Beauty In The Armed Forces

Photo 2/12

When abroad, there's very little time, let alone space, for that multi-step skin care routine involving exfoliators, cleansers, toners, night cream, day cream, serum and SPF. "When deployed you are allowed to have as many items as you can store in your room or wall locker," says Frost. Tack on the fact that you'll be sharing a bathroom with 20 other women, often at the same time, (and you thought your college dorm situation was a struggle) with a 5 a.m. call time, and it's clear that your usual skin care routine is going to be heavily edited.

But when it comes to coping with changes, it's more about space than actual products. "The first thing you miss most is privacy. Showering at the same time as so many other women quickly uses what small amount of hot water there is." Second on Frost's miss-list: bathtubs. "There's nothing like a long hot bath after a 15-hour workday. You can probably sense I use the word "hot" often," Frost notes. That's probably because the water temperatures on base camps have a tendency to change drastically or run out of hot water altogether with no notice. "Consistency in showering is definitely something we all miss."

Photo 3/12

The limited space, hot water, and time -- not to mention long hours outdoors in unfamiliar and sometimes harsh climates -- means reverting back to small, plastic caddies with enough room for just the essentials. For Frost, this means downsizing full-size hair products to travel-sized shampoo and conditioner, and amping up her supply of SPF. "I always bring lots of sunscreen, for the long days we often have. I discovered Shiseido sunscreen, $34, when I was stationed in Hawaii, and I've been a fan ever since," says Frost.

"No matter where I go, I have moisturizer -- absolutely essential," says Baer. Her go-to for its light scent: Aveda's Hand Moisturizer, $9. "When you are on a plane for 20 hours, a good moisturizer can go a long way in making you feel more comfortable -- I learned that from my mom!" Her must-have list also includes a supply of vitamins and daily basics such as Bath & Body Works Signature Collection soap and creams and toothpaste. "I typically do not need to bring extras because most products can be re-ordered online, and basic products are in stock near our bases," Baer explains.

Being stationed all over the globe also means making their skin care routine fit with any and every climate they may encounter. "For skin care, I love L'Oreal's Revitalift moisturizers, and then I'll adjust the product depending on the climate of where I'm stationed," Baer explains. "I had to start doing this after seeing my skin react differently when I was stationed in different parts of the world, even though I was still using the same products."

While it may be a hassle to try new brands, traveling also means discovering new favorites. "I started using Murad skin care products when I was stationed in Los Angeles, and now I'm in love with the Anti-Aging Acne Cleanser and Treatment Gel."

Photo 4/12

Reading through the AR 6701-1 section on hair is like paging through Rihanna's worst nightmare. It starts off innocent enough: "Many hairstyles are acceptable, as long as they are neat and conservative," Frost explains. But for hair chameleons it gets worse. "Trendy," "extreme," or "eccentric" styles, like the half-shaved head look we can't seem to escape, or designs shaved in the head a la Cassie, are not authorized. If soldiers use dyes, tints, or bleaches, they must choose those that result in natural hair colors -- in other words, anything that isn't purple, blue, pink, green, orange, bright (fire-engine) red and fluorescent or neon.

Photo 5/12

While the rules are set in place for uniformity, servicewomen still have ways to switch up their style. "I did color my hair for two years in the Army," says Frost. "Right out of college, I colored my hair red and went extremely sun-kissed blonde after returning from my last trip in Afghanistan." Baer relies on a versatile cut so she can adhere to the uniform code while keeping her style options open. "I keep my hair long, with longer layers, so when I'm off duty, I can wear it down and style it, and when I'm in uniform, it's still long enough for me to just twist it up and secure it."

Being deployed means getting creative to fill the void of regular salon appointments. To tide over her craving for blowouts, Baer packs products like Biosilk Silk Therapy, $13.99, and Aveda's Brilliant Emollient Finishing Gloss, $28, ("to keep the frizz around my bun under control!") She also special orders her favorites, like Pureology's Serious Colour Care Shampoo & Conditioner, when she is away for longer periods of time. The one thing Peterson misses? "My flat iron -- which I never bring. No reason to. But I miss it, nonetheless."

Photo 6/12

The edit team at Total Beauty will be the first to tell you of the endless possibilities we have when it comes to hairstyles. Parts, braids, textures, curls, waves, and the list goes on and on. Our servicewomen can have 15-hour days, on alert, so naturally there isn't time to fuss over Pinterest tutorials and complicated updos. The Code is specific on hair regulations from length down to soldiers' parts. Extensions, weaves, and wigs are authorized, as long as they have the same appearance as the individual's natural hair. Parts are to be one straight line, not slanted or curved, and "fall in the area where the soldier would normally part the hair."

And as much as we all love a good lob, or a stylish set of blunt bangs, the code clearly states, "Hair will not fall over the eyebrows or extend below the bottom edge of the collar at any time during normal activity or when standing in formation." Hair that falls below the bottom edge of the collar (including braids) must be "neatly and inconspicuously fastened or pinned, so no free-hanging hair is visible." In laymen's terms, this means buns, buns and more buns.

When you're on the front lines of battle, there's plenty to worry about. You have to be on constant alert for snipers, sneak attacks and hidden explosives. What you're not so concerned about is a bad hair day or a broken nail. Still, that doesn't mean beauty products and rituals have no place in female soldiers' daily lives. Earlier this year, the Pentagon removed its ban on women serving in combat positions. This groundbreaking ruling opened up more than 200,000 positions for women in front-lines jobs, such as tankers and infantryman

While women finally gained equal footing in the armed forces -- at least on paper -- clouds of doubt still hover over their ability to measure up to their male counterparts. To complicate matters, female Israel Defense Force officers made news this past summer for their petition to expand manicure options and polish colors. Though this may seem like two steps back for women and their place on the battlefield, women on the front lines defend their right to a proper mani. When we spoke to Army Lieutenant Colonel Candice Frost, Air Force Major Ashley Baer, Air Force Officer Sarah Peterson, and Army Medic Kristie Robson, they insisted that refusing to compromise society's idea of femininity -- even in fatigues, and even in battle -- empowers women.

"Some women may feel pressured to conform to a masculine standard at some point in their careers. But I believe all women eventually face a point where they decide what is comfortable for them in terms of how they look," says Army Lieutenant Colonel Candice Frost. Early on, I found it's possible to express my individuality and femininity in different ways." Whether that means wearing more dresses during time off or packing a curl amplifier when abroad, it's about feeling comfortable and confident in high-stress situations.

We may use the hypothetical desert island game to pare down our product picks to our absolute essentials, but these women have lived it daily. I took a look at the Army Regulation 6701-1 on Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insigina, and talked to theses servicewomen to learn how their usual beauty routine has morphed to meet army guidelines. For these women, it's not about hoarding products to cover up sun spots or make your eyes pop -- it's about taking everyday products and turning them into a source of comfort and empowerment in a traditionally male-dominated world.

Beauty on the Front Lines

Ever wonder what a beauty routine in the armed forces looks like? Four servicewomen reveal what they pack in their cosmetic bags when deployed and why

Skin Care: The Rules

Skin Care: The Reality

Hair Care and Cuts: The Rules

Hair Care and Cut: The Reality

Hair Styling: The Rules

GET FREE SAMPLES