Posted on Jan 5, 2017
New Army regulations OK dreadlocks for female soldiers
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The Army released a sweeping update to grooming and appearance regulations on Tuesday that, in addition to authorizing religious beards and head coverings, also opened the door for female soldiers to wear their hair in dreadlocks.
The services have grappled with the issue of black women's hair in recent years, as some argued that the hair regulations put an undue burden on those with thick, coarse hair, forcing many women to spend time, money and discomfort on straightening or wigs if they didn't choose to chop it all off.
The Army's compromise is now to let women wear dreadlocks along the same guidelines already allowed for braids, cornrows and twists. That is, they must be of uniform size and shape, evenly spaced, and up to 1/2 inch in width.
Those rules came down in late 2014, after a regulation change earlier that year banned twists outright.
At the time, the changes prompted backlash from some black soldiers, who expressed concern that the rules were unfair and effectively outlawed natural hair. A sergeant in the National Guard took another measure: she petitioned the White House, calling for the commander in chief to order reconsideration of the rules.
The Army defended its decision, saying hundreds of women were involved in the process of developing the new female hair standards.
Members of Congress subsequently intervened by calling for action by then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who ordered a Pentagon-wide review of hair policies.
As a result of the review, the Army went back and undid that move while revamping rules for several other hairstyles popular with black women, though dreadlocks remained off the table.
The services have grappled with the issue of black women's hair in recent years, as some argued that the hair regulations put an undue burden on those with thick, coarse hair, forcing many women to spend time, money and discomfort on straightening or wigs if they didn't choose to chop it all off.
The Army's compromise is now to let women wear dreadlocks along the same guidelines already allowed for braids, cornrows and twists. That is, they must be of uniform size and shape, evenly spaced, and up to 1/2 inch in width.
Those rules came down in late 2014, after a regulation change earlier that year banned twists outright.
At the time, the changes prompted backlash from some black soldiers, who expressed concern that the rules were unfair and effectively outlawed natural hair. A sergeant in the National Guard took another measure: she petitioned the White House, calling for the commander in chief to order reconsideration of the rules.
The Army defended its decision, saying hundreds of women were involved in the process of developing the new female hair standards.
Members of Congress subsequently intervened by calling for action by then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who ordered a Pentagon-wide review of hair policies.
As a result of the review, the Army went back and undid that move while revamping rules for several other hairstyles popular with black women, though dreadlocks remained off the table.
New Army regulations OK dreadlocks for female soldiers
Posted from armytimes.comPosted in these groups: 
Regulation
DA Pam 670-1
Regulation DA Pam 670-1
Edited 7 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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Wow gentlemen! Dreadlocks can be worn by any female despite race. African American women fought for this option for several reasons, health being the main reason. Rastafarians are notorious, but not the only people who wear dreadlocks. African American women subject themselves to harsh chemicals when straightening their hair. No other race or gender has had to subject themselves to the same in an effort to conform to the standard. A bit of research on your part, gentlemen, will reveal that being exposed to those chemicals has caused various health issues amid African American women. There is a trend now that many African American women are going natural so they are no longer exposing themselves to the harsh chemicals of relaxers. Some, like myself, have decided to were dreadlocks and style them versus cutting all my hair. Either way, my health and hair have improved by going natural. Try asking or researching an issue before bashing or condemning it.
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
Watch what you say, one of those squirrely ones may die and come back a squirrel and run up your trouser leg, David..
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If the army were genuinely becoming more "inclusive" or "progressive", then male Soldiers should be allowed to wear dreadlocks as well—considering that it's a chosen style of hair braiding that either gender of any ethnicity can wear as a civilian.
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