Army Directive 2025-13: Facial Hair Grooming Standards

SUBJECT: Army Directive 2025-13 (Facial Hair Grooming Standards)

1. References.

a. Army Regulation (AR) 40–502 (Medical Readiness)

b. AR 600–20 (Army Command Policy)

c. AR 670–1 (Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia)

2. Applicability. This directive applies to the Regular Army, Army National Guard/Army

National Guard of the United States, and United States Army Reserve.

3. Purpose. This directive establishes new policy for facial hair grooming standards. This

directive also prohibits permanent shaving profiles and provides the means for command teams

to document and verify a Soldier’s basis for a beard. The intent of this directive is to provide

refined grooming standards for medical providers and commanders to implement, in support of

Army readiness.

4. Policy.

a. All male Soldiers will maintain a clean-shaven face when in uniform or on duty in civilian

attire in accordance with reference 1c. Mustaches are authorized.

(1) Soldiers must comply with the grooming standards unless granted a written exception

to policy (ETP) for a medical condition or for an approved religious accommodation.

(2) Soldiers must retain and readily produce a signed copy of their approved ETP or

approved religious accommodation decision memorandum when in uniform or on duty in

civilian attire upon request. Any Soldier can address a situation that warrants an on-the-spot

correction to uniform standards. This guidance aligns with those responsibilities to maintain

discipline and uniformity.

SUBJECT: Army Directive 2025-13 (Facial Hair Grooming Standards)

(3) The O-5 commander will ensure decision memoranda for approved religious

accommodations are recorded in the appropriate Army personnel system, such as the Army

Military Human Resources Record (AMHRR) or Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army

(IPPS-A).

b. Soldiers with a medical condition.

(1) There are medical conditions that may require a temporary deviation to Army

grooming standards. Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB, aka. razor bumps) is the most common, but

other conditions exists where a pause in shaving may be necessary for the treatment of the

condition.

(2) Soldiers who have a physical profile (Department of the Army Form 3349-SG) for

shaving limitations will be directed by their first O-5 commander for re-evaluation by a medical

provider no later than 90 days from publication of this directive. The re-evaluation will assess

the Soldier’s current treatment and determine if continuation of the profile is required. If the

medical provider determines that re-issuance of the shaving profile is necessary, the Soldier’s

profile will detail the medical treatment plan and expected time of recovery.

(3) The first O-5 commander in the Soldier’s chain of command will review the

recommended profile. The medical provider will recommend a medical treatment plan to assist

the Soldier in returning to compliance with the facial hair grooming standard, consistent with

paragraph 3(a)-3(d). Commanders and medical providers can collaborate to determine the best

means to facilitate the treatment plan, approved by commander.

(a) Phase I – Control of Mild Cases. Soldiers may avoid shaving for up to four weeks

until facial lesions have subsided while undergoing medical treatment. This phase will not

exceed 30 days.

(b) Phase II – Control of Moderate to Severe Cases and Those Unresponsive to Phase

I. Soldiers may avoid shaving for up to eight weeks if initially starting Phase II or up to an

additional four weeks if continuing from Phase I according to treatment plan. This phase will

not exceed 60 days.

(c) Phase III – Control of Severe Cases Unresponsive to Phase II. Soldiers may

continue Phase II protocols for up to four additional weeks. The medical provider may then

recommend continued treatment based on the Soldier’s response and, if necessary, a further

period of modified grooming standards. This phase will not exceed 90 days (90 days includes

Phase II and Phase III).

(d) Phase IV (optional) – Control of Cases Unresponsive to Phase III or Recurring

Frequently. Soldiers may be referred for specialty care and more targeted treatment such as laser

2

SUBJECT: Army Directive 2025-13 (Facial Hair Grooming Standards)

treatment. These treatments are elective and should the Soldier elect to have laser treatment, it

may be government-funded.

(4) At the end of the phase identified in the treatment plan, the Soldier will adhere to the

grooming standards or will be re-evaluated.

(5) Once the medical treatment plan is approved, the first O-5 commander will issue the

Soldier an approved ETP for facial hair grooming standards (see enclosed ETP template). The

grooming ETP is valid only for the duration of the shaving profile.

(6) Commanders and the NCO support chain will actively monitor treatment plans to

assist Soldiers in returning to compliance with the facial hair grooming standards.

(7) An accumulation of ETPs to the facial hair grooming standards totaling over 12

months in a 24-month period may result in an administrative separation.

c. Religious Accommodation.

(1) Religious accommodations will continue to be processed in accordance with

reference 1b.

(2) Soldiers currently approved for a religious accommodation will have their

accommodation reviewed and verified in their AMHRR by the first O-5 commander in their

chain of command no later than 90 days from the publication of this directive.

5. Responsibilities.

a. U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine

Command (TRADOC) will ensure the force is trained on the provisions of this policy, including

shaving education to train Soldiers in proper shaving techniques. TRADOC will implement this

instructional guidance at reception and Initial Entry Training.

b. Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) will coordinate with the Defense Health Agency

(DHA) to facilitate training for medical providers to ensure understanding and implementation of

the new policy. OTSG will provide additional shaving techniques and profiling instructions,

including severity of condition, intent of shaving profile, and treatment.

c. The Inspector General will coordinate with and assist in educating the force on this

directive.

d. All Army units will conduct uniform and grooming standards reviews no later than 90

days from the date of this directive to assist Soldiers with complying with this directive.

3

SUBJECT: Army Directive 2025-13 (Facial Hair Grooming Standards)

6. Proponent. The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) is the

proponent for this policy. Within 90 days of this directive, the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 will

incorporate the provisions of this directive into references 1b and 1c., and OTSG will incorporate

the provisions of this directive into reference 1a.

7. Duration. This directive is rescinded upon publication of the updated references.

Encl Dan Driscoll

ETP Template

DISTRIBUTION:

Principal Officials of Headquarters, Department of the Army