Female hair during SWAB or CGAS summer

Hoping2021

Banned
Joined
Mar 17, 2016
Messages
152
Question for females again. Not sure if this was addressed somewhere already, but if girls have bangs, can they keep them? Is it wiser to start growing it out now, or can they keep their bangs and just pin it up during summer? What about after summer? Can they have bangs after summer? My DD's bangs are currently way below eyebrows, right above the eyes, but she definitely doesn't want to cut it short above eyebrows for the boot camp. Currently debating whether to give it another trim or it's time to give up bangs and start growing.

Besides the bangs issue, DD is not very skilled with doing hair, and she has so much hair, thick and wavy. Any suggestions to minimize the time and fuss? Cut it short or keep the length?
 
Question for females again. Not sure if this was addressed somewhere already, but if girls have bangs, can they keep them? Is it wiser to start growing it out now, or can they keep their bangs and just pin it up during summer? What about after summer? Can they have bangs after summer? My DD's bangs are currently way below eyebrows, right above the eyes, but she definitely doesn't want to cut it short above eyebrows for the boot camp. Currently debating whether to give it another trim or it's time to give up bangs and start growing.

Besides the bangs issue, DD is not very skilled with doing hair, and she has so much hair, thick and wavy. Any suggestions to minimize the time and fuss? Cut it short or keep the length?

One query I can help with - go to YouTube, search for the many videos on "military women hairstyles buns," "military female sock bun," "military women braid twist styles."

My experience is with the Navy, but the Services all have grooming regulations. Google "USCG Academy uniform and grooming regulations." Navy bangs aren't supposed to be seen below the front brim if wearing service dress cover (as I recall), but I don't know what USCG requires. USN and USCG are often similar on these policies.

Fellow female swabs will help. Upperclass women will be good examples.

My final tip: Bunhead Bun Pins by Capezio, available in dance supply stores and online.

Edit:
Here you go:
http://www.uscga.edu/download/admissions/CadetHandbook.pdf

This was for last year's swab class, but would expect hair regs are the same.
 
The CGAS FB page has a ton of pictures from Paul Duddy and parents...All the way from the 1st day to entering their schools. It looks like most did not have bangs.
 
One query I can help with - go to YouTube, search for the many videos on "military women hairstyles buns," "military female sock bun," "military women braid twist styles."



My final tip: Bunhead Bun Pins by Capezio, available in dance supply stores and online.

Took the Captain's advise & sent these to DD who now swears by them; get the medium & large sizes, (available on Amazon.)
 
The CGAS FB page has a ton of pictures from Paul Duddy and parents...All the way from the 1st day to entering their schools. It looks like most did not have bangs.

I had a feeling that was the case. My DD never had bangs for years and just a month ago decided to get them against my advice because of a huge trend right now. Perhaps it's time to start growing it out and prepare for the military life.

Is it usually easier to keep the length to put up in a bun? is cutting hair short (not pixie short but normal short, like a bob) not recommended? I've heard pros and cons.
 
My DD suggests keeping hair long and growing out the bangs. Practice putting hair up in a bun as quickly as possible. Bobby pins and lots of hair gel will help keep it tamed. Once the demands of swab summer are over, she can make the choice of whether to cut it or not. I will say that the majority of females keep their hair long at CGA.
 
I can remember R-Day for class of 2018. There were a few Pixies and even a GI Jane.
 
I was pleasantly surprised by how long DD's hair length is & still she's able to get it up into a bun. After watching the videos with & a little practice, you may be as well. Also at some SA's, longer hair is sometimes viewed as an upperclassmen thing, so I hope other posters can advise. Don't want to give misinformed advise which might attract unwanted attention.
 
DD found having it long was better for her. After several years of pony tails sock buns she can usually cut off the damaged areas pretty easily and still maintain a good sock bun length.

^yes there are certain ways to have your hair and considered a privilege to be earned or strictly an upper class man privilege. They will find out when they get there
 
Last edited:
She can have bangs but if they do extend passed her eyebrows, she will need to pin them back. It's not an issue overall but something to mention is that there will be very few times over her first year where she will have the opportunity to wear civilian clothes or clothes that would allow her to have the bangs not pinned back. It might be best to just grow them out for ease sake and then cut them again her 3/c year where she will have the ability to have her hair down on the weekends.

In terms of long vs. short hair, if she's never had short hair, don't cut it. It can be difficult to manage if you've never had to do it. I kept my hair long throughout the academy and continue to do so in my AD career. The best way to get better at it is to practice. I never put my hair up much beyond a ponytail before I joined the Coast Guard so I understand where she's at but she should just get in the habit of practicing at least a couple of time a week in her room if it's a concern. For Swab Summer, she needs to be able to put her hair up quickly. You shower multiple times a day as a swab, including your hair, and the times given for those showers are maybe 3-8 minutes max and that includes undressing and changing into a new uniform. You don't want to be that guy that everyone is waiting for. I had a person in my swab summer company that we had to put her hair up for her every day, every time we changed. It was a hassle but you do what you can to help your shipmates out.
 
I had long hair throughout my Navy career, no bangs, occasional parts.

The muscle memory for buns, braids and twists becomes automatic with practice and becomes a matter of a minute or two, or less. Getting it cut to shoulder length but still bunnable reduces the weight and bulk of the bun. I often did a quick towel dry (those fast dry hair towels are great, when and if she can have them), worked in a dab of defrizzer/detangler that works on either dry or damp hair, ran a wide-toothed comb through, twisted into a bun (no elastic, would break the hair at same point if worn every day) and bunhead pinned it in place. When I had more time, I would do a French braid down the back and tuck the ends up and under, or add twists and a side part.

For swab summer, the key will be speed, tidiness and bun security. Practice, practice, practice. There simply will be no time for fussing, re-doing, long showers or other "beauty routines."

Hair does grow.

I share the thoughts on short hair. Those accustomed to short hair and getting it ready for the day have their own challenges. Navy friends of mine used to grow out short haircuts before deployment, as keeping short hair the right length in back and looking "right," was harder than keeping it a bunnable length. Easier to trim a few inches off length while on cruise than hoping the Navy barber could mimic your favorite precision short style cutter back in homeport.
 
Back
Top