Female Hair Regulations

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reagan9

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This is kind of silly question, but for any current/former female midshipmen out there, any advice for doing hair, especially during Plebe Summer? I can't imagine we will have much time during the morning, right? I have long hair and am not planning on cutting it short, as it will just go crazy and get super frizzy haha, so I know I'll have to do a bun each day. Any tips or tricks?
 
@reagan9 - ah, the annual spring hair thread!, a little early, but here goes.

Hair tip 1. Capezio Bunhead hair pins, the largest size, available at Capezio website, Amazon, dancewear supply stores and websites. Comes in 3 tones to match hair. I had long hair my entire Navy career, and the bunheads are the go-to for a secure bun. There is a bit of a technique which you may already know - form your bun and hold against head, insert pin into bun edge at right angles to your scalp, then push down until it meets scalp (no need to dig in), and quickly move pin slightly back and away from bun while still in scalp contact while pushing slightly up and sliding it into bun. That locks it into place for a good hold. Ballerinas and military women need buns that can go the distance and look squared away. See screenshot below.

Hair Tip 2. The Regs.
Hair and grooming regs, always part of uniform regs. Part of military life. USNA has its own. There have been big changes in the last 10-15 years to better accommodate different hair textures and doing away with some dated stuff.

Current regs:


Hair Tip 3.. Visuals and Other Gouge (info, Intel, Navy slang). There are YouTube videos aplenty. Google “military women’s buns.” You will also see the “sock bun.” Keep in mind different services have different hair regs.

Some other refs, provided for general info but may not be the latest.

Not sure of date on this.

This video was made right after huge changes Navy-wide. Some good visuals. But - dated 2019, so some updates have probably happened.


More:

Hair Tip 4. You and your hair will be frazzled and frizzled throughout the long, hot, humid PS. Your face will likely break out. You will look like hell and smell, just like 1000+ of your classmates. You won’t care. They won’t care. There is no time to care. You will be sharing 1 sink and 1 shower with roommates and 15 minutes to shower and change. For all of you. You will wonder how the detailers manage to look squared away and well-groomed. Millions of people have come into the military, thousands have come to USNA PS and you too will learn all the techniques and tips to having a pristine uniform and well-groomed hair. Upperclass will guide you. You will help each other. It will be painful at first, but you will master it. Your parents will be shocked when you roll out in your summer whites all gleaming and polished at Plebe Parents Weekend.

Hair Tip 5. Practical thoughts. Consider trimming your hair, if it is very long, back to shoulder or just below shoulder length, enough to easily, quickly and tidily gather into a bun when needed, but without the weight during the heat of PS. It will grow back. It’s hair. Pitch vanity right out the window. You will also likely be putting up or braiding your hair wet at times, which can be heavy and - ugh - generate a moldy smell if left too long because you are too tired to deal with it. Hair product. You’ll be issued a pile of stuff, but it’s only basic hair stuff. You won’t be bringing a lot in. After PS, you have more time and space to deal with preferred products. My go-to was a tube of defrizzer/detangler that could be used ion wet or dry hair, just a bit in the palms and worked though hair quickly.

Finally, PS is not like plebe year. Plebe year is not like the other 3 years. You will have more time to invest in personal appearance. Go with the flow during PS where you prioritize what you as a plebe need to do to ensure your group is meeting whatever the current task is over any thought of how you look, as long as you meet standards. It gets way better.










IMG_6514.jpeg
 
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reagan9 said:
This is kind of silly question, but for any current/former female midshipmen out there, any advice for doing hair, especially during Plebe Summer? I can't imagine we will have much time during the morning, right? I have long hair and am not planning on cutting it short, as it will just go crazy and get super frizzy haha, so I know I'll have to do a bun each day. Any tips or tricks?
Click to expand...
Sometimes long hair is easier to put in a good bun then short (layers+hairs sticking out) For plebe summer I would say a ponytail braid wrapped into a bun was solid. It keeps all hairs in and looks good. I had enough time to do hair and make sure it followed regs during plebe summer.

Obviously there are both sides to the extreme but girls with shorter hair or layers often had to use a lot of clips and Bobby pins to keep it all in. (Texture also comes into play here) just speaking generally.

It’s also plebe summer and you are going to be sweaty and gross so your bun isn’t going to be picture perfect, but it is our job to make sure it looks best.
 
Are there any recommendations for good hair ties that are strong and don’t slip off but also stretchy and soft so that it is not ripping out hair?
 
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Bonus content, one of the better military women sock bun tutorials. I like her tip about covering a purchased sock bun form with a sock to eliminate brush or comb accidentally going into it and pulling out hair.

Pro tip: If you have thinner hair, use less sock. Adjust sock weight, thickness or layers to your hair bulk needs.





And, in case you are looking around for hair products to try, I have used this product in various forms over the years, and always come back to it, even if I have wandered away to more expensive, luxury brand products. Works great on damp or dry hair. You don’t need a lot. This is the current version. Pump bottle. And - approved by current and past USNA mid sponsor family members.

Pantene Pro-V Hydrating Anti Frizz Serum​

 
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breakingbad1234 said:
Sometimes long hair is easier to put in a good bun then short (layers+hairs sticking out) For plebe summer I would say a ponytail braid wrapped into a bun was solid. It keeps all hairs in and looks good. I had enough time to do hair and make sure it followed regs during plebe summer.

Obviously there are both sides to the extreme but girls with shorter hair or layers often had to use a lot of clips and Bobby pins to keep it all in. (Texture also comes into play here) just speaking generally.

It’s also plebe summer and you are going to be sweaty and gross so your bun isn’t going to be picture perfect, but it is our job to make sure it looks best.
Click to expand...
Excellent comment on layers.

I still have long hair and still don’t get layers cut in, because when I go off in full corporate business rig to an event or meeting, my hair is up, and I don’t want to have to chase down shorter pieces for a smooth, tailored look.
 
Navyaddict said:
Are there any recommendations for good hair ties that are strong and don’t slip off but also stretchy and soft so that it is not ripping out hair?
Click to expand...
Drugstore pick - Scunci No Damage Ponytailers


Amazon - put “Anti-Breakage Hair Ties” in search bar and have fun.

Be sure to review colors and types that are allowed in previous posts.
 
USNAhopeful2025 said:
all of the above is fantastic advice and recommendations - especially the videos Capt MJ posted. My best advice that my firstie did is she practiced putting the bun in for about a month before plebe summer - just get used to putting a bun in fast!
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Deckplate gouge right there. I meant to add that in: speed showering (take toothbrush in with you), speed bun, putting up bun without a mirror…
 
Capt MJ said:
Bonus content, one of the better military women sock bun tutorials. I like her tip about covering a purchased sock bun form with a sock to eliminate brush or comb accidentally going into it and pulling out hair.

Pro tip: If you have thinner hair, use less sock. Adjust sock weight, thickness or layers to your hair bulk needs.





And, in case you are looking around for hair products to try, I have used this product in various forms over the years, and always come back to it, even if I have wandered away to more expensive, luxury brand products. Works great on damp or dry hair. You don’t need a lot. This is the current version. Pump bottle. And - approved by current and past USNA mid sponsor family members.

Pantene Pro-V Hydrating Anti Frizz Serum​

Click to expand...
Be sure to observe female detailers’ hair to figure out what might be the local/Navy practice.
 
Thank you all so much for the responses! This is super helpful and I will definitely be buying some of those pins that Capt MJ recommended. I feel confident about being able to put my hair in a bun that meets regulations, as I usually wear my hair that way for sports, mostly I'm just concerned about being able to do it fast enough and not get called out by the detailers. I will definitely practice for a few months and hopefully I'll be good to go for I-Day!
 
I love it when a plan comes together (dating myself with original A Team sitcom line).
Thanks to the trusty contributors I tagged. Always reliable and legit info.
 
reagan9 said:
Thank you all so much for the responses! This is super helpful and I will definitely be buying some of those pins that Capt MJ recommended. I feel confident about being able to put my hair in a bun that meets regulations, as I usually wear my hair that way for sports, mostly I'm just concerned about being able to do it fast enough and not get called out by the detailers. I will definitely practice for a few months and hopefully I'll be good to go for I-Day!
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Some detailers will call you out if they notice you haven’t been taking your hair down to shower and wash your hair. Make sure you practice quick showers and getting your hair up into your bun right out of the shower. My daughter had a roommate this happened to during PS 2022. The whole company got dropped for it. She learned real quick. 😉

My daughter was grateful for long hair so it was out of her face! You’ve got this!
 
"Channeling DD: Unless you shave your head, (not a good move), take some dry shampoo with you for PS. “There will be times when you want to/ need to clean your hair up and there won’t be time for a shower or immediate access to one. If your hair is at all long, you want to avoid wet hair as much as possible ….it gets nasty."

Also, channeling DD and DW this time: If you wear eyeliner, consider having an eye liner tattoo done (about $400). It was a nice thing for DD during Plebe Summer, and it was a good time saver for her during the academic year..(one less thing to do in the AM before class). Nothing that will draw attention…. no Amy Winehouse stuff, (boy, i miss her voice), Just basic conservative eyeliner. DW got hers done 35years ago on advice from a female MD in her practice group . She’s had it re-done about every 5 yeas since. She just hates hassling with eye-liner. About 10 years ago she started having her eyebrows done too she says eyebrow tats last about 3-4 years.

I don’t wear eyeliner myself …… Id be waaay too pretty. I’m just passing on a tip both DD and DW have found helpful in their respective active professional lives,……...which include eyeliner

I have made this suggestion before on this board. Standing by for the "rough enough-tuff enough” flack 😬:rolleyes:😂.
 
Thank you everyone! I took notes of all the great advice & videos, will hopefully 🤞 🤞 have a Plebe to share them with by June!

@Just Dad - I'm going to suggest to my DD she get a tattoo over dinner tomorrow, and see how many family members drop their forks 🤣, it's not my usual SAF information share 😂.
 
Just Dad said:
"Channeling DD: Unless you shave your head, (not a good move), take some dry shampoo with you for PS. “There will be times when you want to/ need to clean your hair up and there won’t be time for a shower or immediate access to one. If your hair is at all long, you want to avoid wet hair as much as possible ….it gets nasty."

Also, channeling DD and DW this time: If you wear eyeliner, consider having an eye liner tattoo done (about $400). It was a nice thing for DD during Plebe Summer, and it was a good time saver for her during the academic year..(one less thing to do in the AM before class). Nothing that will draw attention…. no Amy Winehouse stuff, (boy, i miss her voice), Just basic conservative eyeliner. DW got hers done 35years ago on advice from a female MD in her practice group . She’s had it re-done about every 5 yeas since. She just hates hassling with eye-liner. About 10 years ago she started having her eyebrows done too she says eyebrow tats last about 3-4 years.

I don’t wear eyeliner myself …… Id be waaay too pretty. I’m just passing on a tip both DD and DW have found helpful in their respective active professional lives,……...which include eyeliner

I have made this suggestion before on this board. Standing by for the "rough enough-tuff enough” flack 😬:rolleyes:😂.
Click to expand...
As always, there is a reg for everything. See link.

I’m thinking bold blue and gold alternating mini checks with a cat’s eye curl extending to the outer corners won’t fly…but then again, I have never used eyeliner, teens to present. I always thought I would look like Johnny Depp(ette) in most of his movies, Dior Savage ads or everyday life. I can see why some would like to have it in a permanent format if they were accustomed to using it.

Official guidance - reasonably recent.

 
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This might not help, but for NSI(basically PS for NROTC), I cut my hair within regs (can't touch the collar of the uniform), and then gelled it, and put bobby pins in, which really helped with the short amount of time given to hygeine
 
Just Dad said:
"Channeling DD: Unless you shave your head, (not a good move), take some dry shampoo with you for PS. “There will be times when you want to/ need to clean your hair up and there won’t be time for a shower or immediate access to one. If your hair is at all long, you want to avoid wet hair as much as possible ….it gets nasty."

Also, channeling DD and DW this time: If you wear eyeliner, consider having an eye liner tattoo done (about $400). It was a nice thing for DD during Plebe Summer, and it was a good time saver for her during the academic year..(one less thing to do in the AM before class). Nothing that will draw attention…. no Amy Winehouse stuff, (boy, i miss her voice), Just basic conservative eyeliner. DW got hers done 35years ago on advice from a female MD in her practice group . She’s had it re-done about every 5 yeas since. She just hates hassling with eye-liner. About 10 years ago she started having her eyebrows done too she says eyebrow tats last about 3-4 years.

I don’t wear eyeliner myself …… Id be waaay too pretty. I’m just passing on a tip both DD and DW have found helpful in their respective active professional lives,……...which include eyeliner

I have made this suggestion before on this board. Standing by for the "rough enough-tuff enough” flack 😬:rolleyes:😂.
Click to expand...

Thats actually an amazing tip! I would’ve never thought of that. Thank you! Talking to my mom about it right now and asking to get it done :)
 
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