Ask a MIDN

@justdoit19 I am very disappointed. I consider it a rite of passage, and I will cut mine anyway. I heard USNA decided to stop because the other services have, and because they do not want less females to apply to USNA because of the haircut (which is ridiculous because you shouldn’t be going to a place like USNA if you are mad about a haircut!)
 
@justdoit19 I am very disappointed. I consider it a rite of passage, and I will cut mine anyway.

Perhaps it will be one of those ‘unspoken’ rules, that they still do, and many will. There is a culture to consider. Will those that don’t be singled out, either consciously or unconsciously? It will be interesting to see how this plays out this summer!

Congrats to you for your appointment!! Very exciting year ahead of you! My own has only a few more weeks left of plebe year...blows my mind how FAST [emoji100] that went!!
 
I know this has been under a lot of discussion over the last several years. It’s always interesting to watch shifts in tradition and policy, and apparently this is the year to test this one.

A few years ago the decision was made to not put lard on the Herndon monument. Of course, the ceremony was over in comparative minutes. Next year, the lard was back, and everyone happily settled back into watching the usual series of unsuccessful tries.

This will rack up as one of those milestones like when Bancroft finally got AC for mids’ rooms and other cataclysmic (in the setting of the Yard) shifts.
 
@justdoit19 I heard USNA decided to stop because the other services have, and because they do not want less females to apply to USNA because of the haircut (which is ridiculous because you shouldn’t be going to a place like USNA if you are mad about a haircut!)

I cannot imagine that getting one's hair cut (male or female) would play into such a monumental life decision. On the other hand, as long as it doesn't interfere and is respectful (and clean), it shouldn't matter that much. My son used to have really long hair - he liked to have it fall in front of his face when he played guitar on stage. Then, when he started to excel in high school sports he cut it short and never looked back. He said he liked the fact that all he had to d0 was comb it with a towel and didn't have to worry about it getting greasy and dirty. I told him to look at the top of my shiny head and see your future.
 
Is a chin length hair cut still required for women when entering the naval academy?

When I see online photos of women in the usna, they have longer hair. My daughter would freak if she had to get her hair cut.

At this time, incoming plebes at USNA can expect hair cuts. Men get pretty much shaved with the clippers and women get the “plebe chop” as the equivalent, if their hair isn’t short enough. As soon as PS ends, all can start re-growing to meet regular grooming standards. Hair grows fast at that age, and those inches come back quickly. It’s part of the shared misery that marks an abrupt and clear change in their lifestyles going forward. Many incoming women get their hair cut in advance and donate to Locks of Love. There are many things that may seem important now that go right out the window after those big doors at Bancroft bang shut on Induction Day.
@Capt MJ Womens haircut has been changed to a no. However I would highly suggest that any incoming plebe woman cut their hair. Your time during plebe summer to get ready will be short! Your hair will be a mess almost all the time. DD had hers cut to chin length, she cried and hated it. But it was the best move for plebe summer. It grows back.
 
When I see online photos of women in the usna, they have longer hair. My daughter would freak if she had to get her hair cut.
> I can assure you, she will have a lot bigger issues to worry about than hair if she is admitted.

There are many things that may seem important now that go right out the window after those big doors at Bancroft bang shut on Induction Day.
+1 - Truer words never spoken !

Perhaps it will be one of those ‘unspoken’ rules, that they still do, and many will

Plebe summer is not a beauty contest. Times have changed (and there is AC in Bancroft Hall now), but the summer in Annapolis doesn't. Plebes will be hot and sweaty all the time, and time is of the essence. Those precious moments spent fixing hair can be used doing something more productive. In addition, longer hair out of place is just another thing to get gigged for during inspections. There is a reason for the short haircuts, and those that don't arrive with their hair short will quickly recognize it and adjust.
 
No hair cuts will just mean more time in the morning spent doing the gel/bun routine.
 
last summer at BGO training, there was a briefing by a Diversity Officer, and a lot of discussion about pending changes to the female hair policy. It wasn't just length that was at issue, it was all the other hairstyles (braids, cornrows, etc) and how to regulate it (some said it wasn't fair for those with straight hair to have to cut it, but those with tight braids didn't need to cut it etc. other said it was insensitive to force people to cut hair due to cultural issues...).
there was a passionate debate about it on the parents Facebook page (one more reason to refrain from posting).
in the end, it looks like they just gave up trying to define all the possible permutations, and just said "ok, whatever"
 
There is something to be said about the direct approach, as in “These are the grooming regs. Abide by them.” If that means you have to get up earlier for more prep, you do. If that means, you get yelled at more because you haven’t yet figured out your pro techniques to keep your hair in reg, you will learn fast. If you are hotter and your scalp is itchier because of the dried sweat and more hair volume, and no time to wash it and get it completely dry, you put up with it.

In view of the policy shift, and well in advance of the Annual Hair Thread, my usual recommendation:
Capezio Bunhead Hair Pins, the long ones, available on Amazon and dance supply stores.
 
Not sure if this has already been asked. I took all dual enrollment classes this year (AP wasn’t very strong where I’m from). During the validation periods of plebe summer, will I be able to test out of English and government? I have an AP Lang credit (4) but I was told I needed a 5. Thanks for your help!
 
When I see online photos of women in the usna, they have longer hair. My daughter would freak if she had to get her hair cut.
> I can assure you, she will have a lot bigger issues to worry about than hair if she is admitted.

There are many things that may seem important now that go right out the window after those big doors at Bancroft bang shut on Induction Day.
+1 - Truer words never spoken !

Perhaps it will be one of those ‘unspoken’ rules, that they still do, and many will

Plebe summer is not a beauty contest. Times have changed (and there is AC in Bancroft Hall now), but the summer in Annapolis doesn't. Plebes will be hot and sweaty all the time, and time is of the essence. Those precious moments spent fixing hair can be used doing something more productive. In addition, longer hair out of place is just another thing to get gigged for during inspections. There is a reason for the short haircuts, and those that don't arrive with their hair short will quickly recognize it and adjust.


I understand all of that - and she's ready for the extreme challenges (physically and mentally). My daughter is insecure about herself and her hair is the one and only thing she loves about herself. She's 16...it's not uncommon for a girl to feel that way. It'll be like they are chopping away her dignity....at least that's how she'll feel.

Not only would the haircut damage her emotionally, but her hair is extremely curly and turns into a huge frizzy mess when left unattended. It would be much quicker for her to throw it in a bun then to straighten it and put product in to prevent it from constantly getting in her face during workouts. I just can't imagine her doing push-ups and sit-ups and drills and while constantly pushing her hair away from her face. Seems like more of a distraction if it's not tidy and kept in the back.

Didn't mean to start a war...just read of a policy change and didn't know if it affected newcomers.
 
Not a war! Hair is important to many people’s identity.

Fact is: plebes have no dignity. That’s what Plebe summer is all about. According to DS, they are “lower than dirt”. Something to think about before joining. And there will be no time for taming frizzies. At all. The good news? Is everyone is in the same boat. But it IS something to think about.
 
Not sure if this has already been asked. I took all dual enrollment classes this year (AP wasn’t very strong where I’m from). During the validation periods of plebe summer, will I be able to test out of English and government? I have an AP Lang credit (4) but I was told I needed a 5. Thanks for your help!

Have you looked at the validation page on the admissions site? I just looked and I believe your answers are right there.
 
As a former female plebe the hair cut was sort of a right of passage. It would of been easier to have long hair simply for the item mentioned... constantly down and up and it in your face. The problem is, new female Plebes don’t know yet how to do a 10 second bun that won’t move. Honestly it’s an art form. When our hair grew out the upperclass females gave us some tips to help out and then we could do it in our sleep. Yeah, we all looked ridiculous and smelled horribly... I mean have you seen a Plebe? The one thing Plebe Summer with a bun, you shower 2-3 times a day plus sweating, hair will never dry out. It will be damaged and nasty by the end of the summer. But it will repair itself.
 
The change was not about fewer females applying as a general matter. More women than ever are applying. USNA was apparently the last place that required women entering the military to cut their hair (as compared to boot camps, other SAs, etc) and it was decided to bring USNA in line with the others. You may recall that USNA was the FIRST place where women wore men’s combo covers and then it was rolled out fleet wide. So it works both ways.

Also, apparently women in certain ethnic groups may take forever to grow out their hair if cut and it may never quite come back right. Those women may have been dissuaded from applying for that reason.
 
Also, apparently women in certain ethnic groups may take forever to grow out their hair if cut and it may never quite come back right.
Of course men's hair will always come back just as it was before. . .
Its curious that there is such a dichotomy between men's hair and women's hair ;)
 
I suspect it has to do with length. I’d have no objection if they stopped requiring men to shave their heads. But it’s not our call.
 
Of course men's hair will always come back just as it was before. . .

I wonder if its too late to file a claim that my ever increasing bald spot is the result of Tracy's zealous I-Day barbering ?
(Kinda inside joke, Tracy was a long time USNA barber who was well known (infamous) for his hair styling ... you had one choice, high and tight !
 
Back
Top