PS Hair Cut

USNAredrock

Class of 2021
Joined
Mar 15, 2017
Messages
49
Hi guys, so it's getting close to the time where all of us females need to chop our hair off for PS. I was wondering if any experienced females out there could share what type if cut works best, which aren't as good, or other general advice to keep in mind as I cut my hair shorter than I ever have. Thanks!
 
A relative who had REALLY long hair did a blunt cut -- and donated her hair to Locks of Love. She went to a stylist who understood the USNA requirements. She made sure it was plenty short (in a good way) but it looked really great -- a style someone would go with who just wanted short hair. Because it was plenty short, when the plebe women had to go back to the barber mid-summer for trims, she was able to get a soothing wash and maybe hot oil or something similar b/c her hair didn't need trimming.

Bottom line: Go to a professional stylist and make sure the cut is on the short side, without being weird. That way, there will be no issue on I-Day and probably not during the summer either. The upper class women can help you get through that terrible period b/t short and long -- that will happen during the Ac Yr.
 
Honestly there aren't too many options. Most go with the tradional bob look as that keeps it's the longest. It is probably sort of the biggest pain length wise as there isn't much you can do to it. Easiest way is to pull the sides up with a clip that matches your hair color and is essentially inconspicuous to keep out of your face. If you go shorter it will actually make Plebe Summer from a hair aspect easier but obviously takes longer to grow out. I cut mine about a week before Plebe Summer. I hated that part. It eventually grew up. The grow out phase is hard to meet uniform regs but the upper class females will help you out with the tips and tricks.
 
Daughter had very long hair and did "Locks of Love" before report date . Mother told Stylist what she needed and she did a great job. Don't rely upon your USNA barber. Now has long hair again and the hair under the cover works well.
 
Thanks for all the help! Also, I'm going to be on vacation going into I-day and will be heading straight to Annapolis afterwards. I'm planning on cutting it before I leave on vacation, but that is still two weeks out from I-day. Is there any place in Annapolis that I could get it trimmed again a day or two before reporting?
 
Thanks for all the help! Also, I'm going to be on vacation going into I-day and will be heading straight to Annapolis afterwards. I'm planning on cutting it before I leave on vacation, but that is still two weeks out from I-day. Is there any place in Annapolis that I could get it trimmed again a day or two before reporting?

Normal salons, chains such as Hair Cuttery, Super Cuts, Fantastic Sam's. Plenty of choices.
 
You can angle it forward if you do a bob...and those longer bits can be pulled back with a barrette...then you are set to grow it out as soon as you can.
I worked gender-related hair standards in my last job and as the only service that requires young women to cut their hair, I think the Navy misses out on the opportunity to train female sailors and officers in how to present a professional appearance with long hair. A comparison of the hair standard pictures from the Marine Corps versus the Navy make a clear demonstration of this statement.
I know that Great Lakes was going to run a Long Hair at Entry Level Training test...but any results have yet to translate into policy.
 
Can't speak for boot camp, but USNA is a 4-yr training process that does train female mids re handling long hair. It just happens during Ac Yr vs. during PS. During Ac Yr you have a lot (well, some :)) more time to get long hair looking good. PS is chaotic and taking time to pin up your hair is one more thing to do.

Also, guys get their heads shaved. That's obviously not viable for women for many reasons but having women make a temporary concession of short hair doesn't seem to me to be too much to ask.
 
My DS has opted to take in the whole experience with all the Plebes and just have it cut on IDay. No fashion points once you are there.
 
For males it is an easy choice. For Female not so easy. Now Daughter USMC has long hair which complies. SIL still has his high and tight. They learn.
 
Does anyone have experience with curly hair? I have really curly hair that I usually keep straight and plan to continue to during the ac year, but during PS I'm afraid it's going to become a frizzy mess with the humidity and the lack of time to properly style it
 
@dashg16 I have suuuuuper curly//thick hair also and am getting it relaxed before I leave. I've done it before and it just makes things so much easier.
 
You won't have time to do anything beyond run a brush through it. It's not a fashion statement. And yes with humidity, it's gonna be on it's program. Not a curly haired person, so straightening might be a good option. Just practice pulling up to get sides out of face and get fast at it.
 
@dashg16 I have suuuuuper curly//thick hair also and am getting it relaxed before I leave. I've done it before and it just makes things so much easier.
Thanks, I have definitely relaxed my hair before, but I just recently grew it out because it really damaged my hair. I guess I'll just have to grow it out again. It shouldn't be too hard since my hair will be much shorter so there won't be much to grow out!

You won't have time to do anything beyond run a brush through it. It's not a fashion statement. And yes with humidity, it's gonna be on it's program. Not a curly haired person, so straightening might be a good option. Just practice pulling up to get sides out of face and get fast at it.
I wasn't trying to be fashionable during PS, just from what I understand there are certain standards of neatness with uniform. Does this not apply during PS?
 
During PS, your hair is mostly wet. Wet from the shower (no time to blow dry), wet from the humidity, wet from the wet astroturf of PEP, wet from the sweat. Just a constant state of wetness. The one exception is Sunday morning when you have a little personal time, so if you elect to attend church, you can at least look presentable.

For most women, you run a brush or comb through your wet, short hair and it looks neat b/c it just lays there. If you have bangs, you throw in a clip, as noted above. If you have hair that for whatever reason doesn't lay flat when it's wet, then you may need to take additional measures to keep it neat and you probably already know what those are.
 
So true on the wet part. For the most part with a cover on and the sweat, it's sort of just getting it good enough. Yes a presentable appearance is required in uniform. PS everyone sort of look in a constant state of miserable. With super curly hair might want to head to salon parents weekend for some styling and clean up for the grow out phase. One of my close friends at USNA has super curly hair... I asked for her advice for you for PS. Her response was... 'I will pray for her!' Sorry to pass that along, but I couldn't stop laughing.
 
I am still laughing about "the wet." So enjoyed Hoops and 1985's comments.

To get a grip on the frizzies around the face, when you have have a second, those styling products ("dime size drop in the palm") that work in wet, damp or dry hair are handy. A bit of moisture in the air always sent the shorter hair around my face and back of neck into curl riots. Still does. Just plan to not have time for the basics, and embrace the ugly. It can be freeing in its own way, because no one will look their best.

Stand by for face breakouts too...for extra fun.

Once the ac year starts, there is plenty of help from upper class women., and probably from female detailers as well. They have been there.

There are dozens of YouTube videos and Pinterest pics for when your hair is longer, for the famous sock bun and other styles for military women in uniform. Easily searched.

Edit: And my personal bun control weapon, for when your hair is grown out, Capezio Bunhead Bun Pins, the long ones. Available on Amazon and in dance supply stores.
 
Then again they all clean up at Plebe Parents Weekend and seem to have all hair under control.
 
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