The Israel Defense Forces has announced plans to revise long standing grooming and uniform standards.
Under the forthcoming regulations, all soldiers will be permitted to grow neatly maintained beards, regardless of religious affiliation—a significant change from previous rules, which typically granted such allowances only to observant Jewish personnel with official exemptions.
In addition to the grooming policy, the IDF is expanding its regulations concerning personal appearance and uniform protocols. Female service members will soon be allowed to choose from a wider variety of nail polish colors, extending beyond the previously sanctioned shades of pink, grey and black. Moreover, soldiers will no longer be required to change into their formal dress uniforms, known as Madei Aleph, before heading home for leave. Instead, they will be permitted to travel in their standard-issue tactical attire.
These proposed reforms are part of a broader agenda spearheaded by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who assumed leadership of the IDF in March. His tenure has been marked by an emphasis on modernization, including adjustments to internal policies to better reflect the needs of today’s service members and align with evolving societal norms.
Final approval of the changes is expected later Wednesday, signaling the IDF’s continued commitment to aligning military life with contemporary values and supporting a more inclusive environment for its personnel.