Have you ever felt completely swallowed up in your Army uniform? Or ever come across the thought that there is just no way you’re going to ever look cute in uniform? I think most of us women in uniform have felt this way at some point or another. In this article, we’re going to talk about ways to spice things up (within regs of course!) in uniform–from hair, makeup, and all things wear and appearance. Because everyone deserves to feel and exude confidence in their uniform!

 

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Okay, before the trolls come out from under their bridges, let’s get one thing straight: you can maintain your femininity and still be effective in the workplace. Looking good in uniform and taking pride in the presentation of your appearance does not equate to thirst trapping.

 

 

I’d also like to mention that this is not an article saying that all women in uniform should follow these rules. What makes one person feel confident might not even matter to another. But for those of us who enjoy switching things up and expressing our femininity in these ways, this article is for us!

 

 

All about hair for Army Females

 

Most of the time, we see AR 670-1 as restrictions instead of guidance on what we are actually allowed to do. An example of this is the standard military sock-bun. Even though the regulation doesn’t specifically state that you MUST have your hair slicked back with a tub of gel and half a can of hairspray, most Soldiers think that this is the standard.

 

With that misconception ingrained in their heads, Soldiers are quick to “correct” others who don’t meet their idea of the standard.

 

Well I’m here to tell you that you do NOT need to subscribe to those subjective standards if you don’t want to. There are an abundant amount of hairstyles you can rock now, ever since ALARACT 03/2022 made its debut.

 

You might be asking, “Okay, but what can I actually do with my hair?”

 

Ponytail

 

This one causes a lot of uproar for some reason. The Army community doesn’t seem to like loose flowing hair, but this was the first hairstyle that I rocked when the new ALARACT came out.

 

 

Not only is the ponytail good to mitigate headaches, but it can also help relieve the tension on the roots of your hair to preserve the health of hair follicles.

 

 

If you have straight hair, consider curling your hair to add an extra flair of style. If you’re not too handy with a curling iron, I strongly advise you to check out this tutorial on how to curl your hair with a straightener. The heat from the straightener is usually adjustable which in turn will allow you to hold curls longer throughout the day without too much extra product.

 

 

Now if you’re still not too confident in your heat tool game, check out this tutorial on heatless curls. When I was trying to repair the damage I had done to my hair after curling it every day, I switched to heatless curls. This method actually works!

 

 

In contrast, for curly hair gals, you can straighten it the night before and wear a silk cap to bed in order to preserve the style overnight.

 

Those with natural curls must remember that the bulk of your hair cannot be larger than your head. So if your hair has a lot of bounce and volume, you might consider either training your curls or move on to the next hairstyle.

 

 

Here’s a curl training hair tutorial that I found very helpful and informative. If you’ve never trained your curls, then let me warn you that it is NOT for the timid. It is time consuming, but if you have a decent wash n’ go routine it’ll pay off and keep hair maintenance down for a few days without sacrificing style.

 

 

Braids

 

 

Whether you opt for the single braid down your back, pigtail braids, or even a full head of braids, this is an option that keeps hair neater in appearance but still allows you to express a creative edge.

 

 

Before I learned how to Dutch braid my own hair, I was ALWAYS in awe of those who had their hair in anything other than a typical braid.

 

 

A simple braid has the potential to make your overall appearance look very elegant in uniform, but also give off that Laura Croft Tomb Raider, badass vibe. Now I understand that not everyone knows how to braid, which is why I’m going to provide a 10-in-1 single braid tutorial.

 

 

I highly suggest you get the hang of doing a standard braid first in order to warm up your fingers for the more advanced braiding technique.

 

The regulation is not specific on the type of braid you can do in your hair, so it really gives a lot of creative freedom to you when you style your hair.

 

 

Another quick tip for learning how to braid your hair is starting small–you don’t have to braid your whole head at first! You can find a small section of hair and practice a style first and then graduate to gathering more hair as you perfect the finger movement technique.

 

 

Braids are also a perfect hairstyle for a field environment when you don’t have access to showers, because it preserves the professional appearance of your hair in between washes. Dry shampoo does wonders if you’re concerned about smell or hair looking too oily between washes.

 

 

Protective Hairstyles

 

A lot of the hairstyles under this heading could fall under the two above, but there are just so many possibilities with protective hairstyles that it deserves its own category.

 

One of the biggest issues that is present when it comes to hairstyles catered to a POC is the idea that they are seen as “unprofessional” or the hair color is “unnatural”.

 

This needs to be talked about more often than not, because the newest ALARACT was meant to eliminate the exclusivity of the previous hairstyle guidelines in AR 670-1.

 

You CAN wear the following hairstyles and have your hair dyed a different color as long as it is a naturally occurring color (it does not have to be YOUR natural hair color).

 

 

Another misunderstanding I have witnessed: if a Soldier gets highlights in their hair and they braid their hair, it might clump more of the lighter colors together in certain areas of the hair.

 

Does this mean that the Soldier needs to dye their hair one solid color because of particular hairstyles that result in color patches? NO!

 

 

But I have seen Soldiers feel pressured to do so, simply because of implicit biases on what “professional” looks like to others even though the regulation nor the ALARACT state this being an issue.

 

 

Protective hairstyles you can rock in uniform include, but are not limited to the following:

 

• Butterfly locs

  

• Faux locs
• Passion twists
• Box Braids
• Microbraids
• Cornrows
• Twists

 

 

Crowned K’s Youtube channel has a lot of beginner friendly hair tutorials. Check out this tutorial on beginner friendly crochet butterfly locs. You could easily put this hairstyle in a pony tail, buy shorter locs to wear your hair down, braid, and/or lobster roll your hair to be in regs.

 

 

If you are looking for answers to more specific questions or want to be a part of a community that shares their hair inspo for protective styles in uniform, I highly recommend you join the group “Loc it Up (Military Women of all Branches)” Facebook group. Or a quick hashtag search of “#armylocs” produces a plethora of beautiful hairstyles on Facebook and Instagram.

 

 

Can you wear a wig or extensions in uniform?

 

 

Our natural hair community has already tapped into this goldmine for hairstyle variety without committing to the actual “hair chop”, color changes, or perm (e.g. bob, highlights/dye, chemical curls/relaxed).

 

 

There are different types of hair extensions at your disposal:

 

• Clip in (removable at the end of the day)
  • ideal for someone looking to add depth without the long term commitment
  • good option for someone who is experiencing hair loss due to aging
    • ensure you get a lighter bundle so that you don’t put unnecessary strain on existing hair follicles
• Sew in (lasts about 6-8 weeks)
• Crochet (lasts about 8 weeks)
• Tape in (lasts 4-6 months)
• Fusion/pre-bonded hair extensions (last up to 3 months, should be removed at a certain period to prevent unnecessary damage to healthy natural hair)
  • less ideal for someone who has already damaged hair, because it could make it worse

 

 

Wigs can provide a quick and easy hairdo change from day-to-day. The only thing I would recommend is that if you work outdoors in the heat, then a wig might not be your best option. For some reason, extensions and wigs tend to hold heat in and promote a little bit of sweating.

 

Do not skimp on the type of hair extensions and/or wig you choose to get. Amazon sells decent extensions, but most (if not all) are faux hair, which means they’re not going to maintain their look with multiple wears.

 

After figuring out for myself that Amazon had pretty cheap hair extensions, I found my own goldilocks clip ins from Luxy Hair. They actually have a wide variety of hair accessories from buns, pony tails, and hair extensions!

 

The best thing about getting wigs and extensions made from real hair is that you can color and style those tresses without causing damage or melting the product.

 

Here’s a tutorial on how to bring your wig/extensions back to life after regular wear.

 

 

 

What color can you dye your hair if you’re in the Army?

 

 

If you’re like me, then you have a problem making a decision on what hair color to stick with -_-

 

 

A real easy way to spice up your do without much daily effort is a color change!

 

 

From highlights, to lowlights, or even an all over color.

 

 

Although it does not relate to being in uniform during duty hours, one benefit of going lighter (whether it’s highlights or the blondish vibe) is hair chalk. I feel a bit of sadness that I’ve always held jobs where I can’t color my hair in wild colors like hot pink.

 

 

Buuuut with highlights or an all over blonde, hair chalk allows you to experiment with the colors of the rainbow during the weekend or blocks of leave. Just wanted to throw that in there for ya before we get back to regulatory hair color guidance.

 

 

Garnier actually has a really neat virtual try on to test out different hair colors! Honestly, it’s better to get an idea of how the color is going to complement your skin because it sucks to find out that the “Espresso” shade actually makes your face look washed out after your hair stylist has already rinsed and dried your hair.

 

 

The difference between lowlights and highlights is evident in the name. For lowlights, you’re going a couple shades darker on your hair. For highlights, you’re going a couple shades lighter on your hair.

 

 

Lowlights are great for adding dimension to your hair. While highlights are great for bringing warmth and vibrancy to your hair. You can combine the two to get the best of both worlds.

 

 

Unfortunately, regulation has specified that if you have dark hair then you cannot have a stark difference in shades (i.e. blonde highlights on black hair). However, caramel hues would blend beautifully with espresso locks.

 

 

Another thing to consider when getting highlights and/or lowlights is how chunky they are.

 

 

The premise behind being within regs is to maintain as close to natural look and I’m sorry but you can’t achieve that with year 2000 highlights or the money piece highlights (unless you twist the money piece inconspicuously or part your hair a different way).

 

 

 

Hats on, hats off

 

 

One of the most annoying things about taking the time to perfect your hair style in the morning is headgear.

 

 

There are a few things you can do to combat the fly-aways that occur from constantly putting your PC on and taking it off.

 

 

Product, product, product…I am not a big fan of this tip, but I know a lot of ladies who love their hair products OR have high maintenance hair where there is literally no other way to contain the madness.

 

If you’re concerned with keeping your hair perfectly in place, then consider hair gel and/or hair spray.

 

The downside of the consistent use of hair products like these is build up on the scalp. Unless you’re raking and rinsing with a triple repeat, then it might be difficult to get all of the product out of your hair every day.

 

 

If you’ve got a sensitive scalp then you might opt for simply buying looser headgear. Your PC does not need to cut off circulation in order to stay on your head. You’ll also be less prone to that ridiculous looking forehead line if you size up on your headgear.

 

 

Another option is “Keep Your Hair Headgear“. This company is veteran owned and they sell silk lined patrol caps, berets, and other hats/wraps intended to help maintain your hairstyle and head of hair.

 

 

Although it can appear a little pricey, just think about the return on investment. How often do you wear your PC? For most of us, it’s every day. The price of one silk lined PC is the same as a meal for two, except you get to enjoy perfect hair every day instead of a “one time meal for two” experience.

 

That is worth it to me!

 

 

Can you wear makeup as a Soldier in the Army?

 

 

Aww yes, makeup and all its wonders and mysteries. In this section, we aren’t going to discuss complex cut crease or 50 step makeup tutorials. Most of us don’t have time for full coverage and some of us (ahem, me) don’t have the talent or patience to learn the way of the blending brush.

 

 

However, I will not continue on without mentioning that makeup in uniform is allowed (except in field conditions) and a woman in uniform should NEVER feel ashamed for getting dolled up for the work day.

 

Unless you plan on doing a dramatic smokey eye with glitter, then chances are your makeup is within regs.

 

 

You can opt for simple foundation, mascara, and lip gloss, but chances are you’re not interested in brushing up on how to apply foundation and mascara. That’s makeup application 101 and we’re going to take it just a couple steps further.

 

 

Eyeshadow hacks to make your eyes pop!

 

First up: neutral palettes. I know I just said that everything else but that dramatic smokey eye was good-to-go, but it was an exaggeration–I’m sorry.

 

 

Like a broken record, I’m here to remind you that your makeup must maintain a professional appearance and fall in the realms of natural looking. Natural looking varies depending on who you ask, but more often than not, neutral shades are in the safe zone.

 

 

 

Although you can find some good drugstore dupes, I’ve found that it is much more difficult for color to set and blend using drugstore neutral eyeshadow palettes. However, my only tried and true drugstore eyeshadow palette is Wet ‘n’ Wild’s Sweet as Candy. I can quickly apply, blend, and it lasts all day–and it’s a neutral palette to boot!

 

 

Another hot tip when it comes to buying eyeshadow palettes is that I generally don’t buy them from Amazon. Unless I know for a fact that it’s from the manufacturer, I won’t buy makeup products from Amazon. There are A LOT of people who sell counterfeit products and there was actually a documentary released about the dangers of purchasing makeup from Amazon because of the ingredients these people use to make those products.

 

 

Before I had seen this documentary, I had purchased an Urban Decay neutral palette from Amazon, because I heard that Urban Decay was a really good makeup brand. Long story short, I couldn’t even get the eye shadow to lay on my skin and became frustrated and swore off “expensive makeup brands”.

 

 

Fast forward to now, I recently bought Urban Decay’s mini neutral palette from Ulta and I’m in love! There was such a difference in color and ability to blend and I’m certain that the palette I bought from Amazon was a fake product. Luckily I did not have any type of allergic reaction and ended up chucking that one soon after I bought it.

 

 

Smitha Deepak has foolproof makeup tutorials on her Youtube Channel, which has really helped me branch out and learn different makeup application techniques. Tap the video below to view one of my favorite subtle eyeshadow tutorials that is sure to take the anxiety out of your makeup routine.

 

 

 

Eyeshadow application good practices:

• Primer, primer, primer! Primer not only creates a clean canvas to work on, but it will help the color pop and stay in place. With neutral palettes, colors are more likely to be close to your own skin color or might even blend in to your skin if you don’t use an appropriate primer.
  • I use E.L.F. white eyeshadow primer because it helps remove the oils from my eyelids and the color of it shows me where I’ve already applied eyeshadow so that I don’t keep caking it on in one area.
  • Foundation isn’t always the best answer for priming your eyelids, because it contains oils that allow it to sink into your skin, which kind of defeats the purpose of putting on eyeshadow with the intent to keep it in place all day and present a contrasting color to your skin. We don’t want it to blend into your skin, we want to blend it on your skin.
  • Everyone’s skin type is different and what works for one person, may not work for another. Ulta has a neat little section of miniature makeup products where you could buy a small size primer before committing to purchasing a larger container.
• Lightly swipe your eyelid if using a blending brush. It is really unnecessary to try to blend harshly, because this results in the eyeshadow powder falling to your under eye area and then it’s just a waste of product.
  • If you find yourself having to press the product onto your lid with force just to see a hint of color, this is a sign that it is a bad product for you.
• Ensure you have good lighting when you apply eyeshadow. Sometimes lighting can be deceiving and you find out a little too late that you should’ve spent more time blending.
• Go to a beauty store and experiment putting swatches on your skin to see how it reacts to your skin type, tone, and it’s ability to actually blend. Most times you can’t get a good feel for how makeup is going to look on you by looking at the case–you need to try it on! I will literally comb the aisles of Ulta and smear eyeshadow along my arms to see how they actually look on MY skin.

 

 

Lipstick in uniform

 

Honestly, the only way you’ll be able to see how a lipstick looks against your skin is to try swatches of them. If you’ve never worn lipstick, it can seem look like too much when you see yourself in the mirror and cause you to immediately wipe it off.

 

 

I know from personal experience–first time wear made me feel self conscious all. day. long.

 

 

So if you’re new to venturing out into the lipstick world, then an easy baby step is tinted lip balm!

 

 

Now, if you’ve read any of my other beauty articles then you already know that my favorite brand is Chapstick total hydration because their colors aren’t too vibrant, but they definitely add an appropriate pop of color.

 

 

You don’t have to worry about that awful lip liner effect if your Chapstick wears off. And it doesn’t cause that weird cakey build up after a few hours. You can simply reapply the lip balm if it starts to wear off.

 

And technically you can wear it in the field because it is a Chapstick.

 

 

Low Maintenance Makeup Routine

 

 

Listen, if you’re the type who doesn’t want to have to worry about putting on a full fledged face of makeup every day then I have some low maintenance makeup tips for you as well.

 

 

SFC Rodriguez shared that she goes in about every 2 months to touch up her semi-permanent makeup…and all I could think was, “GENIUS!”

 

 

In this picture, she only has a powder ombre and lash lift and she looks stunning!

 

 

Options for semi-permanent makeup include, but are not limited to the following:

 

• Lash lift (with or without tint)

  

  • lash lift process involves application of a lifting lotion to mold around the curling rod followed by a setting lotion to help maintain the curled shape
  • you can opt to get it with a tint, which is essentially applying a type of dye to your lashes to darken them
  • read this article on the pros/cons of getting a lash lift/tint
• Powder ombre
  • the tails of the brows are darker and fade into a lighter color at the beginning of the brow
  • effects are waterproof and smudge-proof
  • reported to last 2-3 years depending on lifestyle, number of sessions you’ve undergone, color selection, skin tone, and skin type
  • ideal for someone who has semi-full brows, but wants to add more fullness
• Microblading
  • pigment etched into the skin to resemble the strokes of eyebrow hair (it’s similar to tattooing but it’s not permanent and it’s a different process)
  • reported to last approximately 12-18 months
  • ideal for someone who has very sparse eyebrows and looking to add fullness

 

Another popular semi-permanent makeup that I’ve seen Soldiers undergo are lash extensions. Unfortunately, those are not authorized unless you have a medical profile stating that you need them. Before I knew they were unauthorized (it’s literally a little blip in AR 670-1), I had gotten lash extensions. They really are a game changer and if you don’t wake up feeling gorgeous without those suckers, then maybe nothing in this article will help boost your confidence (I’m only kidding!).

 

 

However, aside from the aesthetics, I would not recommend getting them done and here’s why: They’re beautiful while you have them, but a veil is lifted on just how much damage they cause to your lash line once you get them removed. If you’re a super star when it comes to personal hygiene, then you won’t need to worry about build up causing eye infections. But that is one of the risks for some people.

 

 

When you remove your lashes for a breather period (which is recommended due to the strain and weight they put on your follicles), your lashes are [very possibly] going to look like someone took scissors to them and cut them short with blunt edges. I’m sorry, it’s the truth! I’m not talking just about my personal experience, but I’ve seen it in others as well and it’s devastating. My lashes have NEVER grown back the same and I should have just opted for a lash lift with a tint and called it good. You’ve been warned. 🙂

 

 

Can you have your nails done in uniform?

 

 

Getting your nails done while being in regs seems to allude some Soldiers. Regulations give you a general idea of what falls in the realm of professional looking, but the point of it being a general idea is to give freedom to work within those guidelines!

 

 

The ALARACT states that neutral colors are allowed. You’ll see some examples of neutral shades in the pictures in this article.

 

 

I feel it’s also important to bring up that regulation has stricken the phrase “complements skin tone”, because how is it fair that someone with lighter skin wears light pink nail polish, but someone with melanin rich skin receives backlash for wearing that same shade?

 

 

Neutral shades are neutral shades regardless of skin color–remember that before you try to correct another female in uniform.

 

 

Nail polish options in uniform:

• At home nail polish application
  • always apply a double layer of base coat to protect your nails from turning yellow
• Nail sheets
  • this is an ideal option for someone who doesn’t have a steady hand and does not want to spend money with salon maintenance
• Press on nails
  • ideal option for someone who works in an office setting and looking for an extremely temporary change in color
  • easier to apply than regular nail polish and nail sheets
  • does not last as long and is more likely to break/fall off
• Gel nails
  • typically lasts longer, less likely to chip and/or fade in color
  • you can actually get an at home kit to do this
  • downside is repeated exposure to UV rays (this helps the nails set) can pose a risk of skin cancer
• Acrylic nails
  • lasts longer than regular polish, but has the potential to chip
  • requires regular nail salon maintenance
  • same UV ray exposure risks as gel nails

 

 

Even if you’re not looking to do a drastic nail change, neutral shades offer the compromise of a subtle nail pop of color without drawing too much attention to your hands.

 

 

What jewelry can you wear in uniform?

 

 

It was a long wait, but female Soldiers finally got the “GO” to wear earrings in uniform. Although the options may seem limited, they really aren’t too bad.

 

 

Earrings you can wear in uniform:

 

• Silver stud
• Gold Stud
• Clear princess cut diamond stud
• Clear square cut diamond stud
• Earrings not to exceed 6mm or 1/4 inch in diameter

 

Realistically, you could switch out your earrings every day.

 

If you’re on a budget, you’ll like these earrings from Amazon. I got diamond and silver studs, because I’m not a fan of yellow gold with my skin tone. They’re perfect if you have sensitive skin and I haven’t had any issues with crusting, redness, or itchiness.

 

 

Other jewelry you could wear are religious bracelets and rings (Ref: AR 670-1 para 3-4). You can wear one ring on each hand, exceptions apply to marriage bands. Etsy has an assortment of beautifully handcrafted religious bracelets to choose from.

 

 

This loophole in the regulation really does give you the opportunity to express your personality when it comes to rings, because there really isn’t anything too limiting about types of rings that you can or cannot wear.

 

Just keep in mind your typical daily duties and whether or not this fashion statement would be ideal in uniform.

 

 

How can I look more feminine in my uniform?

 

 

This was my number one issue with the old ACU pattern, because it just completely swallowed up my figure. We’re not trying to look like Jessica Rabbit, but I know that I’m not alone when I say I’d like to at least look like a woman in uniform.

 

There’s a well-known saying, “I love a man in uniform.” So why is it men can exude their masculinity and women can’t do the same while in uniform?

 

…just a thought. 🙂

 

 

One way you can ensure that you’re looking fresh in uniform is to experiment with different sizes. Some uniform sizes tend to make a person look more bulky depending on the length of the sleeves or inseams of the pants.

 

 

This is why I caution against purchasing uniforms online, because it doesn’t allow you to try before you buy.

 

 

The fitted OCP is another game changer when it comes to maintaining your feminine figure in uniform. Please understand that your uniform should not be hugging your body too tightly–this is not within regulation.

 

 

For those that value comfort over aesthetics, uniform maintenance/care might be a way to help boost your confidence in uniform.

 

• I know Soldiers that actually starch and press their uniforms! It might be an extra step in your laundry routine, but it is definitely a noticeable difference.
• Sew on your name tapes and tabs.
• Number your tops, bottoms, and covers for matching sets. By doing this, you’ll ensure that they all fade the same color instead of wearing a faded top and a brand new bottom by accident.

 

 

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Some of the topics we covered in this article might seem like common sense, but I think there is a large population of female Soldiers that feel pressured to conform to a man’s world in the military.

 

 

Once we give ourselves permission to embrace our femininity, then we have the freedom to explore different options of what a professional female Soldier can look like.