The United States Air Force has announced new uniform and grooming regulations, prompting mixed reactions from service members, particularly military women. The updated guidelines include restrictions on hair length, facial hair, and nail polish options, with leadership emphasizing that they will strictly enforce these new standards. Under the revised policy, airmen are required to maintain short hair and are prohibited from growing beards. For women, nail polish choices have been significantly reduced. The only approved options are clear polish, French manicures, and American manicures. An American manicure is similar to a French manicure but features white tips with a softer, more natural base color. The updated policy reverses a previous decision that had allowed women to wear a wider range of nail polish colors. The changes have sparked discussion among military personnel, particularly on social media and online forums. Air Force member and content creator Elora Jean has shared multiple videos about the new regulations, explaining how they limit options that had only recently been expanded. "Three options! No matter what your skin tone," she said in one video, expressing frustration over the abrupt reversal. Many servicewomen have voiced their concerns in online discussions, questioning the priorities behind the policy shift. Some argue that military leadership should focus on larger issues related to readiness and recruitment rather than appearance standards. Others have pointed out that the change was implemented quickly, leaving little time for adjustment. Some commenters expressed disappointment over the restricted nail polish options, with one person on Reddit writing, "They can take the nail polish but please don't touch hair regulations. I can't go back to buns-the migraines and hair loss were awful." Another commenter from the Navy echoed this concern, mentioning the strain that hair regulations have placed on service members.
Despite the criticism, others supported the new rules, stating that the military has long required uniformity in appearance. One former Navy servicewoman said, "We had clear polish only. I never thought to question it. It was just part of the uniform, like the pantyhose requirement." A former soldier added, "Subdued or flesh-toned was always the standard. When we serve, we give up certain abilities like individuality." Elora Jean continued to update her followers, showing how the new rules affected her own nail choices. In one video, she displayed a maroon-colored manicure she had previously worn, which is no longer permitted under the new guidelines. On Reddit, some users expressed frustration over the timing of the change, particularly those who had recently spent money on manicures. One woman stated that she had just paid $50 before the policy was announced, while another said she had spent $70 the previous week. "Forcing policy change to take effect a few days after being announced is scuzzy no matter what, let alone when it financially impacts Airmen," one Reddit user wrote. The
Air Force has not commented further on the decision or whether additional changes to appearance regulations may follow. The updated grooming and uniform policies are now in effect, with enforcement expected across all units.
