Shaved heads in basic training; is this mandatory? If it is, then why and why only for males?

"Breaking the individual down" is a key point of team building. Start from a common point and build up. I personally am not a great supporter of coed training, nor women in combat (ground) roles. No offense intended. I do like the new AFPT standards the Army has adopted, but I also feel they have lowered the standard while making the test more realistic to field performance. I would hate to see a 125 soaking wet in field gear female soldier trying to drag my 6'4" 225 pound grandson out of harms way. Hopefully she wouldn't try to make two trips.
While at The Basic School as a new butter bar, the WM were down the hall. When they were trying to pack their trash for a field march they came out in the hall way and looked to see if any of the men would come to help. Nope, we just watched and laughed.
One of my fellow officers got into a very heated discussion during an HR training session with one of the WM and got to the point of "why don't you and I step outside and the one who walks back in is the REAL Marine". Later, at a new duty station, an unknowing friend tried to line him up with said WM. We all had a good laugh.
I believe one set of physical standards for all, if you are in combat, you need to be able to perform at the same level. While I admire the determination of the young woman who made the YouTube/FB rounds when she collapsed short of the forced march finish, and the support of her fellow Ranger candidates, if you can't pull the load, go home. A male soldier should not be penalized for his run time when a female gets a 100% score for the same time.
Cut their hair, all of them, same length. They want to be on the team, be part of the team. As has been said, it is a right of passage and a badge of honor. I was asked after my basic training at Quantico why my hair was so short when everyone else (1973) had long hair. I replied "I'm a US Marine and I can wear my hair any way I want" (within regs of course. I was a bit of a pompous A in those days and I have mellowed some.

Shoot me for saying so but I am not WOKE and don't think woke is good for the military in the manner being forced on the military as it is now. I have seen some tough ass women. Every one of them broke down when the men didn't. I was in basic with one male that couldn't do 1 correct push up when we started. He never broke down and I am here to say, I felt sorry for him for what they put him through to build him up to Army standards. That being said, I would rather have a well-trained military woman beside me that a civilian.

Love women to look womanly.

Originally, the military cut your hair to maintain and ensure cleanliness. But today, many other reasons can be named for military shaved heads and military buzz cut fades.

If you want true equality, standards must be applied equally across the sexes. That goes for grooming and physical readiness.

An induction cut is the shortest possible hairstyle without shaving the head with a razor.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cut

Haircuts are a rite of passage during military basic training. Almost immediately after arrival, your hair will be cut so short that it almost feels like you wereshaved bald (guys, only).

After the initial haircut, you'll get a trim at least once per week during basic training. However, during the weekly trim, depending on which branch you're in, your hair may not be entirely cut off again, and the sides and the back may just be evened up.

Tip: You can actually estimate how long someone has been in basic training, depending on which branch you're in, by the length of their hair. Brand new male recruits have virtually no hair at all, those who have been there a week or two have a little bit of stubble, and those who are getting ready to graduate have an inch or so of hair showing.

Except for the Navy, women do not have to get their hair cut. However, when in uniform (which is all the time in basic training), women must wear their hair in such a way that the hair does not protrude past the bottom of the collar, and is not below the eyebrows. If your bangs are grown out, they must be long enough to be tied into a bun.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/basic-training-grooming-and-food.html/amp@2020

Took effective military writing in kandhar, Afghanistan as an e-4 promotable, received an A+ ..... Lol , but was not awarded a grade because I had signed up when the school lady was on leave - & when she came back she told me I had to be an e-5 or above to sign up for that class , that I would not be seated for an official grade , & that she did not even know how I was allowed to sign up for a five day effective military writing with cct ....

All this talk about haircuts reminds me of the story about one lad that went AWOL, When they caught him they asked him why he took off after only being in the military a few weeks He replied, first they marched us to the BX and insisted we by combs, next they took us to the barbershop and cuto off all our hair. The next week we when to the BX again and they made us buy Tooth paste and brushes, but followed up with a trip to eht dentist where he pulled out my teeth. When in the third week they took su to the BX again and had us buy Jock Straps I knew it was time to leave. :-) yep and old story but with a little truth in it. Hope it brings back some memories.

Deal, but give us SF back too.

If he thinks that is hazing, he shouldn't volunteer. I don't want the little whiner in my Army anyway.

I agree with you on People needing to get over themselves and stop the whining about known standards, I served 21 years and virtually NEVER liked the PT standards, I thought much of what was done was counter productive, but that was just my unstated opinion and my stated view as an NCO to the Soldiers under me was "its required we meet the Army Standards Do your personal best in your efforts and Lets move forward" The Hair cut issue can be given dozens of very valid reasons why, And it starts with uniformity as its cornerstone, The fewer differences between 200 privates the less potential for the exact kinds of questions that always come up... Just like stating We are all the same color here, "Green" It tells you that white black and brown are all covered by the same rules going forward... I once got to overhear a conversation between a Black 1sg and a Black Corporal, The Corporal started his comments, As a Black man I feel this way, The 1sg stopped him dead in his tracks and said Let me explain something to you Specialist, We have NO place for any color except green in my army and your Black Mans opinion is NOT a part of any Army Discussions or Decisions.... You Make Army Green Decisions if you want to continue to wear those stripes.... I learned a Ton from that 1sg and virtually all has transferred to my civilian life

You adapt to the Army. We don't adapt to you.

Any questions!