Hair on the head shall be neatly groomed and conservatively styled. The length, bulk and style of hair shall not preclude the proper wear of the wedge (bulk is the distance that the mass of hair extends from the skin, when groomed, as opposed to the length of hair). In particular, style and colour shall not be bizarre, exaggerated or unusual appearance. Unusual colours such as green, bright red, orange, purple, bleach blonde etc. are not permitted. Hair must be secured or styled back to reveal the face and any accessories used to secure or control hairstyles shall be as unobtrusive as possible. Hair ornaments shall not be worn, except for female cadets’ conservative barrettes that blend with the hair colour.
MALE HAIR
Hair must be:
Sideburns:
Moustaches:
Beards:
- Taper trimmed at the back, sides, and above the ears to blend with the hairstyle.
- No more than 15 cm (6 in.) in length and sufficiently short that, when the hair is groomed and wedge is removed, no hair shall touch the ears or fall below the top of the eyebrows.
- No more than 4 cm (1-1/2 in.) in bulk at the top of the head, gradually decreasing to blend with the taper trimmed sides and back.
- Kept free from the neck to a distance of 2.5 cm (1 in.) above the shirt collar.
- Taper trimmed square back styles and shaving of all the hair on the head are permitted.
Sideburns:
- Shall not extend below a line horizontally bisecting the ear, and shall be squared off horizontally at the bottom edge and taper trimmed to conform to the overall hairstyle.
Moustaches:
- When moustaches are worn alone, the unshaven portion of the face shall not extend outwards beyond the corners of the mouth. Moustaches shall be kept neatly trimmed; not be greater than 2 cm (3/4 in.) in bulk; not extend below the corners of the mouth and not protrude beyond the width of the mouth.
Beards:
- Only cadets adherent of the Sikh religion or cadets experiencing recognized medical problems preventing them from shaving may wear the beard. In the latter case, a note from a medical practitioner is required.
FEMALE HAIR
Hair:
- Shall not extend below the lower edge of the shirt collar (see exception below).
- Exaggerated styles, including those with excessive fullness or extreme height, are not authorized.
- Braids, if worn, shall be styled conservatively and tied tightly; secured at the end by a knot or a small-unadorned fastener.
- A single braid shall be worn in the centre of the back.
- Double braids shall be worn behind the shoulders.
- Hair shall be a maximum length when gathered behind the head and braided which does not extend below the top of the armpit.
- Multiple braids and/or cornrows shall be directed toward the back of the head, pulled tight to the head and secured at the end by a knot or a small-unadorned fastener.
- Multiple braids extending below the lower edge of the collar are to be gathered in a bun.
- With the permission of the sqn CO, a reasonable period may be authorized in order to transition from short to long hairstyles during which time hair may extend below the lower edge of the shirt collar.