I know I'm not going to a beauty pageant but will I have enough time to make my hair presentable? I'm African-American and I don't chemically straighten my hair so it's very thick and I really don't want to put a relaxer in my hair. It doesn't take long to put my hair in a bun it just takes a little bit more to make it lay down in the front and I highly doubt I will be allowed to bring my head scarf to basic.

that is so funny. not to be mean but they will chop your hair up. When I went through me and 3 other girls had to help this girl get mircro braids out of her hair. it took us hours. they wont let you do anything to your hair. you don't really have time to brush it.

I'm going Air Force so my hair is not getting cut. I think I'm just going to get my hair done in cornrows and then wear my sock bun when I take them out. And btw...what was so funny about my original post?

Hi there, MissAJ. I'm in the AF. We don't chop off people's hair in basic. I think sailorkelly assumed you were going into the Navy. They're not as lenient.

AF regulations state that your hair can't fall below the bottom of the ABU/BDU collar. It also cannot "poof out" or be piled up more than 3" in mass at any area of the scalp/head.

With that said, as long as your hair is neat, and professional looking, and you have no faddish colors, or syles, you'll be ok.

Corn rows are perfectly acceptable. When I was in basic, quite a few African-American ladies had them. I would recomend it, since it will save you time and less fuss.

Here is an excerpt from AFI 36-2903 on Women's hair:

"Hair will not contain excessive amount of
grooming aids, touch eyebrows. Hair color/ highlights/frosting (must not be faddish). Examples of natural looking for human beings, Blonde/Brunette/Red/Black/Grey)
EXCEPTION: May be visible in front of women's flight cap.

Hair WILL styled to present a professional appearance. Allow the wear of conservative hairpins, combs, headbands, elastic bands and barrettes. Hair pins and bands must match
hair color. Long hair will be secured with no loose end. Bangs, if worn, will not touch the eyebrows. Braids, micro-braids and cornrows are authorized. However, must be solid color similar to the individual's hair color;

Hair WILL NOT be worn in an extreme or fad style or violate safety requirements. Extend below any side of an invisible line drawn parallel to the ground at the bottom edge of the
shirt collar regardless of length. Length will not be excessive. Include hair ornaments such as ribbons, beads, jeweled pins, or hair scrunchy. May not have shaved heads, military
high-and-tight or flat top haircuts. (Ban on faddish styles and cuts.) Will not prevent proper wear of headgear, including helmet
or chemical mask. Synthetic hair not authorized when not permitted by safety/mission
requirements. Dreadlocks are not authorized.
NOTE: Minimum length/ bulk required is 1 inch not to exceed 3 inches in bulk and will not prevent proper wearof headgear, including
helmet or chemical mask."

I hope that answers your question. If you have any other questions, I can look the info up for you. Welcome to the AF!

All I can say is god bless you African American women who can do cornrows...lol I loved it when the girls did my hair before we did an FTX and I would have to go a few days without a shower.

I would definatley have cornrows in your hair. You wont have that much time to fuss with your hair and this will make it so much easier!

So for the army we are allowed to have braids or cornrows during basic?

I'm glad that micro-braids can be worn. When I went through Army BT, my head was jacked up ALL the time from being in the field, in the hot sun sweating, wearing the cavalar, etc. One time, my drill sergeant yelled, "GOOD LORD PRIVATE! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOUR HEAD!" My hair had sweated, then dried. So when I took my head gear off, whoa! It was sooo embarrassing! I'm on my way back in, but this time, I'll have braids LOL!

Does anyone know if Micros are ok for the Coast Guard????? Because that was what I planned to get, and my recruiter doesn't know for sure........

Something to consider: Cut it short. Let it be natural and then you'll not have all this fuss. No, it's not the popular solution but it is the practical one.

I have a follow-up to this question...

I'm going to BCT soon. I am white but have naturally very curly, dry and course hair and will have a mess the first time I get out there after not having any oil or "junk" in my hair. Would I be smoked if I show up with cornrows? And...would cornrows last the entire time? Thanks ladies for your advice.

Miss AJ, it's been awhile since Air Force Basic Military Training for me, but I wanted you to know that, whatever you decide to do, you will be screamed at regardless.

I am Caucasion, and I do have long hair. I put it into a bun in the lower-back of my head. I once got my hair caught in the wire surrounding a particular low-crawl set-up, and I had to be helped by a Training Instructor. This caused me to have to go back through the obstacle a second time. (NOT fun!)

Also, I believe AF BMT will be extended by a few weeks beginning in January (please correct me if I am mistaken, Ladies). As I had gone an entire week without a shower in Basic, I do not encourage any hairstyle that could or would cause you to direct your focus on your hair, as opposed to getting your required tasks completed. There is enough to "think" about while you are there, so make your hair a non-issue. If that entails a hair-cut, please weigh your options and values for future career and success.

Hair does grow back. I wish now, after the fact, of course, that I had shaved my head before Basic! Good luck, future Soldier!

quote:

Originally posted by 18029744:
I have a follow-up to this question...

I'm going to BCT soon. I am white but have naturally very curly, dry and course hair and will have a mess the first time I get out there after not having any oil or "junk" in my hair. Would I be smoked if I show up with cornrows? And...would cornrows last the entire time? Thanks ladies for your advice.

ooo.. good question. I wish I had the answer to that. I've never seen a Caucasian female with corn rows, but I can't find anything saying you cna't do it.
If my hair was really that frizzy, I'd take gforce's advice.. Cut it as short as you can without it being a buzz, or a shave until you graduate. There are some really short styles that will look cute if you google them.

Good l u c k... Sorry I can't be more help.

I thought I would add...

I am going into Army Basic Training. I have heard the AF is much stricter about appearance.

Thank you both for the advice. I need all the help I can get. Never served...37 years old. I'm sure I will have plenty of other things to worry about ;-)

formerly 18029744 -

One more thing I thought of...can we bring any kind of "junk" for our hair to Army Basic? Mousse, hairspray, oil, etc. Thanks....again!

quote:

I have a follow-up to this question...

I'm going to BCT soon. I am white but have naturally very curly, dry and course hair and will have a mess the first time I get out there after not having any oil or "junk" in my hair. Would I be smoked if I show up with cornrows? And...would cornrows last the entire time? Thanks ladies for your advice.

I have natural curly ultra thick hair, I kept my hair in french braided pigtails the entire time I was there. We showered at night so I braided my hair wet used gel and hairspray to keep it tight and it lasted throughout the next day. I'm not sure if I would suggest cornrolls or not, (will they affect your wear of the gas mask?? I know I had to take my braids out during warrior week because you are constantly getting your mask on.. just a thought, I'm not too familiar with cornroll so I'm not sure).. Anyways, regardless of how you fix your hair, you will more than likely leave Basic with your hair being mildewed, you constantly have to have it pulled back even when its wet and having thick curly hair it wont have a chance to dry completely. I cannot tell you to this day how relieved I was when I got to tech school and was allowed to take a LONG HOT shower and let my hair dry. It was a wonderful feeling Good luck!

I know I am a little late on this discussion but I have personal experience as a caucasian female who wore cornrows during af bmt. Actually during our 4th week before warrior week, all the girls that could braid, including myself braided all the girls in my flight's hair in one night. The next morning we showed up to the chowhall and got reamed by the snake pit (you'll understand this when you go). One instructor said we had more cornrows than Idaho that morning in the chowhall. I found it amusing. I got called up to the snake pit and got yelled at for having them in my hair. It later caused a controversy because they only yelled at caucasian females and not the african american ones. So we were apologized to and we all wore cornrows that week. lol. It helped save a lot of time doing hair. Like the post above, no matter what your hair is going to be mildewed and stink because it has been wet for 6 weeks. So you will just have to pick which is best for you!

quote:

Originally posted by jewellpele:
I know I am a little late on this discussion but I have personal experience as a caucasian female who wore cornrows during af bmt. Actually during our 4th week before warrior week, all the girls that could braid, including myself braided all the girls in my flight's hair in one night. The next morning we showed up to the chowhall and got reamed by the snake pit (you'll understand this when you go). One instructor said we had more cornrows than Idaho that morning in the chowhall. I found it amusing. I got called up to the snake pit and got yelled at for having them in my hair. It later caused a controversy because they only yelled at caucasian females and not the african american ones. So we were apologized to and we all wore cornrows that week. lol. It helped save a lot of time doing hair. Like the post above, no matter what your hair is going to be mildewed and stink because it has been wet for 6 weeks. So you will just have to pick which is best for you!

Interesting indeed...I wonder who was doing the yelling...