Air Force nixes short boots and eyelash extensions in updated appearance standards

In this image provided by the U.S. Air Force, airmen assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing gather near a B-2 Spirit to greet aircrew members at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., May 9, 2025, upon return from deployment to Diego Garcia. (Staff Sgt. Joshua Hastings/U.S. Air Force via AP)

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

In this image provided by the U.S. Air Force, airmen assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing gather near a B-2 Spirit to greet aircrew members at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., May 9, 2025, upon return from deployment to Diego Garcia. (Staff Sgt. Joshua Hastings/U.S. Air Force via AP)

Airmen will be expected to have higher boots, officers must maintain one complete set of a camouflage uniform and eyelash extensions are no longer permitted, the Air Force announced in updated service dress and appearance standards.

“Combat boots must now be between 8-12 inches in height from the bottom of the heel tread to the top of the back of the boot, and soling material will not exceed two inches in height,” the Air Force said Thursday in a statement.

Eyelash extensions are prohibited, unless for medical reasons. If medical authorization is obtained, eyelashes must not exceed 12 millimeters in length, the service said. The Air Force first authorized eyelash extensions in 2021.

For Operational Camouflage Pattern uniforms, or OCPs, officers must maintain at least one complete set of either the non-fire-retardant OCPs or an improved hot weather combat OCP uniform. Airmen in OCP uniforms also received clarification on cuffs being rolled up.

“When sleeves are not rolled up, cuffs may remain visible, or members may fold their sleeves once or twice,” the service said.

The various uniform and appearance changes will begin being enforced in the next few months. The changes do not apply to guardians as the Space Force is expected to unveil guidance in the coming weeks.

This is the second announcement this year regarding dress and appearance. In January, the Air Force announced it was doing away with duty-identifier patches and an array of nail polish colors, as well as men’s hair not touching the ears and being clean shaven at the start of each duty day.

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