U.S. Navy Finally Ends Ban on Dreadlocks for Women

With this new stipulation, the U.S. Navy will now be joining other branches of the armed forces, including the Marines, the Army and the Air Force.

The United States Navy has now put an end to a rule banning dreadlocks for women who serve the country. The Navy announced the lift on its ban during a live Facebook broadcast Tuesday.

This lift makes the Navy the last branch of the military to drop grooming regulations that prohibit dreadlocks.

READ: The US Army Has Finally Lifted Its Ban On Dreadlocks

According to a report inThe Huffington Post, the Navy enlisted a group to recommend changes to grooming standards, based on feedback from peers. The decision also makes ponytails, buns and other styles permissible for women in uniform so long as they don’t interfere with a sailor’s operational or safety needs.

Male sailors will still be required to keep their hair short.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson says the change will make the Navy more inclusive.

The decision comes after the regulations were criticized for specifically targeting black women. Once made public, the policy faced immediate backlash, including an open letter from the Congressional Black Caucus and an official review ordered by the Pentagon. The decision was ultimately reversed.

Source: The Huffington Post