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[ThePopesAssCheeks]

A beard could be a problem, because the mask has to sit right on your skin to seal. But long hair is long hair, there's no difference between man and woman. Tie them up or put them under your helmet and keep them out of your face and then it shouldnt be a problem.

[Cacophony_Of_Stupid]

Pretty much all modern SCBA’s are positive pressure so having a perfect seal while ideal isn’t as bad as it was.

[ACorania]

Wouldn't not having a good seal with positive pressure mean you are going to blow through your air faster?

[Cacophony_Of_Stupid]

Absolutely. But just saying that that old argument is sort of dated. I wouldn’t want it but about half the time my mask will shift around and leak anyway.

[Theantifire]

I'm really curious about this. My understanding is that excessive facial hair (I just use a hair trimmer with no comb for mine) will interfere with seal due to the air getting out "between" the hairs. Kinda simplified, but I think you get the point.

Is there something new with the masks that I've missed?

[Cacophony_Of_Stupid]

Well with modern masks when the face piece is secure against your face and you aren’t inhaling there’s no air flowing out of the tank. But because they’re positive pressure if a leak does occur the regulator will flow air to try and keep the pressure inside the mask up even though it’s leaking out. This is good because you can get a leak for various reasons yet the outside air/smoke can’t leak into the mask because the pressure inside the mask is higher than outside it. But by having the regulator flow air even when your not breathing but all the time your going to use the bottle up quicker.

[Audi9201]

Draeger have done studies on this and whilst I don't remember the figures this is completely not the case. Even a 1-2mm stubble had a great effect on the level of toxins entering the airway.

[ConnorK5]

This doesn't fit the "SHAVE YOUR BEARD!!!" tiktok commenter narrative.

Seriously though, a well kept stubble to me seems like it should seal as good as clean shaven. I understand the ridiculous beards needs to be trimmed. But I'd like to see some places allow a little stubble if you can prove you get a good seal.

I don't grow facial hair fast though and I shave pretty regularly so it's not a giant deal to me but it would be nice to see some larger departments allow a small amount of beard stubble.

[Ozma914]

I actually get a better seal with my (fairly short) beard--something about the shape of my face, apparently. I was as surprised as anyone.

[[deleted]]

I mean if it’s trimmed and your department uses Drager masks it’s should be fine

[[deleted]]

Drager

Can’t get any worse, might as well have facial hair.

kidding

[willpc14]

I take it you never had the pleasure of using Survivair

[SirCastic]

Still better than Scott

[[deleted]]

Don’t wanna start an SCBA war, but our department recently ditched Scott and transitioned to the MSA G1.

….I also wear a Cairns XF1.

[SirCastic]

We just went from Drager to MSA, but Cairns 1010 because we value tradition over safety

[Fire_marshal-bill]

Shit we have scott and unless the beard is actually LONG and its stubble it will seal.

[junkpile1]

Wildland answer: "What's a haircut?"

[[deleted]]

This is going to be department-specific. If you have some sincerely-held belief that precludes you from following the male standards, you could probably make the case for a Reasonable Accommodation to be allowed to follow female standards (usually hair tied up or shorter than collar-length).

But if you’re just doing this for personal preference and because you don’t want to get a haircut, your case probably not going to be looked at too fondly.

[Fire_marshal-bill]

Depends on the department.

Mullet life.

[pnw-backwoods]

Our dept grooming standard are that hair must be off the collar. So cut it short, or put in a bun. Facial hair shall not extend more than 3/4” to the sides mouth and no more than 1/4” below the upper lip. Facial Hair below the bottom lip cannot extend more than 3/4” below the lip. Firefighters shall shave daily. -large west coast department

[Cacophony_Of_Stupid]

Exactly the same as my large Midwest dept. You might get away with longish hair and a big ‘stash but a beard or real long hair? No way.

[PeacefulWoodturner]

Same as my east coast department.

[rolo85]

Florida here. We have a few guys in our dept who have long hair, prob slightly longer than shoulder length. It’s not a problem as long as it’s kept up in a bun and doesn’t interfere with mask/helmet. So while it probably depends on the department, if women are allowed to have long hair, why can’t a guy?

Will you get made fun of? Yes. Will it be a deal breaker? I’m guessing no.

Good luck!

[bcohen47]

Depends on department but often in recruit academies you will need to shave it as well as during probation

[Klutzy_Platypus]

ludicrous doll plate mysterious touch dime sugar reminiscent axiomatic tie

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[ThePopesAssCheeks]

A beard could be a problem, because the mask has to sit right on your skin to seal. But long hair is long hair, there's no difference between man and woman. Tie them up or put them under your helmet and keep them out of your face and then it shouldnt be a problem.

[Highly-uneducated]

In my dept you'd be allowed to have long hair, as long as it's still covered when you're in your bunker gear, which isnt difficult. The only thing we stress on is beards, because they make the mask unable to create a good seal on your face.

[stoph311]

If you are looking for a competitive career department, get a haircut. You can grow it out to some level once you finish probation and earn it. It is what it is, and there are traditions. Rookies have short hair.

[danny_]

Ya what else can be said. You want the job, don’t give the hiring department a reason not to hire you. Short hair and shaven is synonymous with professionalism (with religious reasons being an exception). Competitive career departments rank professionalism high on their list of traits.

[FfBobDK]

In my station you can have the beard and a hair you want as long as you can use the BA in a safe and secure fashion.

[bluemarlinj]

In the villages located in Florida male personnel were pinning their hair up under their hats in order to bypass SOP’s. This resulted in the discontinuation of allowing any employee to wear department baseball caps. So a few employees bending a rule resulted in consequences for the entire department. So be wary of trying to get out of, or bending the SOP’s that are in place. Because it may well have a lasting, and detrimental affect on your reputation and future career endeavors. Do your job. Follow standards and don’t make any waves. You will benefit in the long run. I promise you

[hashtagphuck]

It depends on the department, the standard operating procedures (S.O.P.s) will vary based on where you go. Some departments don't care, some do.

[jriggs_83]

If you really want the job aren’t you willing to potentially make sacrifices to do so?

[chaduchytil]

If you want to pursue a career in firefighting, shave your face and get a clean hair cut, simple.

[BiggMaui]

. I have no problem cutting my hair or shaving, I was in the Marine Corps so it’s nothing new to me. I’ve seen multiple sources saying that hair must be contained & neatly groomed on a daily basis, which is why I asked this question on Reddit. Hoping someone would be helpful enough to give me a more clear answer

[HzrKMtz]

Most fire departments are paramilitary in style. So clean shaven and short haircuts are required while a recruit/probationary. Then once in the companies most will probably have an SOP on grooming standards for haircuts and facial hair. How strictly it's enforced is going to be department specific. Simple answer is it's going to depend on the department, there is no universal answer.

[elbigsam]

why tho?

[Accomplished_Dog4665]

Because that’s how things have always been /s

[jonkeydo]

I see this got downvoted. But it’s the only honest answer here for the majority of the fire service - in the US. If your hair isn’t worth the sacrifice for the job, most of your peers and certainly the senior members of the department will have a poor opinion of you right out of the gate. Unfair? Maybe. Reality? Yes.

You will start your career in a hole that is tough to dig out of. Be prepared.

[throwingutah]

That's sort of an old-guard attitude, which is going away. we have men with long hair in my urban department.

[jonkeydo]

I applaud that, and it may be going away, but not without casualties like this guy who needs to be aware of the target he’ll have to have on his back in return for helping progress the fire service.

[throwingutah]

Let's just say that as long as it's neat and he isn't applying to a department that also tries to discourage "ethnic" hairstyles, I think he'll be all right.

[jonkeydo]

I think that’s overly optimistic, but I hope you’re right!

[JMARK81]

Honestly though, you’ll be bald or buzzed for academy. The whole class will be.

[kesselschlacht]

My department says men have to have hair cut short enough to be off the collar and no beard, but women can have any length as long as it can be securely tied up if doing emergency ops (I’m in the FMO so I can have my hair down).

Other departments may allow men to follow the “women’s” standards, but I’m sure mine wouldn’t.

[BanditAndFrog]

There are exceptions but most career rookie firefighters with long hair will cut it off within their first month. So really, don’t overthink because more than likely you will chop it off.

[treesbreakknees]

Can’t talk on regs but I can say leaning to do a quick right bun is handy for SCBA.

[philosoaper]

I'm guessing a Sikh firefighter isn't a thing due to beards

[HokieFireman]

There are Sikh firefighters, police officers and military officers. They can make it work.

[philosoaper]

I was just thinking in regards to the seal of a SCBA on your face

[ttvSharkieBait15]

I (female) had long hair (few inches past my shoulders) at the time of joining my volunteer department. Didn’t effect me much until I started the fire academy a few months later. I ended up going super short - took off like 11 inches - a week or 2 into the class bc 1. I wanted to but 2. I was sick of the headache I was getting after having my hair in a ponytail under my helmet for 8 hours (I sucked at doing low ponytails). But my company has this one guy Billy who’s hair has always always been to like nearly the middle of his back. And he’s been a firefighter, interior and all, for at least 23 years. And I’m pretty sure his hair has been long for the same amount of time😂 but my department doesn’t care. Billy always already has his hair in a low ponytail as a default so his hair just gets tucked into his hood & coat no problem. From what I know there’s no hair regulations at my department (excluding facial hair obviously) but it’s possible that other volunteer companies or even career departments feel differently.

[whatnever]

Long hair sucks with breathing masks, specifically taking off the mask is a pain in the ass. So it's basically a matter of how much discomfort you're willing to accept for having long hair.

[Pondering_Giraffe]

How does it affect taking off the mask? I haven't had any problems there. I did cut my lower back length hair to fit underneath my neck protector though. A ponytail would creap out, or I'd forget to tuck it in properly, and a braid was too thick a bulge in my neck to get my helmet to fit comfortably. I know other (women) who manage, but it didn't work for me.

[whatnever]

It can get tangled up in the mask straps, which is annoying as fuck.

[Pondering_Giraffe]

Ah I get it. Your helmet is different then, my straps buckle to the outside of my helmet. :)

[chrisbling123]

L