The U.S. Air Force revised its medical shaving profile guidance to better align with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s grooming standards, according to a Monday memorandum.
The memo comes as more changes to grooming standards across the force are set in accordance with Hegseth’s vision.
Starting Jan. 31, 2026, airmen and guardians shaving profiles will be invalid if issued before March 1, 2025, according to the memo.
“The Air Force Medical Service is committed to the health and safety of its service members while ensuring readiness standards consistent with the Department of War,” the statement reads. “The updated memorandum serves to maintain an informed environment on grooming standards to minimize harmful effects on operational readiness.”
A statement was first published on DVIDS Monday, with the memo signed by Air Force Lt. Gen. John J. DeGoes attached. It was then later released Tuesday on the Air Combat Command’s website.
The release states that the memo is an update to the previous January 2025 policy, with the goal of helping health care providers evaluate airmen and guardians for a pseudofolliculitis barbae diagnosis, which is clinical and commonly known as razor bumps.
“Airmen and Guardians who have or are at risk of getting PFB will be given preventive education on appropriate shaving hygiene and, if needed, medication, a consultation with a Dermatologist (or specialist) or a recommendation for laser hair removal,” the release reads.
Razor bumps are caused by shaved hairs growing and curling back into the skin and primarily affects those with tightly curled hair, like Black men, according to a dermatology group based in Virginia.
Profiles must incorporate applicable grooming standards outlined in the previous October memo for airmen and an August memo for guardians, the release states.
Airmen and guardians will be referred to their commander if they accumulate more than 12 months of shaving profile within a 24-month period beginning Feb. 1, 2026, or the date of the first profile, whichever is later, according to the memo.
“This new memorandum does not apply to shaving waivers granted for religious accommodations,” the statement says.
The new regulations allow primary care providers, medical profile officers and unit commanders to use the guidance listed to recommend, review and approve or deny a medical shaving profile, according to the statement.
Primary care managers evaluate service members for medical conditions, recommend profiles and submit their profile recommendations to a medical profile officer, according to the release.
Profile officers review recommendations and if they meet all review criteria, they earn a “concur” and are submitted to the unit commander for consideration, the release says.
Profile officers and senior profile officers review the provider’s recommendations for profiles less than 30 days or greater than 30 days, respectively, the statement continues.
The commanders have “final approval authority,” per the release. Then, within seven days, they must use the Aeromedical Services Information Management Systems to record their electronic approval or denial.
No single profile can exceed six months once the commander approves it in ASIMS, the memo states.
Commanders can request service members to be evaluated due to operations concerns stemming from a medical condition, the release says.
Before the January deadline, service members with medical shaving profiles issued before March 1, 2025, should schedule an appointment with a military health care provider for evaluation, the release advises.
Cristina Stassis is an editorial fellow for Defense News and Military Times, where she covers stories surrounding the defense industry, national security, military/veteran affairs and more. She is currently studying journalism and mass communication and international affairs at the George Washington University.
