AR 670-1 Decoded: What the Grooming and Uniform Reg Actually Says vs. What Your SGM Says
AR 670-1 is the most selectively enforced regulation in the Army. Here's what it actually mandates on beards, hair, tattoos, and civilian attire — and where commanders routinely exceed their authority.
Beards — The Actual Rule
The regulation is unambiguous: male soldiers will keep their face clean-shaven. AR 670-1 para. 3-2a. No exceptions exist within the base regulation itself. Three narrow exception pathways exist outside the base reg — and command routinely misrepresents or ignores all three.
Medical Shaving Profile (PFB)
Issued by a physician — cannot be overridden by a commander
Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB, commonly called razor bumps) is a legitimate medical condition that disproportionately affects Black soldiers. AR 40-501 and AR 670-1 read together permit a soldier with PFB to receive a medical profile from a physician authorizing a short beard — typically not to exceed 1/4 inch. The profile is a lawful medical order. A commander who orders a soldier to violate a valid medical profile is potentially violating the UCMJ and creating legal exposure for themselves. "I don't care about your profile, you will shave" is not a lawful order when a valid medical profile exists.
Religious Accommodation
DoDI 1300.17 — granted by proper approval authority
DoDI 1300.17 (Accommodation of Religious Practices Within the Military Services) allows beard accommodations for religious practice — documented for Sikh soldiers, some Muslim soldiers with a religious obligation to maintain a beard, and others with sincere religious beliefs. Once granted by the proper approval authority, this accommodation supersedes AR 670-1 for that specific soldier. The accommodation must be formally requested and approved — it is not self-executing — but once in place, it is legally binding on the chain of command.
Special Operations / Covert Waivers
Command-level waiver — not soldier-initiated
Soldiers in specific SOF assignments or covert operations may receive command-level waivers for beard wear. These are institutional waivers issued to support the mission, not individual soldier requests. They are not available to general force soldiers and are not relevant to most appearance-standards disputes.
- ✗"I don't care about your profile, you will shave." — A valid medical profile is a lawful medical order. A commander cannot override it. Directing a soldier to violate a physician-issued profile may constitute an unlawful order under the UCMJ.
- ✗"Your religious accommodation request is denied at my level." — Some accommodations require higher-level approval, but the denial must come from the correct authority using the correct process under DoDI 1300.17. An informal denial by a company commander of a properly submitted accommodation request is not a lawful final determination.
Hair Standards — What the Reg Actually Says vs. What Units Enforce
AR 670-1 specifies bulk (volume) standards, length standards, and the requirement that hair not interfere with the proper wear of headgear or protective equipment. It does NOT grant commanders discretion to impose standards more restrictive than the regulation.
- ✓Locs/Dreadlocks: Now explicitly authorized when worn in a neat, professional manner. The 2017 update first allowed them; the 2021 update further clarified. This is not a command option — it is the regulation.
- ✓Braids, Twists, Cornrows: Authorized when neat and professional. The regulation does not require these styles to conform to straight-hair geometry.
- ✓Hair Accessories: Updated to allow a broader range of accessories appropriate for natural hair textures and styles. Functional accessories that do not present a safety hazard or interfere with headgear are generally permitted.
- ✗"No locs in this unit." — Not a lawful order. AR 670-1 authorizes locs. A commander cannot impose a more restrictive standard than the Army regulation. This applies regardless of personal preference or unit "tradition."
- ✗"Female soldiers in this unit will wear their hair in a bun only." — A blanket prohibition on AR 670-1-authorized hairstyles (cornrows, twists, locs, braids) is not lawful. The regulation sets the standard, not the unit.
- ✗Issuing counseling statements for hairstyles that are AR 670-1 compliant — that counseling statement is legally defective. Rebut it in writing, citing the specific regulation paragraph and update date. That rebuttal becomes part of your official record.
Tattoos — The 2015 Update Most Units Still Don't Follow
The 2015 AR 670-1 update significantly liberalized tattoo policy. Much of what units still enforce as policy has been out of the regulation for over a decade. The current standard has two elements: location and content. The old size restrictions were eliminated entirely.
Current Location Rules — What Is and Is Not Prohibited
Arms (including full sleeves)
AUTHORIZEDTattoos anywhere on the arms, including full sleeves, are authorized under the current regulation. The pre-2015 restriction on tattoos below the elbow was eliminated. There is no restriction on arm tattoo coverage, density, or size.
Legs
AUTHORIZEDTattoos on the legs are authorized. There is no restriction on location, size, or coverage on the legs, subject only to the content standard.
Face
PROHIBITEDThe face is defined as the area of the head visible when wearing the Army Combat Helmet (ACH) or equivalent standard headgear. Tattoos in this area are prohibited. Scalp tattoos covered by hair are not face tattoos for this purpose.
Neck (above uniform collar)
PROHIBITEDTattoos on the neck above the neckline of a properly worn uniform shirt are prohibited. Tattoos below the collar line are authorized.
Hands
LIMITEDOne ring tattoo per hand is authorized. Other hand tattoos are prohibited. The ring tattoo must be on a finger and be a simple band design.
The Content Standard — Four Categories of Prohibited Content
A commander CAN counsel for tattoo content that falls into one of these four categories. A commander CANNOT counsel for location or size on authorized body areas.
Extremist
Affiliated with organizations that advocate violence, discrimination, or illegal activity — white supremacist symbols, gang markings, symbols of organizations designated as terrorist or extremist by DoD or the USG.
Indecent
Grossly offensive to modesty, decency, or propriety as determined by a reasonable person standard. Not a commander's personal comfort standard — a reasonable person standard. Nudity that would be appropriate in some contexts but is grossly offensive in others.
Sexist
Tattoos that degrade or demean individuals on the basis of sex. Content that a reasonable person would find to systematically demean, objectify, or dehumanize based on gender.
Racist
Tattoos expressing hatred or superiority based on race or ethnicity. Includes symbols widely recognized as associated with white supremacy or other racial hatred movements.
- ✗"No sleeve tattoos" — Not in the regulation. Full sleeve tattoos on the arms are authorized under the current AR 670-1.
- ✗"Tattoos must be concealable in PT uniform" — Not in the current regulation. This standard was eliminated in 2015.
- ✗"No tattoos below the elbow" — Eliminated in 2015. Tattoos anywhere on the arm, including the forearm and hand (with the ring tattoo exception), are governed only by the location prohibitions listed above.
- ✗"No tattoos larger than your fist" — Size restrictions were eliminated in the 2015 update. There is no size restriction in the current regulation for tattoos on authorized body areas.
Off-Duty Civilian Attire — What AR 670-1 Does Not Cover
AR 670-1 governs the wear and appearance of Army uniforms and insignia. It does not govern civilian clothing. A commander who attempts to regulate what soldiers wear off-duty in civilian attire is acting outside the scope of AR 670-1.
Scenario: "No sagging pants off duty"
Not authorized under AR 670-1. A commander may attempt to issue this as a general order under AR 600-20 (Army Command Policy) or through a unit SOP, but any such order must meet the lawfulness requirements of UCMJ Article 92 — specifically, it must have a valid military purpose and nexus to military readiness or discipline. Courts-martial have scrutinized off-duty dress orders on exactly these grounds. Before complying with — or more importantly, before violating — a general order regulating off-duty civilian dress, consult Trial Defense Service.
Scenario: Off-duty clothing with extremist or discriminatory content
This is the legitimate exception. Off-duty clothing containing extremist content (defined by DoD standards) or content that violates other regulations may implicate regulations beyond AR 670-1 — including AR 600-20, DoD Instruction 1325.06 (handling extremist activity), and potentially the UCMJ. The authority here is not AR 670-1 but other regulations with broader reach.
Scenario: Wearing civilian clothing that brings discredit
AR 670-1 does not cover this. The "bringing discredit upon the armed forces" standard lives in UCMJ Article 134 (General Article) and requires a nexus to conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline or service-discrediting conduct. This is a different authority from AR 670-1 and requires a more significant threshold than wardrobe preferences.
Uniform Wear in Off-Duty Situations
The relationship between command authority and a soldier's off-duty hours runs in both directions. Here is the actual framework.
Soldiers Are Not Required to Wear the Uniform Off-Duty
Absent a specific lawful order for a particular event (formation, ceremony, official function), soldiers may wear civilian attire during off-duty hours. There is no general requirement to be in uniform outside duty hours. A standing policy requiring uniform wear during all off-post travel, for example, must be grounded in a valid lawful order — not just command preference.
When Ordered Into Uniform, the Full Regulation Applies
A lawful order to be in uniform at a specific time and place is enforceable. Once in uniform, all requirements of AR 670-1 apply — proper wear, grooming standards, appearance standards. The choice between "I will be in uniform" and "I will be in civilian attire" is the soldier's in the absence of an order. The standards are not optional once that choice is made or ordered.
When a Soldier Voluntarily Wears the Uniform Off-Duty
If a soldier voluntarily chooses to wear the uniform in a public setting, AR 670-1 applies to its wear. Improper wear of the uniform in public — whether intentional or not — can result in a counseling statement. The soldier who wears a clean, properly worn uniform to a civilian job interview is within their rights. The soldier who wears the uniform to a protest, bar crawl, or political event in a way that violates other regulations may face consequences under other authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions that come up most — answered directly.
Can a commander deny a valid medical shaving profile and order me to shave?
No. A valid medical profile issued by a physician is a lawful medical order. A commander cannot override a medical profile — doing so creates legal exposure for the commander under the UCMJ and potentially under AR 40-501. If your command is directing you to violate a medical profile, document the order and contact Trial Defense Service or the Inspector General.
My unit says locs are not allowed. Is that enforceable?
No. AR 670-1 was updated in 2017 (and clarified further in 2021) to explicitly authorize locks/locs for female soldiers in uniform when worn in a neat and professional manner. A commander cannot impose a standard more restrictive than the Army regulation. A counseling statement for an AR 670-1-compliant hairstyle is legally defective and should be rebutted in writing with the specific regulation citation.
My sergeant says sleeve tattoos are prohibited. Is that in the regulation?
No. The 2015 AR 670-1 update eliminated restrictions on tattoo size and eliminated the prohibition on tattoos below the elbow. Sleeve tattoos on the arms are authorized under the current regulation. The restriction that remains is location (face, neck above the uniform collar, and hands with limited exceptions) and content (no extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist tattoos). Location on the arm is not restricted.
Can my command regulate what I wear when I'm in civilian clothes off-duty?
AR 670-1 does not govern civilian clothing. A commander attempting to regulate off-duty civilian attire is acting outside the scope of that regulation. Orders regarding off-duty civilian dress must have a valid military nexus and meet the lawfulness requirements of UCMJ Article 92. "No sagging pants" general orders have been challenged precisely because they lack a clear military readiness nexus.
What is the actual content standard for tattoos — who decides if mine is "indecent"?
The content standard uses a reasonable person test. A tattoo must be extremist (affiliated with organizations advocating violence, discrimination, or illegal activity), indecent (grossly offensive to modesty or decency as determined by the reasonable person standard), sexist (demeaning on the basis of sex), or racist to be prohibited on content grounds. A commander's personal distaste is not the standard. If you receive adverse action for a tattoo's content, request a written determination of how the tattoo meets one of these specific definitions.
Can I get a religious accommodation to wear a beard, turban, or unshorn hair?
Yes. DoDI 1300.17 (Accommodation of Religious Practices Within the Military Services) provides a framework for religious accommodation requests. Sikh soldiers have been granted accommodations for beards, unshorn hair (worn in a turban or dastar), and the kirpan. The accommodation must be requested through the proper approval authority and, once granted, supersedes the appearance standards in AR 670-1 for that individual. The approval authority varies by accommodation type — for some it is the installation commander, for others it requires higher-level approval.
Are there any situations where I must wear the uniform off-duty?
Soldiers are not required to wear the uniform off-duty unless specifically ordered by their command for a particular event (such as a formation, ceremony, or official function). A lawful order to be in uniform at a specific time and place is enforceable. However, once in uniform, the full requirements of AR 670-1 apply. A soldier may choose not to wear the uniform during off-duty hours when not ordered to do so.
I got a counseling statement for a hairstyle that I believe is AR 670-1 compliant. What do I do?
Rebut the counseling statement in writing within the timeframe specified on the form (typically 7 days, though you can request more time). In your rebuttal, cite the specific AR 670-1 paragraph and update that authorizes the hairstyle, describe precisely how your hairstyle meets the regulation's standard, and note that the counseling statement does not cite a specific regulatory violation. A counseling statement for a compliant hairstyle is legally defective — your written rebuttal becomes part of the official record and can support a later Inspector General complaint or congressional inquiry if the harassment continues.
This analysis provides general educational information about AR 670-1 and DA PAM 670-1 only. It is not legal advice and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Military regulations are periodically revised — always verify citations against the current edition. Contact Trial Defense Service or a military defense attorney for guidance specific to your situation.