ARMY DIR 2025-13 — Facial Hair Grooming Standards
ARMY DIR 2025-13 governs facial hair grooming standards, medical shaving profiles, and religious accommodation exceptions for Soldiers.
- Publication number: ARMY DIR 2025-13
- Title: FACIAL HAIR GROOMING STANDARDS
- Date: 07/07/2025
- Proponent: ASA (M&RA)
- Status: ACTIVE
View ARMY DIR 2025-13 on armypubs.army.mil
The directive establishes clean-shaven standards, authorizes mustaches, and sets requirements for written exceptions to policy. It defines medical treatment phases, review periods, documentation, monitoring, and the expiration of shaving profiles and the directive.
Applies to: This directive applies to the Regular Army, Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and United States Army Reserve.
Topics covered
- Facial hair grooming standards
- Medical shaving profiles
- Pseudofolliculitis Barbae treatment phases
- Religious accommodations
- Exceptions to policy
- Grooming standards reviews
Questions and answers
What facial hair standard applies to male Soldiers?
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. (paragraph 4)
When can Soldiers receive an exception to facial hair grooming standards?
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. (paragraph 4)
What must Soldiers carry when they have an approved grooming exception?
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. (paragraph 4)
How soon must shaving profiles be medically reevaluated?
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. (paragraph 4)
How long may Soldiers avoid shaving during Phase I treatment?
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. (paragraph 4)