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Army updates hair regulations to accommodate women of color

Previously, those who had more than four visible tattoos bigger than the wearer's hand were restricted from requesting a commission as an officer or a warrant officer.

By Aileen Graef

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army announced Tuesday a new policy regarding hair and tattoo regulations after being criticized for not accommodating the needs of black women.

Previously, those who had more than four visible tattoos bigger than the wearer's hand were restricted from requesting a commission as an officer or a warrant officer. The revisons remove that policy by allowing them to request with the endorsement of their commanding officer. Face, eyelid, mouth and ear tattoos are still prohibited as well as racist, extremist, sexist and indecent tattoos.

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The hair regulation has been a more contentious issue. Black women have raised the issue that previous restrictions were biased toward women of color. Due to the texture of their hair, black women often use braids, cornrows, twists and other hair styling techniques uncommon among white women.

The new regulations allow braids, cornrows and twists to be worn with a diameter of no greater than half an inch in contrast to the previous quarter of an inch requirement. Officials also removed the specific spacing requirement of an eighth of an inch to even spacing and can "follow the natural direction of the hair."

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The size of buns has also been expanded from three inches in diameter to three and a half inches.

Dreadlocks still remain prohibited, but the new text removed the "matted" and "unkempt" description which was deemed racially offensive.

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