DECEMBER 16, 2025 – The Department of the Air Force updated its medical guidance for shaving profiles, Dec. 15, 2025, to align with the Secretary of War’s grooming standards.
Effective Jan. 31, 2026, all shaving profiles issued before March 1, 2025, are invalid. Airmen and Guardians who have medical shaving profiles issued prior to March 1, 2025, should schedule an appointment with a military health care provider for further evaluation before the January deadline.
Additionally, the Dec. 15, 2025, memorandum equips primary care providers, medical profile officers and unit commanders with guidance to inform their decision to recommend and approve or deny a medical shaving profile.
Key updates
Profiles must incorporate applicable grooming standards outlined in Department of Air Force Guidance Memorandum 2025-03 to Department of Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Department of Air Force Personnel.
No single profile may exceed a six-month period.
Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, Airmen and Guardians who accumulate more than 12 months of shaving profile within a 24-month period will be referred to their commander.
This new memorandum does not apply to shaving waivers granted for religious accommodations.
Primary care manager role – recommend
Primary care managers evaluate members for medical conditions, recommend profiles, and submit their profile recommendations to a medical profile officer.
Profile officer role – review
For profiles of 30 days or less – Profile officers review the provider’s recommendations.
For profiles greater than 30 days – Senior profile officers review recommendations.
Profile recommendations that meet all review criteria earn a “concur” and are submitted to the unit commander for consideration.
Commander role – approve
Commanders have final approval authority for medical shaving profiles. They record their electronic approval or denial via the Aeromedical Services Information Management Systems within seven days.
Commanders may request service members to be evaluated due to operational concerns stemming from a medical condition.
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 Dec. 15 memo is an update to the policy in January 2025, designed to assist health care providers in evaluating Airmen and Guardians for a Pseudofolliculitis Barbae diagnosis. That memo differentiated between shaving irritation and PFB, and provided criteria to distinguish between mild, moderate and severe cases of PFB.
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 updated memorandum serves to maintain an informed environment on grooming standards to minimize harmful effects on operational readiness.
Medical Shaving Profile Frequently Asked Questions
General Guidance and Policy
Q1. What does this new guidance cover?
A1. The updated AF/SG Shaving Policy Memorandum includes: *Acknowledgement that unit commanders are the final approval authority of shaving profiles, Aeromedical Services Information Management Systems (ASIMS) updated to reflect changes as of Dec. 15, 2025. *No single profile for facial irritation due to shaving or for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) will exceed six months. *All long-term (12 months or more) shaving profiles issued before March 1, 2025, are no longer valid effective Jan. 31, 2026. *Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, or the date of the first profile (whichever is later), Airmen or Guardians who accumulate more than 12 months of shaving profiles within a 24-month period will be referred to their unit commander. *Updated AF Shaving Guidance Clinical Treatment Algorithm with guidance for medical providers to manage shaving-related skin issues.
Q2. Does this guidance apply to religious shaving waivers?
A2. No, the AF/SG policy only applies to medical profiles.
Q3. When does the memorandum expire?
A3. There is no pre-determined expiration for the policy. If an update is necessary, AF/SG will establish a new policy memorandum which will supersede this version.
Q4. Who can I contact if I have questions about this guidance?
A4. The installation’s military treatment facility (MTF) senior profile officer (typically the chief of aerospace medicine – SGP) is the installation’s expert on this policy. For health-specific concerns or questions regarding shaving irritation, Airmen and Guardians should consult their medical primary care manager (PCM). Members with questions about meeting dress and appearance standards should consult their immediate supervisor or unit leadership.
Medical Evaluation and Profile Issuance
Q5. Who needs to be examined for a shaving profile?
A5. Airmen and Guardians who are unable to maintain grooming standards according to Department of Air Force Instruction 36-2903 and Space Force Instruction 36-2903 should seek education on shaving techniques designed to reduce shaving irritation. If still unable to meet standards after using these techniques, members should seek or be referred for medical evaluation.
Q6. What resources should HCPs use when evaluating a patient for a shaving profile?
A6. HCPs should use the updated the AF Shaving Guidance Clinical Treatment Algorithm accompanying the AF/SG memo. A panel of senior AF dermatologists and medical providers developed the algorithm to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to shaving irritation.
Profile Management and Limitations
Q7. When does a shaving profile become effective?
A7. The member’s medical provider recommends a shaving profile; it becomes effective after the unit commander approves the profile in ASIMS. Commanders have up to seven days to approve or disapprove the profile and discuss any concerns with the member’s medical provider.
Q8. How long can a shaving profile be issued for?
A8. Shaving profiles are each limited to six months or less to ensure members are actively engaged in a treatment plan and receiving the necessary medical support.
Q9. What happens if I need shaving profiles for an extended period?
A9. A shaving profile is part of a treatment plan designed to return the service member to full duty status. The plan includes regular appointments with the medical provider to evaluate the treatment’s impact on the condition. Six months is the longest a single shaving profile will be issued. Medical profiles will not extend beyond 12 months (cumulatively) in a 24-month period.
Q10. What should be included in a shaving profile?
A10. The AF Form 469 for shaving profiles is standardized. The document includes a caveat requiring members on profile to shave at the request of the commander for operational reasons. Members may also be placed on a deployment availability code as “non-deployable” while under a shaving profile. The DAF will issue further guidance on this process.
Responsibilities
Q11. What are the responsibilities of the Primary Care Manager (PCM)?
A11. PCMs manage medical conditions that prevent shaving, follow the AF Shaving Guidance Clinical Treatment Algorithm, and recommend medical profiles, as needed, with the AF Form 469.
Q12. What are the responsibilities of the Chief of Aerospace Medicine (SGP)?
A12. The SGP at the MTF supporting the installation educates PCMs on the AF/SG Shaving Profile Policy Memorandum and the AF Shaving Guidance Clinical Treatment Algorithm. The SGP also concurs or non-concurs on all AF Form 469s for shaving that are greater than 30 days in duration. The SGP also coordinates with commanders on the status of their unit personnel, profile trends, and process updates.
Transition and Legacy Profiles
Q13. What happens to my existing shaving profile?
A13. Effective Jan. 31, 2026, all shaving profiles issued before March 1, 2025, are no longer valid. Any Airman or Guardian with an expiring profile will be re-evaluated under the new medical profile guidance. Profiles issued after March 1, 2025, remain valid until the expiration date annotated on the AF Form 469.
Q14. How will future profiles be issued?
A14. The Airman or Guardian’s PCM makes the recommendation for a shaving profile, a profile officer at the MTF concurs or non-concurs with the recommendation, and the member’s unit commander approves or disapproves the profile in ASIMS. The status of a member’s profile will be visible in ASIMS, as are profiles for mobility-restricting conditions. Additionally, the member will receive an automated email notification from ASIMS. Members may access their profiles in ASIMS at https://asimsimr.health.mil/imr/MyImr.aspx
Q15. Can my commander request a medical evaluation for shaving issues?
A15. Unit commanders may request a medical evaluation for any medical condition. Airmen and Guardians also may directly consult their local medical provider for evaluation and treatment of any medical concern, to include facial irritation related to shaving.
Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs