The Pentagon has reversed the controversial U.S. Army mandate that prohibited many natural hairstyles.
The Army’s natural hair restriction, officially titled Army Regulation 670-1, prohibited natural dreadlocks, twists, and big braids. Ever since the release of the U.S. Army Grooming Guide, social media had been ablaze, denouncing the military because the ban on certain styles of braids and twists is racially insensitive. Over 17,500 people signed a White House petition, penned by Sgt. Jasmine Jacobs, asking that the Army reconsider its policies to make them more racially inclusive.
In April, the female members of the Congressional Black Caucus sent the Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel a letter suggesting that the policies and language indicated “a lack of cultural sensitivity conducive to creating a tolerant environment for minorities.”
The Army, Air Force, and Navy have expanded the number of acceptable styles, permitting cornrows, twists, and larger braids and removing spacing requirements between braids. The Marines will convene a special uniform board this summer.