Women will be permitted to to wear fake tan and nail polish, while men can march while unshaven as new regulations on appearance and grooming within the defence forces comes into force on Thursday.
It’s seen as a clear pathway to assist in improving recruitment within the ranks while maintaining strict regulations on personal appearance.
Two years ago a report recommended “outdated” bans on facial hair be abolished as the Defence Forces are set to follow in the footsteps of other western militaries.
While male personnel may be allowed to grow beards, permission must be sought from a commanding officer, or a medical officer in the case of a skin condition, to wear face hair however personnel still in training must remain clean shaven.
The hair can be no more than 13mm in length and start an inch about the adam’s apple and form a straight line below the cheekbone.
Under the new regulations, women will be permitted to wear their hair in one of six hairstyles, ranging from a bob to a double-plaited ponytail.
Female personnel may wear cosmetics which are applied “conservatively” and compatible with the uniform. Fake tan is allowed “in moderation”.
Female members can wear one of five shades of nail polish but only if they do not feature any designs and only if the member is not on ceremonial duty.
Men wishing to wear coloured nail polish must do without while in uniform. Men are also not allowed wear earrings on duty but women may wear up to three earrings in each ear, subject to health and safety rules.
The new guidelines contained extensive instructions on tattoos and jewellery. These are permitted, as long as they do not promote extremism, drug use, sexism or racism.
