Tips and information for surviving before, during and after US Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT)
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Air Force Basic Military Training
This site aims to provide information to people considering joining the United States Air Force and hopes to give them tips on what to expect before during and after Basic Military Training.
I was wondering when you are in tech school if you could wear your hair in a messy bun or if you could wear make up? Please let me know as soon as possible too. Thank you.
Brooke,
You will have to follow the dress and appearance standards throughout your career, not just at BMT.
From AFI 36-2903, the AF dress and apperance standards. You can see the entire reg here:
“Female Airmen may wear cosmetics; however, if worn, they will be conservative (moderate, being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme) and in good taste. Female Airmen will not wear shades of lipstick that distinctly contrast with their complexion, that detract from the uniform, or that are extreme colors. Some examples of extreme colors include but are not limited to, purple, gold, blue, black, bright (fire-engine) red, and fluorescent colors. Cosmetics will not be worn during field conditions.”
You can’t wear make-up at BMT because it is considered field conditions.
Here are the standards for hair:
“Hair-Female. Minimum length is one inch, unless approved by the commander upon recommendation from a military treatment facility for medical reasons, to a maximum bulk of three inches from scalp. Hair will end above the bottom edge of collar and any side of an invisible line drawn parallel to the ground. When in doubt, assess correct length of hair with Airman standing in the position of attention. Except in the physical training uniform (PTU), hair lengths that would be below the bottom edge of the collar will be pinned-up with no loose ends. Bangs will not touch either eyebrow, to include an invisible line drawn across eyebrows and parallel to the ground. If worn, hairpins, combs, headbands, elastic bands and barrettes must match the hair color (i.e., blonde, brunette, natural red, black, grey), but hair must still comply with bulk and appearance standards. Ornaments are not authorized (i.e., ribbons, beads, jeweled pins). Scrunches are not authorized. See Figure 3.2, for women’s hair. Exception: While wearing the PTU, long hair will be secured but may have loose ends and may extend below the collar; i.e. ponytails.
3.1.3.1. The intent is for pinned-up hair to be styled in a manner that prevents loose ends from extending upward on the head. For example, when using a clip or hairpins, hair will not present the appearance of a ―rooster tail‖; when hair is in a bun, all loose ends must be tucked in and secured; when hair is in a pony tail, it must be pulled all the way through the elastic band and may hang naturally downward and not extending below the bottom of the collar (except while in the PTU). As with all hairstyles, a neat and professional image is essential.
3.1.3.2. Braids, micro-braids and cornrows are authorized. However, they must be a natural looking color for human beings similar to the individual’s hair color; conservative (moderate, being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme) and not present a faddish appearance. A braid is three or more portions/strands of interwoven hair. When worn, multiple braids shall be of uniform dimension, small in diameter (approx ¼ inches), show no more than ¼ inch of scalp between the braids and must be tightly interwoven to present a neat, professional and well-groomed appearance. Braids must continue to the end of the hair in one direction, in a straight line, and may be worn loose or a secured style within hair standards in paragraph 3.1.3 above. Dreadlocks, (defined as long strands of hair that have been twisted closely from the scalp down to the tips; heavy matted coils of hair which form by themselves, eventually fusing together to form a single dread; or unkempt, twisted, matted individual parts of hair), shaved head, flat-tops and military high-and-tight cuts are not authorized hairstyles for female Airmen.
3.1.3.3. Hair color, highlights, and frosting will not be faddish and will be natural looking hair color for human beings, similar to the individual’s hair color (e.g. black, brunette, blond, natural red, and grey).”