US Army Eases Restrictions on Hairstyles and Other Rules
2021-02-07
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1U.S. Army leaders have eased restrictions on a number of hairstyle and other personal appearance rules for soldiers.
2The changes are set to take effect in late February.
3One of the main differences is that women wearing combat clothing will now be permitted to wear their hair down.
4The old policy required them to wear their hair on top of their head in a style known as a bun.
5The new rules also will permit women soldiers to color their hair and wear it in styles such as braids and locks.
6They also will be permitted to wear earrings.
7The changes come after longstanding objections to the former Army rules.
8Some of the opposition came from women who said they wanted the ability to wear their hair in ways that are naturally an important part of their racial identity.
9Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper ordered an examination of the old rules last summer.
10The action was part of a wider order to expand diversity within the military and reduce discrimination.
11Army Sergeant Major Brian Sanders told reporters that the officials who approved the new rules examined many considerations in their decision, including cultural, health and safety issues.
12Sanders noted that the new rules - such as permitting women in combat uniforms to wear earrings with gold, silver and diamonds - can also let them "feel like a woman inside and outside of uniform."
13Sanders said the old requirement for women's hair to be in a bun led to hair loss and other issues for some women.
14In addition, larger buns for thick or long hair can make combat hard hats fit poorly.
15"These aren't about male and female," said Army Sergeant Major Michael Grinston, who presented the latest changes.
16"This is about an Army standard and how we move forward with the Army, and being a more diverse, inclusive team."
17The Army announcement had been long-planned, but it came just days after the Pentagon's first Black defense secretary - Lloyd Austin - took over.
18Austin has promised to launch steps aimed at reducing racism and extremism in the military services.
19In many cases, the changes will now let female soldiers wear jewelry or hairstyles that were already permitted in dress uniforms, but not permitted with their daily combat uniforms.
20The new rules will permit women to wear their hair in a long ponytail or braid if it is put underneath their shirt.
21Army officials say this will give female soldiers in combat situations a greater ability to turn their head more quickly than if they were wearing buns.
22For men, however, the longstanding request by many soldiers to permit beards was not approved.
23The Army does permit beards for some medical and religious reasons.
24Also, male soldiers are still not permitted to wear earrings.
25The rules do permit women to wear lipstick and both men and women to wear nail polish.
26For men, however, the nail polish must be clear.
27Women can wear colored nail polish, but some colors are not permitted.
28Among them are purple, blue, black and "fire engine" red.
29Men will also now be able to color their hair, but the colors for both sexes are limited to "natural" versions.
30Banned hair colors include blue, purple, pink, green and orange.
31I'm Bryan Lynn.
1U.S. Army leaders have eased restrictions on a number of hairstyle and other personal appearance rules for soldiers. 2The changes are set to take effect in late February. 3One of the main differences is that women wearing combat clothing will now be permitted to wear their hair down. The old policy required them to wear their hair on top of their head in a style known as a bun. 4The new rules also will permit women soldiers to color their hair and wear it in styles such as braids and locks. They also will be permitted to wear earrings. 5The changes come after longstanding objections to the former Army rules. Some of the opposition came from women who said they wanted the ability to wear their hair in ways that are naturally an important part of their racial identity. 6Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper ordered an examination of the old rules last summer. The action was part of a wider order to expand diversity within the military and reduce discrimination. 7Army Sergeant Major Brian Sanders told reporters that the officials who approved the new rules examined many considerations in their decision, including cultural, health and safety issues. 8Sanders noted that the new rules - such as permitting women in combat uniforms to wear earrings with gold, silver and diamonds - can also let them "feel like a woman inside and outside of uniform." 9Sanders said the old requirement for women's hair to be in a bun led to hair loss and other issues for some women. In addition, larger buns for thick or long hair can make combat hard hats fit poorly. 10"These aren't about male and female," said Army Sergeant Major Michael Grinston, who presented the latest changes. "This is about an Army standard and how we move forward with the Army, and being a more diverse, inclusive team." 11The Army announcement had been long-planned, but it came just days after the Pentagon's first Black defense secretary - Lloyd Austin - took over. Austin has promised to launch steps aimed at reducing racism and extremism in the military services. 12In many cases, the changes will now let female soldiers wear jewelry or hairstyles that were already permitted in dress uniforms, but not permitted with their daily combat uniforms. 13The new rules will permit women to wear their hair in a long ponytail or braid if it is put underneath their shirt. Army officials say this will give female soldiers in combat situations a greater ability to turn their head more quickly than if they were wearing buns. 14For men, however, the longstanding request by many soldiers to permit beards was not approved. The Army does permit beards for some medical and religious reasons. Also, male soldiers are still not permitted to wear earrings. 15The rules do permit women to wear lipstick and both men and women to wear nail polish. For men, however, the nail polish must be clear. Women can wear colored nail polish, but some colors are not permitted. Among them are purple, blue, black and "fire engine" red. 16Men will also now be able to color their hair, but the colors for both sexes are limited to "natural" versions. Banned hair colors include blue, purple, pink, green and orange. 17I'm Bryan Lynn. 18The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 19We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 20________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22hairstyle - n. the style in which a person's hair is cut and arranged 23combat - n. a fight, especially during war 24braids - n. an arrangement of hair made by weaving three sections together 25locks - n. the natural gathering or "locking" of several strands of hair 26earring - n. a piece of jewelry worn on the ear 27diversity - n. a situation in which many different kinds of things or people are included in something 28uniform - n. a set of clothes worn by members of the same organization or group of people 29standard - n. a level of quality that is considered acceptable 30ponytail - n. a hairstyle in which the hair is tied up high at the back of the head so that it hangs down like a horse's tail 31beard - n. the hair that grows on a man's cheeks and chin 32lipstick - n. a colored substance that women put on their lips 33nail polish - n. a colored liquid that is painted on fingernails or toenails