Is there any instruction which states that military personnel (specifically males) are not allowed to 'bic' (razor shave) their head?

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 12:50:29 -0400

In Navy bootcamp we were told repeatedly that we were not authorized to 'bic' our head as it was seen as faddish or gang related (alluding to the support of supremacy groups). Recently I had a Sailor shave his head bald (though, arguably he is balding), regardless, it begged the question, could any of my male Sailors "bic" their head bald? I do not see any instruction prohibiting it.

Response by CW3 Harvey K. made Apr 7 at 2017 12:54 PM

CW3 Harvey K. — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 12:54:07 -0400

It would seem inconsistent to have regs that are disposed to resent hair, and also have regs that require hair.
As I once remarked to a buddy with a very high forehead, "I never heard of anyone giged for 'insufficient hair' in any branch of service".

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Apr 7 at 2017 12:57 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 12:57:49 -0400

ENS Private RallyPoint Member When I was in, and did that I had a special request chit filled out just to make sure that I wouldn't get hassled for it. Better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Apr 7 at 2017 1:00 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 13:00:45 -0400

Its a personal interpretation. Bald= Faddish.
Had the same nonsense spouted at Flat tops and high and tights..
When I pointed out to those commanders the historical commonness of both cuts (as would be true of baldness as well) they stopped with then nonsense and we focused on more important things that actually effected readiness and the mission.
Id venture to say a SM that shaved their head, and was told no, and then did it again, bought up on charges would find his ability to "wear" his hair in a supported manner by regulation upheld by JAG and the IG, a request for CM by a commander would be tossed...so long as there were no other associated transgression (insubordination, conduct unbecoming, ect and no evidence pointing to the baldness as part of gang or other prohibited group activities)

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2017 1:20 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 13:20:28 -0400

No and No, there is no such thing. There are many Chiefs that shave their heads just look around, I shaved mine for over 12 years and NO problems. I was going bald, so it looked better to just shave it and a Master Chief told it was okay.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Apr 7 at 2017 1:32 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 13:32:22 -0400

I can't speak for your branch, but when I went to Army OSUT, I arrived smooth shaven up top, and was told subsequently we cannot Bic or high & tight, but that was just a Basic thing. Outside of this, I have never heard nor seen (AR 670-1) anything about a shaved head not being allowed; in the Army at least.

Response by SSgt Donnavon Smith made Apr 7 at 2017 2:29 PM

SSgt Donnavon Smith — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 14:29:08 -0400

Well in the Air Force 36-2903 it States "Hair style will have a tapered appearance on both sides and back"

not much Taper in Bald

Navy is a little different "Keep hair neat, clean and well-groomed. Hair above the ears and around the neck shall be tapered from the lower natural hairline upwards at least 3/4 inch and outward not greater than 3/4 inch to blend with the hairstyle. Hair on the back of the neck must not touch the collar"

But I see this as requiring a taper as well

Zero on the Side and a #1 on top satisfies both services I would think.

Response by SFC Timothy N. Livengood made Apr 7 at 2017 3:24 PM

SFC Timothy N. Livengood — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 15:24:10 -0400

Perhaps it is simply one of those things where you can add to the reg, but you can't take away from it. I shaved my head and worked in HQ USAREUR, never had a complaint from the Generals I worked with. It looked sharp and never needed to be told to get a haircut.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2017 4:50 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 16:50:00 -0400

On USS Last Ship a group of us Bic'ed our heads and took a group photo for a shipmates mother that was going through Chemo. I kept doing it after as it was no mus no fus. I will do it again when I get to my next ship.

I have never heard of any reg that states you can not.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 7 at 2017 4:51 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 16:51:47 -0400

Chrome doming comes a goes. Reminded me of the weather guesser LT we had in Antarctica. He was bald. Problem was people didn't recognize him in homeport wearing a rug. They thought two different weather guessers were permanently in both locations. You should have seen the faces at the beer bust for "The Great Reveal".
During the 'Nam era, short hair meant you were a baby killer, so the regs for a while allowed "non reg" hair covered by a wig. Refrain: comes and goes.

Response by PO1 Richard Cormier made Apr 7 at 2017 5:04 PM

PO1 Richard Cormier — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 17:04:21 -0400

I know of none. Would help with "Navy Showers" as he doesn't have to worry about hair. Might be a "sunburn" risk on deck without a cover.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2017 7:38 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 19:38:19 -0400

On shipboard deployments in the past I have always bic'd my head because the shipboard barbers couldn't cut hair to save their own lives.
Fortunately the last couple of deployments I have been on included relaxed grooming standards so I came back looking like a homeless man

Response by PFC Jonathan Albano made Apr 7 at 2017 9:49 PM

PFC Jonathan Albano — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 21:49:30 -0400

I don't believe it's expressly prohibited. I would often take a razor to my head while I was in and in need of a cheap haircut (now I'm a hippie freak) People would comment, however, nobody ever counseled me for it.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 7 at 2017 11:18 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 23:18:35 -0400

Paragraph 3-2 of AR 670-1 says you may shave your head if you are male. (Last line)

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 figure 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, untapered patch of hair on the top of the head (not consistent with natural hair loss) are considered eccentric and are not authorized. 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. (See figs 3–1 and 3–2.)

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2017 11:35 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 23:35:11 -0400

I've met Soldiers that do, some were balding others liked the look. I'll probably do it in a few years, starting to lose mine. On top of that if you can protect yourself from the sun it's great to keep clean.

Response by Capt Dwayne Conyers made Apr 8 at 2017 4:34 AM

Capt Dwayne Conyers — Sat, 08 Apr 2017 04:34:25 -0400

In my day, AFR 35-10 prohibited head shaving. At the time, wasn't an issue.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Apr 8 at 2017 8:45 AM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Sat, 08 Apr 2017 08:45:14 -0400

We were told in OSUT not to bic our heads, but that was ostensibly for health reasons, just for IET. Army regs say you can have it shaved or cut very close, although I have seen a guy with about a quarter inch of hair negatively counseled because it wasn't tapered.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Apr 10 at 2017 10:34 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 10:34:32 -0400

This comes from the Marine Corps Grooming Standards.

[2. No male Marine will be required to have his entire hair length clipped to the scalp except while he is undergoing recruit training or when such action is prescribed by a medical officer. This does not prohibit a male Marine from having his hair clipped (or shaved) to the scalp if he so desires. MARADMIN 504/07]

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Apr 13 at 2017 5:21 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 17:21:16 -0400

The military has up-dated their regs, the troops complained they'd be in the field so long and conditions at times didn't allow for hygiene management and ro be fair(I.e.; p.c.) Regs across the board(all services) began to allow "biccing". Check with the COB and your ship's Cptn...

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Apr 13 at 2017 6:00 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 18:00:40 -0400

I do remember when I was in '70-'85, shaving the head was out, I kept my hair style in an extra short regular.. I kept it pretty close.. I was able to extend a hair cut by constantly using my electric razor on the real short stuff. Around ears and back of neck. Not to point of shaving but it looked like a fresh haircut consistently.
At a couple bases our barracks was coed. I could get one of the females to do the cutting especially on back of the head near bottom of the haircut. Occasionally I went and got the top and top sides thinned out. One of the guys at my last base thought he could scam some $'out of me and say if I didn't give him a $20 he'd tell I was getting my haircut in the
Barracks.. "you want to tattle, go ahead!
I go to the barber every few weeks and in between I keep it going until barber time again. " The clown didn't let up... I said nothing more, why throw gas on a fire... he tells our DH Super, <he comes over and tells me what the guy's up to.. I got off at 1300 and went over to base barber and he touched it up and I got my receipt, I had my proof.. Mon morn I'm at DH working and was told to stop by the Orderly rm... this guy had 3 others as his witness.. this is going to be fun I said to myself. 1Sg had their statements.. I pulled out my receipt, initialed by Jose the barber.. 4 peeps just got made to look like fibbers.. after that about every 10 days give or take. I went in.and got my haircut, I didn't that silliness .. I better things to do with my time..

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2017 5:15 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 17:15:50 -0400

AF is specific on it. AFI 36-2903 3.1.2 Cleanly shaven heads, military high-and-tight or flat-top cuts are authorized.

Response by PO1 Edward Pate made Apr 16 at 2017 5:59 PM

PO1 Edward Pate — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 17:59:04 -0400

I remember keeping mine shaved while under way to the Middle East way back in 1984. Being on a ship where we were on water hours most of the time due to condenser issues it sure was easier to clean up. Also I had already started losing my hair by my mid 20's anyhow. When I first did it I recall getting a great compliment from the CO.

Response by LCpl Cody Collins made Apr 16 at 2017 6:08 PM

LCpl Cody Collins — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 18:08:49 -0400

I kind of remember something like that back in the day when I served from 79 to 88. I never truly saw it in writing but I know it was discouraged to go completely bald and it was also discourage to get your haircut Mohawk style with an arrow pointing at the front. Because I had my haircut like that and the sergeant major told us that we had to shave it off

Response by PO2 Josh Taylor made Apr 16 at 2017 7:07 PM

PO2 Josh Taylor — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 19:07:45 -0400

I shaved my head all the time never heard a word about it. Now I did hear time to time about this rule by no one ever took it seriously.

Response by 2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2017 7:01 AM

2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 07:01:13 -0400

I just recently saw an Air Force colonel with a smoothly shaved head. I've seen several other servicemembers likewise shave their heads completely. If there is a regulation against it, it's a sufficiently common practice as to be unenforced. It may be expressively forbidden in some branches for females to shave their heads completely because it is seen as extreme and faddish right now, but it's quite common with males.

Response by PO1 RIchard Petty made Apr 17 at 2017 8:34 AM

PO1 RIchard Petty — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 08:34:56 -0400

I did it because the DAM barbers could not cut hair even by the regs that are posted in the Barber shop, and still do to this day.

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Apr 17 at 2017 8:49 AM

GySgt Kenneth Pepper — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 08:49:50 -0400

The first time I went completely bare-scalped I noticed a dark patch about 4" in circumference on the crown of my head. Like a Yakima. I asked my wife to look at it and she pointed out that it was already tanned there. I guess I should have started shaving my head way earlier. It was at that point that I embraced my impending baldness.

Response by Sgt John Koliha made Apr 18 at 2017 12:37 AM

Sgt John Koliha — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 00:37:57 -0400

Back in the mid '60s, the reason given was that to shave the head was destruction of government property. Really, saw a couple guys get an Article 15.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Apr 18 at 2017 3:10 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 15:10:39 -0400

I started shaving my head about 8 years into my commission time. It was difficult to get a tapered look with my thinning and balding head. Still shaved to this day. With a flat top cut I looked like the pointed hair boss on the Dilbert cartoons. I was told once that it was faddish and I challenged them to find it in the regs...guess what...they couldn't so I told them to focus on more important things like operational readiness. If you really think about it, and the interpretation is the other way, when they shave heads at basic then everyone is out or regulation! However, if it was in the regs, I would have complied but it wasn't

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2017 11:06 PM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 May 2017 23:06:39 -0400

You can in Air Force

Response by FN Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2018 8:14 PM

FN Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 20:14:22 -0400

Two of my RDCs were bald. Pretty sure they shaved it.

Response by SGT Rob Baker made Apr 23 at 2018 7:04 AM

SGT Rob Baker — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 07:04:10 -0400

I don’t have a major issue with it accept that having some hair is a sun barrier to the scalp. I’m suffering from cancer spots on my head from prolonged exposure to the sun while in the desert. If it’s neat in appearance then move on and focus on training not the hair. Do you really want the soldier worried about his hair and not his weapons system when the command walks up to him? No.

Response by PO1 Richard Cormier made Aug 28 at 2019 10:03 AM

PO1 Richard Cormier — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 10:03:11 -0400

Never heard of any reg against it. However, you must remember to care for the exposed skin as you would any other. Sunburn causing personnel to not be in proper uniform would cause problems in manning.

Response by PO3 John Keas made Oct 2 at 2019 5:28 PM

PO3 John Keas — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 17:28:54 -0400

Squid Boot they wanted us to be all the same. There has never been an actual Reg prove thing it, but it was generally accepted as a standing order from the company commanders.

Also...takes too long. Shaving the face is bad enough.

Not to mention so much easier to get razor burn and nicks on the scalp. They really didnt want to worry about blood getting all over the place.

Response by PO2 Kevin Peine made Oct 2 at 2019 8:42 PM

PO2 Kevin Peine — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 20:42:35 -0400

I never got gigged for it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2019 11:11 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 23:11:23 -0400

In my experience that is a basic training/boot camp AIT/A school training ideal

Response by PO3 Chris Scheide made Jul 10 at 2021 9:13 PM

PO3 Chris Scheide — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 21:13:00 -0400

I made the mistake of not getting a haircut prior to an Admiral's inspection. After muster, my Chief broke out the clippers. First cut above the ear, right to the skin! Might as well be bald.

Response by SSG Michael Montoya made Jul 11 at 2021 1:01 PM

SSG Michael Montoya — Sun, 11 Jul 2021 13:01:55 -0400

such an old post.....LOL When I joined in 95 it was against regs in the Army, because yeah they considered it faddish. I used to bic my head on Fridays after work and then Monday I'd have stubble.....eventually they removed that from regs and you were able to do it and I have been doing it ever since.....the reg went away before 1998.