from that particular NCO and the reason stated was that I was not IAW AR 670-1. I simply signed the disagree box and continued the day. My first line leader, the E-5 I mentioned emailed the NCO that I would like to privately speak with the 1SG. About 15-20 minutes later I was sitting in my 1SGs office. We talked for a long time but here was the basis of the conversation. He told me multiple times during the meeting that I was NOT WRONG. He said that because our regs. are so vague NCOs will interpret them the way they want to. Among the great knowledge, words, and experiences he shared with me, he left me with this: There is always going to be someone telling you that you are wrong even when you are 100% right, however, sometimes you have to play their games to win. He said, "This whole conversation I have not given you the right answer. That's because there isn't one. But I will tell you this, you could either tell SSG that you will continue to grow your hair out until the 1st of May and at that time you both can go to the barber shop and he can watch you get a haircut. Or, you can be extreme and shave your head and say 'here ya go SSG, problem solved." That SSG is now not talking to me and I have not heard anything since.
TO RESPOND TO THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS:
This was not about a haircut. I don't care if my head is "stylish" or buzzed. Let me tell you what this was about. I have been falsely "corrected" by this same SSG on an occasion where I saluted the flag during Retreat while in civilian clothing. As soon and it stopped, I was yelled this question, "SINCE WHEN DO WE SALUTE THE FLAG IN CIVI'S!?" (for those of you that don't know the answer is since 2009). (feel free to ask me for the source). As you may or may not see, this issue is about respect, knowledge, and professionalism. As SM we need to have these three characteristics at the top of our tool belt. Regardless of rank or position, we need to all be able to respect each other (even if you have different opinions) and be professional with one another. If you don't know a regulation, chances are a junior enlisted fresh out of HR School does. So if you are going to correct someone, I feel like you need to have the KNOWLEDGE to do so rather than just having the authority to. Remember, "Knowledge is power." So before you look at me as some PFC that doesn't know what he's talking about, or some dirtbag who just doesn't want to accept correction, or tell me to, "get my head out of my ass" all I ask is that you have the facts/knowledge to supplement your corrections.
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Cpl Derrick Perkins
i MAY see the issue , or two ? what does you reg say about hair length at the top of the head ? i do not know what it is for Marines today , back in the 80's , there was standard box cut , tapered cut , then high n tight cut , i thing standard cuts allowed up to 3" hair on top , high n tight maybe 2" ? again , too many years lol,, also , are you allowed to put goop in your hair ? if so how much ? if stated ? i had and had seen quite a few try to 'get over' with goop in hair trying to keep the excess from popping out under their covers lol
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SFC (Join to see)
Your hair is fine. I’m guessing you work in an S1, G1, or mailroom. I can’t fathom wasting my time as a SSG trying to bully a Soldier into shaving their head
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1SG Dennis Hicks was spot on with his summing up. You need to assess this whole situation from the stance of: "just how much crap do I want to rain down on me?"
Everybody seems to be telling you to run to the 1SG but, the truth be told, if your 1SG has any faith at all in your NCOIC, he's going to back him and tell you to get a haircut. This may be for no other reason than that he will want to reinforce your NCOIC's discipline.
Your haircut is probably not what's getting on your NCOIC's nerves. It will be his perception that he's given you an order and you are not obeying. Your NCOIC is responsible for ensuring your compliance with uniform regs - if, in his judgement, you are not in compliance he is acting within his remit to pressure you until you are in compliance. As for whether or not your opinion (or that of your TL) jibes with his -- guess what: he decides. Running this to your 1SG smacks of pettiness or -- much worse -- insubordination.
You need to decide how important your comb-over is to you. The higher you escalate this situation (over a haircut!?!?) the smellier it will become and the longer it will take for you to get on good terms with your boss. As a final thought - keep pushing and you can be sure of one thing: you will catch every shit detail going... guaranteed.
Everybody seems to be telling you to run to the 1SG but, the truth be told, if your 1SG has any faith at all in your NCOIC, he's going to back him and tell you to get a haircut. This may be for no other reason than that he will want to reinforce your NCOIC's discipline.
Your haircut is probably not what's getting on your NCOIC's nerves. It will be his perception that he's given you an order and you are not obeying. Your NCOIC is responsible for ensuring your compliance with uniform regs - if, in his judgement, you are not in compliance he is acting within his remit to pressure you until you are in compliance. As for whether or not your opinion (or that of your TL) jibes with his -- guess what: he decides. Running this to your 1SG smacks of pettiness or -- much worse -- insubordination.
You need to decide how important your comb-over is to you. The higher you escalate this situation (over a haircut!?!?) the smellier it will become and the longer it will take for you to get on good terms with your boss. As a final thought - keep pushing and you can be sure of one thing: you will catch every shit detail going... guaranteed.
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A1C Ronald Harris
1SG is the last one I'd want to get involved with on something like this. He's got better things to do and all it will do is get you attention you don't want.
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Open door policy is there for a reason bud. Toxic leaders are a real thing in the military and sometimes can’t be avoided. Do not cut your hair. Go talk to 1SG. Or if need be higher than that. 670-1 does not state that your hair has to be a certain length on top, therefore, I would seek guidance from higher on this poor excuse for a leader you have.
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SPC July Macias
SSG, your solution is not a solution. Shaving one's head is not a substitute for being professional. But it's often used as one by people who are too lazy to stay in shape. The best leaders I've known encouraged me to do more PT, and never cared how long my hair was. And if hair is so important to professionalism, why do females get away with unauthorized hairstyles every single day? AR670-1 also has clear guidelines on how the uniform must fit. But I constantly saw NCO's with uniforms that were either too tight or too baggy. I know this because a SGT ordered me to read all of AR670-1 when I was a new Private.
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So what the heck is up with your TL. " my TL (SGT) and she agreed that there is nothing wrong with it." In my day if my folks were squared away and someone wanted to screw with them It became my business as the SGT.
What's the PSGs' opinion? If your truly squared away make an appointment with the 1SG, let the SSG know you are doing it and get the final word from Top..
What's the PSGs' opinion? If your truly squared away make an appointment with the 1SG, let the SSG know you are doing it and get the final word from Top..
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OK, 1st and foremost- the SSG can't move forward with much of anything without taking it higher. Have you seen your 1SG, or PL and asked them about your haircut? If so, and they approve, then politely tell your SSG, that the haircut has been approved by higher. If he wants to protest- offer to go immediately to the 1Sg/PL, or commander with him on the Open Door Policy to get judgement. Do not antagonize her or show any lack of respect- you will lose the high ground.
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