Army chiefs have been criticised for launching a review – just as the Iran war intensifies – into whether male soldiers can wear make-up.
While British personnel in Cyprus called for more protection and HMS Dragon was stuck in port, all serving soldiers were asked on Thursday whether they thought men could apply cosmetics and wear their hair like women.
They were surveyed on woke ‘gender-free’ changes which could see men wearing make-up with long hair or hair extensions, painted nails and earrings.
The consultation from Army HQ in Andover asked soldiers if they agreed ‘rules on make-up should be gender-free’, explaining ‘this means that men, women and non-binary service personnel can all wear make-up in the same way’.
Women soldiers can wear make-up but it should be ‘inconspicuous’ and after training. It ‘includes natural eyelash extensions and nail polish although this can’t be of bright colour’.
Soldiers were also asked if hair and jewellery policies ‘should be the same for men, women and non- binary personnel’ – effectively meaning men could style their hair like women and wear stud earrings.
Make-up is currently banned for men and they must have short hair ‘which does not reach to the collar or on to the ears’.
The review also suggests laying down rules for ‘facial aesthetics’ such as fillers and microblading for the first time, plus ‘recovery periods’ for tattoos and piercings.
The war in Iran rages on: an explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on Saturday
Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois said: ‘Upgrading to mascara from camouflage cream is hardly likely to deter Putin.’
The Army’s last major appearance policy change was in 2024 when a century-old no beards rule was reversed. The MoD last mooted allowing men to wear make-up in 2019. The then Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said it had to be camouflage colour.
In 2017, Army chiefs sparked anger when they instructed personnel to avoid gender-focused phrases like ‘best man for the job’.
An Army spokesman said: ‘As the Chief of the General Staff has said, the Army is focused on enhancing our lethality and fighting readiness. There are no plans to change policy – and this was not an official Army survey.’