Senior military commanders have come under fire for initiating a review into whether male soldiers should be permitted to wear make-up, a move that has been labelled as ill-timed given the escalating conflict with Iran. The consultation was launched just as British forces in Cyprus demanded enhanced protective measures and the HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air defence destroyer, remained docked in Portsmouth awaiting deployment.
Survey Details and Proposed Changes
On Thursday, all serving personnel were asked to participate in a survey exploring potential 'gender-free' modifications to appearance regulations. The questionnaire, distributed by Army Headquarters in Andover, sought opinions on whether rules regarding cosmetics should be uniform across genders, effectively allowing men to apply make-up, wear long hair or extensions, paint their nails, and adorn earrings in a manner similar to female soldiers.
Current Policies Versus Proposed Reforms
Under existing guidelines, women in the Army are allowed to wear make-up provided it remains subtle and is only applied after completing basic training. Permissible items include natural eyelash extensions and nail polish, though vibrant colours are prohibited. In contrast, male soldiers are currently barred from using cosmetics and must maintain short haircuts that do not extend beyond the collar or cover the ears.
The survey also inquired if jewellery and hairstyle policies should be identical for men, women, and non-binary personnel. This could potentially enable men to style their hair in feminine ways and wear stud earrings, marking a significant departure from traditional military standards.
Additional Considerations and Historical Context
The review further proposes establishing regulations for 'facial aesthetics' such as fillers and microblading, which have not been previously addressed in Army codes. It also suggests implementing defined recovery periods for tattoos and piercings to ensure they do not interfere with operational duties.
This initiative follows the Army's last major appearance policy revision in 2024, which overturned a century-old ban on beards. Previously, in 2019, the Ministry of Defence considered allowing men to wear make-up, but only in camouflage colours, as stated by then Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. In 2017, Army leadership faced backlash for advising personnel to avoid gender-specific phrases like 'best man for the job'.
Political and Operational Criticism
Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois condemned the timing of the review, remarking that swapping camouflage cream for mascara is unlikely to deter adversaries like Vladimir Putin. His comments underscore concerns that such discussions may detract from the Army's primary focus on combat effectiveness and readiness, particularly as the Iran conflict intensifies.
An Army spokesperson responded by emphasising that the Chief of the General Staff is committed to enhancing lethality and fighting preparedness. They clarified that there are no immediate plans to alter existing policies and that the survey was not an official Army document, though it has sparked widespread debate within military and political circles.
