funnyesq

I know that all the academies basically shave the male head as the first hair cut...but why? If the regs allow for a bit longer...why not only cut to reg length? I'm talking about other than it's done because of some "tradition."

Also...it appears that different academies have somewhat different rules regarding Basic hair cut length for women. For example at Navy, I think, all women will have their hair cut unless it is already short by a certain length. I think WP and AFA permit a female Basic to have long hair but kept in a tight bun. My question is why are women permitted long hair (even if 5 inches in length..whatever Navy says is reg) but men not? If hair length isn't a problem for women why is it for men? Isn't it somewhat a discriminatory practice? Something based on a certain "look" for men vs. women that in this day and age is really no longer an issue...clean...neat...I can understand....hence I agree about the bun and no flyaways...but length?

Laf1980

Short hair cuts are done for several reasons:
1. Hygiene - it is done to prevent disease or detect disease on one entering the service.
2. It is easier to keep clean when taking the one minute shower.
3. Symbolism - What better way to delineate your former civilian life from your new military life
4. Morale - Everyone looks the same and no one is treated differently. The idea is to promote unit cohesiveness over the individual. Remember, a choice to join the military is not only a career decision but a choice of a way of life.

knightsdad

I agree with all of the reasons for the young men to initially shave their heads. If it is in the name of hygiene, to leave your civilian life behind, and to become singular in appearance, the initial question remains. Why aren't the woman taking part in hygiene, leaving their civilian life behind and becoming singular in appearance? Definately a double standard.

good student

I read somewhere i think that we should have our hair cut before we come? not all the way obviously, but i'm guessing maybe for the neck trim or something?

aspen

You're right. It's a discriminatory rule. It's unfair. Get used to it.

Here's a line I saw posted on one cadet's webpage:

"This isn't America, it's West Point. We defend democracy, not support it."

Caitmarie

Women still have strict standards on how they wear hair and are penalized when its not right. We are also given the option to cut it on Rday. Through high school I have experimented with the length of my hair, and I personally think when its longer, its easier keep it out of my face.

xcpetersen

here is what i think-
also to go along with what Caitmaire said, for girls, when they go on leave or out on a weekend they wont look too odd!!

zachogden

because my goofy shaved head won't look odd at all, right?

I didn't know there was a difference in haircut regs between the different academies, but I find that very interesting. are there differences in regs when a female is out in the fleet/service and when she is at the academy, or are they more or less they same? sorry if this has been answered.

xcpetersen

no, actually i was just thinking of the same question

Anonagron

Our son has kept a short military cut for four years of high school JROTC. The *shorter* length than is required was his idea. I will never forget the first time we entered a barbershop his freshman year... as I watched the barber give him a buzz, I gulped. I was okay with it, but I wasn't sure son would be when he saw it. But my biggest surprise came when son got in the car to go home and said, "You know, I feel better about myself already!". Wow! He has kept it short ever since.

As a parent, I can honestly say that we never have had "hair wars" in our home. Now I have another following in older sib's footsteps, and older son leaves in two days for USMA. He has purposely gone without a regular cut to give the barbers at WP something to shave off. Will it be a shock to my system to see it that short *if* I can spot him on R-Day? Nope. In fact, I will proudly look at him and think how handsome the clean-shaven and newly shorn heads looks. That still is a big *if* I can tell which one he is!

Sierra1

Now I am confused! So some people think that the women should have their head shaved too?? Well that would certainly be uniform! ;-D

knightsdad

No one thinks the girls ought to shave their heads, however, like the old corps., the girls ought to have a uniform hairstyle with hair cut above the collar in a bobbed type cut. This would allow for the team atmosphere and singularity of appearance. It would also show dedication to new lifestyle. The guys sacrifice their hair and live with it but the girls can leave campus on A-Day weekend and look as gorgeous as the day prior to R-day.... My beloved Citadel, starting in the fall, will allow the women to keep long hair and follow Army regs.... Knobs (plebes) of the male gender are required to keep the shaved head for the entire year......Definately a huge double standard....The point...no matter how bad you think you are getting the short end, someone is always getting it worse.....

wpmom2011

Many female cadets don't like the short hair because it keeps getting in their faces when doing anything physical. The only way to keep it out of their faces is to pull it back in a bun. The longer the hair the easier it is to keep it secure.

Maybe the male cadets should be glad they don't have to brush their hair to get the tangles out, wash, condition (if/when they have time), comb out the tangles again and then put it back up in a bun. And go for days with dirty hair, because they don't have time or extra energy to do all that. All their male counterparts have to do is wet, wash, towel dry and be done.

Hmmmmm...I'm thinking that may be discrimination after all. But not against the male cadets.

shogun

Keeping the hair just long enough to tie back in a bun is the most practical. I think the guys will survive--the last thing they will worry about during Beast and Plebe year is someone else's haircut.

xcpetersen

Do they make it mandatory for woman to cut their hair (then let it grow back agian) when the academic year starts or do they let them keep it long if they always pull it back into a bun?