Although hairstyle rules were relaxed when soldiers were on campaign, Continental Army personnel who did powder and tie their hair did so with a mixture of flour and tallow, a hard animal fat. This powdered hair was usually tied in a pigtail or “queue.”

In the late 1700s and early 1800s, cavalrymen preferred a “clubbed” hairstyle in which they gathered their hair at the back of the neck and tied it in a firm bundle, then folded it to the side before finally tying it again in a club (basically a folded pigtail). Mounted troopers liked the club because it was “likely to stay in place during the excitement and violent action of a mounted fight.”

Beards were forbidden in the Army of the early Republic and soldiers were required to shave a minimum of three days a week, at least while in garrison. A major change in military hair rules occurred in 1801, when Maj. Gen. James Wilkinson, commanding general of the Army, abolished the queue. Some historians believe he took this action because the pigtail was an aristocratic affectation that had no place in an egalitarian republic, but whatever the reason, Wilkinson’s decision caused soldiers to “howl in protest, until their resentment swelled almost to mutiny,” according to a February 1973 article published in American History Illustrated. It seems that soldiers believed that the short hair requirement was nothing short of self-mutilation.
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In July 1805, the Army court-martialed Lt. Col. Thomas Butler, Jr., a 30-year Army veteran, who refused to cut his hair. A panel of officers found him “guilty of mutinous conduct in appearing publicly in command of troops with his hair queued.” The panel sentenced Butler to be suspended from command, without pay, for 12 months. This was a severe sentence, given Butler’s seniority and three decades of service. While Gen. Wilkinson ultimately approved the sentence, it was never carried out because (unbeknownst to Wilkinson) Butler had died a few days earlier (probably of yellow fever) with his queue still intact.

When it came to facial hair above the lip, the Army took a very different approach, at least in the years before the Civil War. From 1841 to 1857, regulations provided that “mustaches” or “moustaches” would not be worn by any soldiers except for those in cavalry regiments, “on any pretense whatsoever.”

By the Civil War, hairstyle standards had changed markedly, as senior officers in both the Army and the Navy wore beards and mustaches as a matter of course. While a beard could be worn “at the pleasure of the individual,” both services preferred that it be kept short and neatly trimmed. This preference, however, was very much in the eye of the beardholder. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had a somewhat neatly trimmed beard while Adm. Stephen B. Luce had a much more wild look.

World War I was the first conflict where shaving was required. There were two reasons: to get a proper fit and seal on the gas mask and personal hygiene. Beards were outlawed, and the maximum permitted hair length was one inch.
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During World War II, the Army required soldiers to “keep your hair cut short and your fingernails clean,” and most men in both the Army and the Navy wore a medium-short tapered cut. But, while beards were officially outlawed, soldiers and Marines in sustained combat operations sometimes grew beards – if for no other reason than it was too hard to shave under fire.

​In the last half of the 20th century, hairstyles in the armed forces followed civilian trends, especially in the Army, Navy and Air Force. In the late 1960s, long hair was popular, and soldiers who refused to get a haircut received non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The Navy and Coast Guard, however, simply gave in to relatively long hair and beards: witness the announcement by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. – in “Z-gram No. 57” published in 1970 – that beards could be worn by active duty sailors. Zumwalt believed that the Navy must “learn to adapt to changing fashions” and this meant that sailors should have the freedom to wear the long sideburns, neatly trimmed beards and mustaches favored by civilians. Not until 1985 did the Navy once again prohibit beards on sailors, and the Coast Guard, which had followed Zumwalt’s permissive decision on beards, also abolished them a year later.

In the 1980s, the mustache was especially popular in the services. Although still permitted, it has almost disappeared today.

Today, short hair is the norm for men in all the services, and women too favor shorter hairstyles. Regulations and instructions on female grooming standards reflect this “shorter is better” style. In the Air Force, for example, a female airman’s hair must be “clean, well-groomed and neat” and hair length cannot extend beyond the bottom edge of the uniform shirt collar; women who have longer hair must wear it “up.”  *The standard for woman's hair changed in 2018.

Given the long and short history of hair, the future is certain to bring yet more changes in the armed forces.
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This bit of history was found here.

Click here for some photos from Wartime Barbering.

Hair doesn't stop growing just because there's a war on, after all. 

Little White Flakes

You see the light yellow or white flakes on your shoulders or in your hair. Those are the telltale signs of dandruff. Dandruff flakes are dead skin cells that fall off your scalp. When you have dandruff, your scalp may look scaly or red and feel itchy or raw. Scratching or rubbing your head loosens the flakes. You may notice them more when you wear dark clothes.

The hair on your head is an integral part of your identity. Shave it all off and no one is going to recognize you, and further than that, they likely will begin to develop an entirely separate opinion of the new hairless you.

Our hair is important, but most guys don’t take care of it they way they should. There are so many things that we can do daily for our hair to improve its overall health and longevity. No, I’m not talking about being sure you brush your hair every night before bed or to use both shampoo and conditioner each time you shower (though those are good ideas too). I’m talking about simple tricks and tweaks to your already minimal hair care routine that will help your hair growing strong. Women love a guy with a thick head of hair, whether its short or long.

You can’t undo the damage you do to your hair, so now’s the time to start trying some of these tweaks and tips. Your hair will thank you later.

1. Dry With Care
I am just as guilty as you are when it comes to drying my hair with haste. It’s almost instinct to grab the towel and rub your head dry. However, this is one of the most damaging things you can do to your hair. When you’re finished, you may notice that your hair looks sort of frizzy. Those hairs have been pulled past their stretching point by the fibers in the towel. Those same hairs are the ones being stubborn when you have to style your hair. Instead of vigorously towel drying, just pat dry. Even better, let it dry completely on its own. This is a great practice to start after a fresh haircut when all your frizzy split ends are gone already.

2. Don’t Wash Your Hair Everyday
Sometimes, less is more. Shampooing everyday for healthy hair is a myth. Shampoo cleans your hair, but don’t confuse cleanliness with health. You can over wash your hair and wash out some of the essential oils that your scalp is naturally producing for your locks. These oils are necessary for strong, healthy hair.

A good general rule of thumb is to only use shampoo in your hair after a workout or a long day of manual labor when you know it’s got either sweat or dirt in it. If you work at a desk and don’t see the gym often, then just remember to only wash your hair with shampoo approximately every two days.

3. Not Too Hot
“Warm water and soap” was the mantra we all grew up hearing for sanitary hand washing. Your hair should get the same temperature. Too often we wash our hair under scalding hot water. I understand how inviting a real hot shower feels, particularly in the winter months, but next time, dial it back to warm for your hair’s sake. Too much hot water can strip your hair of the same oils you could be rinsing out by over washing. Follow this tip for a couple days and your hair should have a bit of natural sheen to it.

4. Choose Wisely
The products you’re using in your daily hair care routine are, without a doubt, instrumental to your hair’s health. If you’re part of the majority, then you likely have a minimal hair care routine consisting of things like shampoo and either a paste/gel or hairspray. The great thing is that you likely don’t need to add anything to that list – just be conscious of what is in those products.

Look for an alternative shampoo that’s sulfate-free. As far as styling products go, most are going to be packed with harmful chemicals. If you want to stand by your product you’ve used for years, then just be more mindful and use it more sparingly in the future. If you want to take a stand against this pollution of your scalp, then switch to all-natural alternatives like aloe vera or a gelatin based mixture.

Above all, remember that it’s just hair. A bad haircut or a little hair loss isn’t the end of the world, and most hair issues are fixable. Treat your hair well and it will treat you well too, but don’t overthink it.

We don't always think of derms as hair experts, but they are the professionals to see for things like dandruff and hair thinning. As someone who has experienced bilateral eyelash loss (twice), I'm well aware that hair-related ailments can be scary and confusing to navigate. Even seeking everyday good hair health can be something of a mystery. I know my hair goes through phases—often it's thriving, while other times I can see it struggling. But, I can't always pinpoint the habits that yield either result.

To get an expert opinion on the lifestyle changes most likely to promote healthier hair, we reached out to board-certified dermatologist Ainah Tan, MD, FAAD.

Tan notes that healthy hair shedding is approximately 100 to 150 hairs a day and, with that, you can expect to see about a half-inch per month of growth. But as you get older, your rate of growth slows (and you have to step up your care routine if you want to keep your hair, brows, and lashes in optimum health). "Hair loss and thinning is an extremely frustrating issue and can be difficult to treat, as the cause can be difficult to determine," notes Tan. Whether you're trying to turn hair loss around or simply want your strands to look, feel, and be their best, here are the dermatologist-approved ways to improve your hair health today.

Eat clean

When it comes to hair, you are what you eat. A nutrient-dense diet will greatly improve the health of hair follicles, giving you shinier strands. "Make sure that you are eating a healthy diet including lots of leafy vegetables and sources of iron," advises Tan. "Both iron and vitamin D help build and strengthen hair. This is why these ingredients are so often found in hair supplements."

Stay on top of your health

When your body is out of whack, it can show in your hair. "It is important to also make sure that the rest of your body is in working order and to regularly visit your doctor for a check-up," reminds Tan. "They can check things like your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), as thyroid dysfunction can be a reason for dull or thinning hair."

Keep your stress in check

"Minimize stress as much as possible," advises Tan. "Stress can affect the body immensely. When your mind and body are stressed, energy is diverted from making lush, thick hair." Additionally, Tan notes that stressful events such as delivering a baby, being hospitalized, or dealing with a death in the family can trigger a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. "But don’t worry, once the stress is decreased and life starts getting back to normal, hair growth typically returns to a healthy state," assures Tan.

Keep products and heat to a minimum

Overworking your hair with daily styling and product buildup can eventually take its toll on the health of your strands and scalp. "Minimize the use of products and hair care practices that can damage the hair cuticle, especially those that use heat," warns Tan. This includes but isn't limited to blow drying and styling with hot tools. "These practices induce bubbles and breaks in the hair that can decrease luster and actually cause hair breakage," says Tan.

Listen to your hair

An important thing to remember is that everyone's hair and scalp are different. What works for your friend might not be the best option for you. Pay attention to how your own hair reacts to products, practices, and haircare routines. Then, adjust accordingly. Tan reminds that it's okay to wash your hair daily. "Increased frequency of hair washing does not cause increased hair loss," she clarifies. "Everyone’s scalp is different and has different washing needs." Do what works for you.

Try keratin

Keratin isn't just for smoothing, it can actually give your hair a boost to make your strands more resilient. Tan notes that hair salon keratin treatments and hair care lines such as Nioxin "can help thicken hair and improve its appearance."

When in doubt, see a derm

"If you are getting distinct patches of hair loss, I would recommend seeing a board-certified dermatologist to diagnose and treat your hair loss, as there may be an autoimmune cause, such as alopecia areata," says Tan. Sometimes, hair loss is hereditary and runs in the family. "This is called androgenetic alopecia (hormonal and genetic hair loss)," explains Tan. She says that this typically presents with thinning all over the scalp, but is usually most prominent on the top and sides of your scalp.

Tan notes that there are a variety of treatment options including topical medications (Rogaine), vitamin supplementation (Viviscal, Nutrafol), oral medications (spironolactone, finasteride, dutasteride), and even procedures (injections of platelet-rich plasma, hair transplantation) that can help. "Make sure to see a board certified dermatologist to discuss your options," she recommends.

This article is from Byrdie