Marine Corps Grooming Standards: Hair, Shaving Waivers, and Tattoos

Marine Corps grooming standards are set out in Marine Corps Order 1020.34H, which regulates hair length, facial hair, tattoos, cosmetics, nails, and jewelry for every Marine, on duty and off. The rules apply whether you’re in cammies, in civilian clothes, or at home on a Saturday, and violations can escalate from a verbal correction to non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the UCMJ.¹

Hair

Male Marines

Male hair is cut in a graduated fade that starts at skin at the hairline and blends upward to at least the top of the ear opening, continuing around the back of the head before transitioning to the length on top. Hair on the upper portion cannot exceed three inches when fully extended, and bulk (how far it stands out from the scalp) cannot exceed two inches. No part of the style may be blocked or edged into a hard outline.¹

Sideburns cannot extend below the top of the ear opening and cannot be tapered, flared, or shaped to a point. Hair at the base of the neck must taper naturally rather than end in a blunt, squared line.¹

Female Marines

Female styles fall into short, medium, and long categories. Short hair extends no more than one inch from the scalp and may be faded from zero at the nape of the neck. Regardless of length, hair cannot fall below the bottom edge of the collar when left down, and bulk other than a bun cannot exceed two inches from the scalp.¹

Buns cannot project more than three inches from the scalp and cannot be wider than the natural width of the head. Ponytails and single braids are now authorized in certain uniforms, a recent update to the approved styles list.² Ponytail holders must match the hair color and stay inconspicuous.

Individual locks, twists, and braids are authorized but stay small. Loose or secured, each strand can be no more than three-eighths of an inch in diameter, with no more than three-eighths of an inch of visible scalp between strands.³ A style has to hold through the duty day; unraveling by lunch still gets corrected.

During organized PT, Marines with short or medium hair may wear it down unless it creates a safety hazard. Long hair must be secured, and ponytails are authorized. Barrettes and small ponytail holders must match hair color. Scrunchies, bows, ribbons, and alligator clips are not authorized.¹

Hair Color

Dyes, tints, bleaches, and frosting are allowed if the result looks like a color hair actually grows in and the shade complements your skin tone. Unnatural colors, high-contrast streaks, or obvious grow-out lines are not authorized. This applies to male and female Marines alike.¹

Facial Hair and Shaving Waivers

Male Marines must be clean-shaven. The only exception is a mustache, which must be neatly trimmed and contained within the upper lip; it cannot extend past the corners of the mouth or below the lip line. No goatees, no handlebars, no stubble.¹

Pseudofolliculitis Barbae

Marines who develop chronic razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis barbae, or PFB) can receive a medical shaving waiver under MCO 6310.1C, documented on NAVMC 11830. When continuous beard growth is medically necessary, hair cannot exceed one-quarter inch and must be limited to the affected areas identified on the waiver.⁴

Treatment moves through four phases. Mild cases begin with up to four weeks of no shaving during medical treatment. Moderate to severe cases may go up to eight weeks without shaving, with depilatory treatment as an alternative. Cases that don’t respond may be referred to dermatology for laser treatment, which is government-funded, though not required.⁵

One limit is worth knowing before you start. Marines who need a grooming exception for a medical condition lasting more than one year may be considered for administrative separation for incompatibility with service.⁵ That timeline gives the treatment phases real urgency.

Surgical and Temporary Waivers

Marines recovering from dental or facial surgery can receive a temporary shaving waiver. A military medical officer writes a recommendation specifying the modifications needed, and the commanding officer approves or denies it. These waivers are also documented on NAVMC 11830 and last only as long as the medical officer deems necessary; there is no fixed duration.⁵

Tattoos

Placement rules loosened substantially in 2022. Sleeve tattoos on the arms and legs are now authorized. Prohibited zones are the head, neck, face (including in and around the mouth), hands, fingers, and within two inches of the wrist bone. The one exception in that zone is a single band tattoo on one finger, no wider than three-eighths of an inch.⁶

Content scrutiny tightened at the same time. Tattoos that are extremist, racist, sexist, or indecent violate the policy, and those violations are punitive: they can be prosecuted under Article 92 of the UCMJ as a failure to obey an order or regulation.⁷ Commanders determine additional administrative or disciplinary action, up to and including administrative separation.

Every tattoo is subject to command review. A tattoo that was fine under an older policy but runs afoul of updated content standards gets documented in the Official Military Personnel File. The Marine Corps does not pay for or provide tattoo removal; Marines who choose to remove non-compliant tattoos do so at their own expense, though removal may open doors to special duty assignments or officer programs that were previously closed.⁸

Cosmetics and Nails

Cosmetics are authorized for female Marines but must be applied conservatively and complement the natural complexion. Exaggerated or trendy styles are not allowed in uniform. The color rules are narrower than most Marines expect:¹

Lipstick, gloss, and balm must be in the red spectrum (including pinks and burgundies) or clear, and lip liner must match.
Mascara is limited to black or brown tones. Sparkle or glitter finishes are not authorized anywhere, including in the hair.
False eyelashes are authorized only if they look natural.
Nail polish in service and dress uniforms must be a red shade (pinks and burgundies included) that complements the skin tone. Multiple colors and decorative ornamentation are prohibited.
Colored nail polish is not authorized in utilities. French manicures with a natural-nail appearance are the one exception and are allowed with all uniforms, including utilities.
Nails cannot extend more than one-quarter inch from the fingertip. Press-on and acrylic nails are allowed if they meet the length and style rules.

Male Marines are not authorized to wear nail polish.

Jewelry and Eyewear

Only one ring per hand is authorized, with a wedding ring and engagement ring on the same finger counting as one. Rings go at the base of the finger near the palm, and thumb rings are not allowed. One inconspicuous watch is authorized.¹

Female Marines may wear small polished gold-colored stud earrings not exceeding six millimeters with service and dress uniforms. Small white pearl or pearl-like earrings of the same size are authorized with evening dress and at social events in blue dress “A” uniforms. Male Marines cannot wear earrings at any time, including in civilian clothes.¹

Eyeglasses must be conservative. Flashy frames, chains, bands, or ribbons attached to glasses are prohibited. Restraint straps are authorized for safety but must also be conservative. Sunglasses may be worn on leave, liberty, and in garrison, but not in formation unless a commander or medical authority prescribes them. When authorized for formations, lenses must be green, black, brown, or photosensitive; manufacturer logos must be small and inconspicuous; and non-photosensitive sunglasses cannot be worn indoors.¹

Religious Accommodations

Marines whose religious practices conflict with grooming standards, whether that means wearing a beard, a hijab, a turban, or another article of faith, can request an exception through the chain of command. The request goes to the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs via the first General Court-Martial Convening Authority, using the NAVMC 10274 Administrative Action form. The Deputy Commandant makes the final call on grooming and religious apparel waivers.⁹

Religious items that aren’t visible under the uniform need no special approval. Visible religious items worn to religious services or in a chapel are also fine. Wearing visible religious items with the uniform outside those contexts requires approval from the Commandant or a designee. Approved accommodations can be temporarily revoked when mission requirements demand it.¹

Off-Duty and Civilian Clothes

Hair and facial hair rules apply at all times. The regulation explicitly prohibits eccentric wearing of head, facial, or body hair, in uniform or out.¹

Civilian clothing itself must be conservative and reflect the standards associated with the Marine Corps. Revealing clothing, visible undergarments, ripped or torn clothing, items with obscene or suggestive designs, and bandannas worn as headgear are all prohibited. Trousers must be worn at the waist with a belt if the trousers have loops. Male Marines cannot wear earrings even in civilian attire; female Marines are limited to one earring per ear consistent with the uniform earring policy.¹⁰

What Happens If You Violate the Standards

First-time issues are usually handled with verbal or written counseling from a squad leader or platoon sergeant. Repeated failures or refusal to comply often lead to a negative page 11 entry in the service record book, which can affect promotion eligibility and reenlistment.

For persistent or willful violations, commanders can impose non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the UCMJ, which can include forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank, restriction, and extra duties.¹¹ Tattoo content violations carry the steepest consequences because they are punitive under the regulation and can be charged under Article 92 as a failure to obey a lawful order, opening the door to both NJP and court-martial depending on severity.⁷

1
United States Marine Corps. MCO 1020.34H – Marine Corps Uniform Regulations
2
United States Marine Corps. Marine Corps Updates Approved Female Hair Styles
3
United States Marine Corps. Uniform Board Decision Updates Hair Regulations
4
United States Marine Corps. MCO 6310.1C – Pseudofolliculitis Barbae
5
United States Marine Corps. Uniform and Grooming Standards for Medical Conditions
6
United States Marine Corps. Marine Corps Tattoo Policy – MCBul 1020
7
United States Marine Corps. MCBul 1020 Admin Change 1
8
United States Marine Corps. Marine Corps Tattoo Policy – MCBul 1020
9
United States Marine Corps. MCO 1730.9 – Accommodation of Religious Practices in the Marine Corps
10
United States Marine Corps. MCO 1020.34H – Marine Corps Uniform Regulations
11
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 10 USC 815 – Art. 15 Commanding Officers Non-Judicial Punishment