The Pentagon announced Monday that service members requiring facial hair waivers for more than one year will face separation from the military.
The new policy follows a rapid force-wide review of grooming standards. The stricter enforcement signals a hardline approach to military appearance standards under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. It could impact thousands of troops who currently maintain shaving waivers for medical or religious reasons.
“The grooming standard set by the U.S. military is to be clean shaven and neat in presentation for a proper military appearance,” Hegseth said in a Department of War news release. The secretary emphasized that commanders must consider safety and uniformity when approving exceptions.
Under the new guidelines, military medical officers will provide written recommendations for shaving waivers. Unit commanders retain final approval authority for all waiver requests.
Service members with approved waivers must participate in medical treatment plans. Those requiring waivers beyond twelve months will face mandatory separation proceedings initiated by their commanders.
The policy requires commanders to apply consistent criteria across all branches. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell released the statement on September 15, 2025.
The directive represents a significant shift from previous accommodations for medical conditions like pseudofolliculitis barbae, a chronic inflammatory skin disorder caused by ingrown hairs after shaving. This condition disproportionately affects black service members who experience severe skin irritation from shaving.
Religious exemptions, particularly for Sikh and Muslim service members, may also face new scrutiny. The policy makes no distinction between medical and religious waiver requests.