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Female Grooming Standards While in Uniform
Hair: Should be neat and clean and at the collar. Hair buns should not exceed three inches and ponytails should be inconspicuously fastened to the head. The bun may touch but may not fall below the bottom edge of the back of the shirt collar or jacket collar, with exception to the foul weather parka.
The hair claw shall be wingless; not to exceed 3 inches in length and 1 inch in width. The hair claw shall be black, navy blue, brown or a color like the individual’s hair color and shall not interfere with the proper wearing of head gear (and/or safety gear). Restrict the wear of hair accessories while engaged in operational environments where there is a risk for foreign object damage (FOD) hazards or for personnel safety.
Female hair style “locks” are authorized hair style, and present a balanced, neat, professional and well-groomed appearance.
The diameter of braids, cornrows, locks and twists allowance from ¼ inch to ½ inch with no more than a ¼ inch space between rows.
Ponytails end shall be neatly and inconspicuously fastened, pinned or secured to the head at all times.
Fingernails: Fingernails shall be kept clean. Women may wear nail polish, but the color shall be conservative and neutral in color. Decorative nail art is not authorized while in uniform.
Cosmetics: If worn, will be a natural look and in good taste and not contain bright colors such as blue, green, yellow or orange.
Male Grooming Standards While in Uniform
Hair: Hair should be neat, clean, not touch the collar, and be away from the ears. Men are prohibited from wearing pony tails or buns.
Facial Hair: Full and partial beards, van dykes, and goatees are authorized. In uniform, patches and spotty clumps of facial hair are not considered beards and are not authorized. The bulk of the beard (distance that the mass of facial hair protrudes from the skin on the face) shall not exceed 1 inch.
Beards, sideburns, or mustaches if worn, shall be well groomed and neatly trimmed at all times in order not to present a ragged appearance. No portion of a mustache will extend below the lip line of the upper lip. Handlebar mustaches or other eccentric styles are not authorized while in uniform.
The wearing of beards and mustaches shall not interfere with the operation of oxygen masks, gas masks, or other safety/survival gear. Accordingly, an Order Issuing Authority (OIA) may prohibit the wearing of beards and mustaches for Auxiliarists that participate in their operational missions and activities.
Fingernails: Fingernails shall be kept clean, well groomed and must not extend past the fingertips or be colored.
* Please Note: In order to participate in ceremonial events such as Auxiliary color guard; Coast Guard parade formations, etc.,men must be clean shaven (mustaches allowed).
Wearing of Jewelry While in Uniform
Men cannot wear earrings while in uniform.
Women can wear one pair of small gold, silver or pearl earrings of the ball style (no larger than ¼ inch). Diamond studs can be worn with the Dinner dress uniforms.
Necklaces, chains, suspenders, pens, handkerchiefs, etc…should not be visible.
No more than two (2) rings per hand is specified while in uniform. Thumb rings are prohibited, and an engagement and/or wedding ring counts as one ring.
Tattoos / Body Piercings / Symbols
Tattoos, body piercing, brands, intentional scarring or mutilation, or modifications of the head and neck are prohibited unless required for legitimate medical purposes.
Any markings on the neck area may not show above the collar line of the Tropical Blue shirt along the back and sides of the neck, nor the line of this shirt at the front of the neck.
Furthermore, any markings of the body that are contrary to the published basic core values of the Coast Guard, show political endorsement, advocate or symbolize all types of discrimination, sexual images, supremist or extremist groups, gangs, drug use, are prejudicial to good order and discipline, or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the service are prohibited.
Refer to Tattoo and Body Markings Policy for Coast Guard Accessions, COMDTINST 1000.1(series).
Prohibited Wearing of Auxiliary Uniform
Do not wear the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary uniform:
- In public places of dubious reputation,
- When engaged in political activities,
- When in a foreign country unless specifically authorized, and
- Don’t wear distinctive parts of the uniform or insignia with civilian clothes when not on duty.
Auxiliarists must adhere to uniform policies when engaged in U.S. Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary programs and activities.