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I have noticed even the brass sporting what appears to be fresh clean shaven heads, when I was in the Marines and The Navy we were under orders that forbade us to use a razor and shave the skin on our heads.
In fact when I was a Navy Corpsman I had some senior Navy men complain to my Chief at the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendelton CA wherein I was based about me shaving my head so and was ordered not to shave it with a razor blade.
I was disappointed because I feel more manly with it totally shaved and enjoy the discomfort I bear with it being clean and close shaved as well as the absolute hygenics of it being so balded. This would take form in my exercise discipline by motivating me just a little more then without it being so strictly shaved. I guess I will always favor the smooth over the hairy. I think it is because in my masculinity I percieve hair as a female trait, for comforting the creature against cold and hard, but as a man I like to meet the challenge of these.

2007-03-03 01:07:02 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government Military

answer/reply , to whom it concerns.
I suppose the Marines and Navy I was with did make the interpretaion to mean ONLY as you suggested. However, I did not argue the issue with my Chief at the time, I just obeyed his orders to stop razor shaving it at the time, later I was given my own department in a clinic and had no authorities to muster to therein, I stood duty at the main hospital and it was allowed for me to shave my head then with an electric razor which I often did.

2007-03-03 02:17:11 · update #1

7 answers

It's never been against regs to razor shave. Some commands have disallowed it, but that's been a base/command level order, not a regulation.


7. Grooming Regulations

a. No eccentricities in the manner of wearing head, facial, or body hair will be permitted. If applied, dyes, tints, bleaches and frostings, which result in natural colors, are authorized. The hair color must complement the person's complexion tone. Color changes that detract from a professional image are prohibited. Fingernails will be kept clean and neatly trimmed so as not to interfere with performance of duty, detract from military image or present a safety hazard. Nail polish for male Marines is not allowed. Nail polish as it applies to female Marines will fall under standards in subparagraph 1004.7.c(5).

b. Men will be well groomed at all times and will abide by the following:

(1) Hair will be neat and closely trimmed. The hair may be clipped at the edges of the side and back and will be evenly graduated from zero length at the hairline in the lower portion of the head to the upper portion of the head. Block-style trimming of hair on the back of the head is not authorized. Hair will not be over 3 inches in length fully extended on the upper portion of the head. The back and sides of the head below the hairline may be shaved to remove body hair. Sideburns will not extend below the top of the orifice of the ear, as indicated by the line A-A' in figures 1-1 and 1-2. Sideburns will not be styled to taper or flare. The length of an individual hair of the sideburn will not exceed 1/8 inch when fully extended.

(2) Head hair will be styled so as not to interfere with the proper wear of uniform headgear. Hair, which protrudes from beneath properly worn headgear in an unsightly manner, is considered excessive, regardless of length.

(3) No male Marine will be required to have his hair clipped to the scalp except while he is undergoing recruit training or when such action is prescribed by a medical officer. This does not prohibit a male Marine from having his hair clipped to the scalp if he so desires.

>Ch 5 (4) Members of the Selected Marine Corps Reserve will comply with these regulations, except that wigs are authorized for periods not in a drilling/active duty status. If worn, wigs will comply with the above grooming regulations.

(5) The face will be clean-shaven, except that a mustache may be worn. When worn, the mustache will be neatly trimmed and must be contained within the lines of B-B', C-C', D-D' and the margin area of the upper lip, as shown in figures 1-1 and 1-2. The individual length of a mustache hair fully extended must not exceed 1/2 inch.

(6) Except for a mustache, eyebrows, and eyelashes, hair may be grown on the face only when a medical officer has determined that shaving is temporarily harmful to the individual's health. In these cases, the current edition of MCO 6310.1 applies.

(7) No male Marine will be required to have his chest hair clipped except that which is so long as to protrude in an unsightly manner above the collar of the long sleeve khaki shirt.


In all of that text, there is no prohibition on shaving your entire head. The portion of text stating "The back and sides of the head below the hairline may be shaved to remove body hair" has been interpreted (incorrectly) by some personell to mean that ONLY those areas maybe shaved. As precise as the language of these regulations are, if that was the intent, it would say so specifically.

The belief that shaving is disallowed is a misconceived rumor that spread among Marines that thought they knew it all. No diffeent than 'barracks lawyers', these Marines took a small bit of info, applied their interpretation, and decided that was gospel.

Having said that, arguing with your superiors about your hairstyle is pointless. There are battles you fight, and battles you avoid. This is the latter.

2007-03-03 01:47:13 · answer #1 · answered by Devil Dog '73 4 · 1 0

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Has the Marine Corps changed its grooming regulations to allow Marines to razor shave their heads now?
I have noticed even the brass sporting what appears to be fresh clean shaven heads, when I was in the Marines and The Navy we were under orders that forbade us to use a razor and shave the skin on our heads.
In fact when I was a Navy Corpsman I had some senior Navy men complain to my Chief at...

2015-08-16 22:24:52 · answer #2 · answered by Chastity 1 · 0 0

I cannot speak for the Marine Corps, but it DID used to be against Army reg. They changed it in 2001 to permit razor shaves again.

The reason for the ban was because a razor shaved head was once a symbol of a hate group--the skinheads. Since the Skinheads are no longer prominent, the Army decided to allow soldiers to shave again.

2007-03-03 02:04:46 · answer #3 · answered by Kilroy 4 · 0 0

Usmc Grooming Standards

2016-11-07 09:28:21 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

Well My brother had his headshaved while in the Marines, for a Female entering the Marines don't think its Necessary, but you ask and they'll do it.

2007-03-10 12:20:03 · answer #5 · answered by tfoley5000 7 · 0 1

Times have changed so drastically in the military one wouldn't recognize it from a generation or two back.

2007-03-10 22:39:58 · answer #6 · answered by don n 6 · 0 0

Chesty Puller did it but only when in combat

2007-03-03 01:43:12 · answer #7 · answered by FOA 6 · 0 0

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