Do Firefighters Have to Shave Body Hair? (& FAQ)

Men love to flaunt their beards and at times body hair as well. Similarly, many women prefer men with beards as well. However, the general trends of body and facial hair in men are the least bothered when it comes to certain professions like firefighting, police, military, and more.

Therefore, did you come across some information saying you cannot have body hair and beard if you want to work as a firefighter? And it made you confused? Well, it is true to some extent.

Furthermore, we will help you deal with your queries in this article. So, let us find out the answers to all your questions related to fighterfighters having body hair in addition to methods they can use to get rid of unwanted, or maybe some wanted hair.

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: Do Firefighters Have to Shave Body Hair? If Yes, Why?
• Part 2: Are Firefighters Allowed to Have Facial Hair?
• Part 3: Do firefighters have to Shave Facial Hair?
• Part 4: What does NFPA say about Facial Hair?
• Part 5: Are Male Firefighters Allowed to Have Long Hair?
• Part 6: Top 5 Ways for Firefighters to Remove Body and Facial Hair

1. Do Firefighters Have to Shave Body Hair? If Yes, Why?

Well, it is common for firefighters to have no beard and short head hair. However, when it comes to removing the hair from their chest, arms, legs, and other parts of the body, shaving is more of a personal choice than a professional requirement.

But looking at it from another aspect, it is better to shave the body regularly as well. The reason is that hair removal has many benefits for men, especially the ones involved in physical activities like firefighters.  Some of these benefits include,

• Better speed and motility as there is no hair to increase air drag
• Comfortable working environment as hair can make the body itch and sweat
• Reduced body odor even after long hours of working in the field
• Preventing small insects from riding up the hair on their bodies
• Better performance in sports and athletics during off-field practice

2. Are Firefighters Allowed to Have Facial Hair?

The topic of having facial hair for firefighters is a lot different than that of body hair. The reason is that there are clear regulations when it comes to having beards in firefighters.

Most countries including, the United Kingdom, Canada, and America have a recruitment requirement for firefighters to have little to no facial hair, especially below the lips as stated in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration [1].  

Additionally, a regulation in 2015 allowed firefighters to have closely chopped facial hair that is uncut by the razor blade. This regulation was made to help the firefighters against pseudofolliculitis barbae which is caused because of constant shaving [2]. 

3. Do firefighters have to Shave Facial Hair?

Yes, Firefighters shave facial hair every day in most cases to stay clean shave. However, this is not the case for all firefighters because not all of them will be working directly on the field. 

Shaving is essential for firefighters who are involved in fire extinguishing and rescuing activities as they have to wear the respiratory apparatus. A well-sealed face mask prevents the inhalation of toxins and smoke. 

However, the beard can interfere with the sealing of the face mask. That is why operation firefighters must groom their facial hair regularly, especially below the top lip regardless of the reason they might wear a beard [3].

4. What does NFPA say about Facial Hair?

Just like other organizations managing the rules related to professions like firefighting, the National Fire Protection Association has the same remarks about facial hair in firefighters.

Therefore, “NFPA 1500 doesn’t allow firefighters with beards or facial hair to use SCBA whose facepiece is designed to seal with the face, or with hair that could interfere with the operation of the SCBA to use respiratory protection at emergency incidents or in hazardous or potentially hazardous atmospheres” as mentioned in the guidelines of NFPA [4]. 

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration also does not allow firefighters to have facial hair or beard in any form for the sake of safety. 

5. Are Male Firefighters Allowed to Have Long Hair?

There are no certain rules about the length of the head hair in the firefighting department. The only requirement is that the hair should be tied, well-groomed, look professional, and not interfere with your job.

Female firefighters can have long hair. So can the male firefighters if they ensure that the hair does not become an obstruction in their duties [5].

However, grooming long hair and keeping them out can be quite difficult. That is why it is recommended for firefighters to have short hair.

Additionally, the hair grooming policies can differ among different regions and fightfighting stations. So, do thorough research about the policies of the workplace you are applying to find out if you can keep your long dreads or have to say goodbye.

Top 5 Ways for Firefighters to Remove Body and Facial Hair

Regardless of the uncertainty and variations in the policies about body and head hair in firefighters, a clean shave is a must-have thing to clear the fitness test.

Short hair and a hairless body can further add to the qualifications. So, here are some methods of grooming the body and facial hair for you if you are applying for an operation firefighter position.

1. Shaving

Shaving is the no. 1 priority of men when it comes to removing facial and body hair. It is super fast, cheap, effortless, and effective for thick hair in men. Also, you can make it a part of your daily morning routine. 

All you need is a shaving cream, post-shave lotion, and razor. Shaving works great for grooming the beard as it offers a close shave.

Regardless of the little time taken to shave, you still have to be careful about not cutting yourself in addition to getting new blades now and then. Also, shaving can give you pseudofolliculitis barbae. 

2. Waxing

The next method that is effective for both body hair and facial hair equally is waxing. You can get it done professionally every month to keep the hair away for 2 to 4 weeks. Additionally, it does not give you cuts, ingrown hair, or skin irritation.

However, you have to be well-prepared to take the pain caused by pulling the hair from the roots. Furthermore, most men would like waxing for their bodies but not the face.

3. Depilatory Creams

Depilatory creams can become the best friend of men looking for an effortless method of hair removal. They are as quick as shaving but without cuts. Moreover, they work well for large areas like chest and leg hair and the turnaround time for hair in this case is more than a week.

However, they are not the best choice for regular use as they contain harmful chemicals that can give your skin some burns. 

4. Electric Razors and Epilators 

Electric razors and epilators with multiple attachments for the face, body, and intimate areas can be a great investment for firefighters as well. The reason is that these travel-friendly devices can be used anywhere and anytime. Also, they are gentle and safe on the skin.

However, the problem of hair coming back quickly after the shave and extreme pain with epilation remains the same.

5. IPL Hair Removal Devices 

There is one hair removal method that not only is the least painful among the methods we discussed earlier but also offers the longest-lasting results while being skin-friendly. It is the IPL hair removal, effective for both body hair and beards in men. 

Also, devices like Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Handset makes the IPL ultimate grooming technique for men as it is FDA-cleared, has multiple modes for body, face, and intimate areas, and works great for the thick and coarse hair in men with its several intensity levels.  

Conclusion

Unfortunately, male firefighters are not allowed to have beards in any case to help them wear the respiratory equipment correctly and protect themselves during the operation.

Fortunately, the rules about body and head hair are somewhat flexible depending upon the region, department, and the firefighter himself.

So, make sure to be clean-shaven before applying to any position. Also, removing the body hair and cutting your hair short will act as a plus point in your fitness test.

References 

1. 1. Fire Law: SCBA, Facial Hair, and OSHA. May 8, 2023. Firehouse; Careers and Education. https://www.firehouse.com/careers-education/article/53056845/the-legal-basis-to-restrictions-on-firefighter-facial-hair
   2. Pseudofolliculitis barbae. Dermatology for the Primary Care Provider, 2022. Reid A. Waldman MD, Jane M. Grant-Kels MD, FAAD. Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/pseudofolliculitis-barbae
   3. FAQs Section of North Wales Fires. I have a beard for religious reasons; will I have to shave it off to be a Firefighter? https://www.northwalesfire.gov.wales/about-us/recruitment-and-vacancies/full-time-wholetime-firefighters/faq/
   4. NFPA Guidelines. Tommy Lewis. Jan 10, 2010. Firefighter Nation; News, Training, Community, Fire Rescue Magazine. https://my.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/nfpa-guidelines#gref
   5. Can Firefighters Have Long Hair/Beards/Dreads? Grooming Policies. Fire Fighter Insider. https://firefighterinsider.com/can-firefighters-have-long-hair-beards-dreads-grooming-policies/