Free Republic

The Army is going to allow women to wear ponytails in all uniforms, just months after revising its hair and grooming standards to allow ponytails and long braids in some instances.Women will be authorized to wear ponytails “in all authorized U.S. Army uniforms,” the service announced on Thursday. The length of the ponytails cannot extend past the bottom of the shoulder blades; there is no minimum length requirement, and the ponytail or braid must be worn down the center of the back. This change will go into effect immediately upon the publishing of the official guidance, which is expected to...

REALLY? THE FACTS Many Americans are quick to plop down large sums of money for trendy haircuts or trips to upscale salons, but some hairstyles can carry unforeseeable costs. Tight ponytails, cornrows, buns, chignons, twists and other hairstyles that pull on the scalp for prolonged periods can result in irreversible hair loss, a medical condition known as traction alopecia. There are no figures on how many people in the United States have experienced the problem, but it is probably most common in women and children. It is also prevalent among African-Americans and East Indians, groups that are more likely to...