LAPD: Academy- Male Hair

[BlackRedline04]

Not sure if this is the right area to post this. Kind of a random question. Posting it for my boyfriend. We are both in the LAPD process, and he wants to know if he would have to shave his head for the academy. Its pretty short right now, spikey on top. Thanks for any response!

[LAPD4ME]

kiss it goodbye. Being a female I can tell tell that females have to have their hair of their neck short or french braided..no buns. Some of the guys who are in will let you know the cut. I think it's a 1 on top faded to a zero? Or hell it might as well be zero all over.

[Apollo8138]

I have never heard of any police academy in SE Florida telling their cadets/recruits to shave their heads. You will find out what the grooming standards are at the academy orientation.

[Apollo8138]

kiss it goodbye. Being a female I can tell tell that females have to have their hair of their neck short or french braided..no buns. Some of the guys who are in will let you know the cut. I think it's a 1 on top faded to a zero? Or hell it might as well be zero all over.

Those are some very strict guidelines for the guys.

[ciscokid]

When you go to orientation the instructors will bring in both male and female recruit already in the academy to show you what the hair should look like. For guys it is best to cut the hair without a guide. Just use the electric blade and do it at least once a week like every Sunday night.

[danninator]

Not LAPD but in our academy a military style haircut was "suggested" and by suggested you better believe it was all but required. After the first week I don't know a single male with hair longer than a 1.

[090205]

I doubt think shaving the head is a requirement for men. CHP doesn't even allow it from what I've read. And I mean shaving literally; that is, using a razor.

[LE2BE]

I'm currently in the academy, so I speak from experience... You better shave your head!!... Most DI's (class coordinators) require a zero all the way around, and the sideburns and rear of your hair blended (tapered).. They do not want to see round or box cut rears, or straight lines of a sideburn. They will get more lienient as the months progress, but when your start..you are the bottom of the food chain, and will get no priviledges.

On the same note... No mustaches, or facial hair of any kind. No Jewelry for for th women, and no perfumes or cologne. You better buy a dark colored suit and collared shirts with ties... because you will spend the first month wearing them.

Everything is done at the academy to stress teamwork... so when you violate one of these rules... everyone pays for it. So, if your boyfriend has a problem with cutting his hair.. then maybe the LAPD isn't for him...

[LAPD4ME]

Exactly. The last DP you are allowed to grow your hair out. Until then..you don't need it. I think I know what I'm talking about.

[090205]

I'm currently in the academy, so I speak from experience... You better shave your head!!... Most DI's (class coordinators) require a zero all the way around, and the sideburns and rear of your hair blended (tapered).. They do not want to see round or box cut rears, or straight lines of a sideburn. They will get more lienient as the months progress, but when your start..you are the bottom of the food chain, and will get no priviledges.

Here is where the confusion lies. Do you mean shave with a razor so that it's bare skin on your head, or using a trimmer on the zero setting?

Edit: On second thought, you're talking about tapering, so I'm sure that when you state "shave," you are not referring to a razor.

[LAPD4ME]

A few guys in my class used a razor to go bald..you don't have to be that drastic unless you like the look and feel.

[BlackRedline04]

kiss it goodbye. Being a female I can tell tell that females have to have their hair of their neck short or french braided..no buns. Some of the guys who are in will let you know the cut. I think it's a 1 on top faded to a zero? Or hell it might as well be zero all over.

I'm sorry but, what is the point of the french braid over the bun? That just seems very strange to me.

[danninator]

You better buy a dark colored suit and collared shirts with ties... because you will spend the first month wearing them.

Really? we were required to have identical meticulous uniforms....

[LAPD4ME]

Being a female I can tell you for a fact..french braid or cut it off. It's about playing the game. You can put it in a bun when you graduate. SOOOOOO, if your hair isn't long enough to french braid cut it off. If you don't know how..you might get lucky and another female recruit in your class will do it every morning in the locker room ( i suggest buying her lunch 1 a week).

IT's not that bad..everyone looks alike.

Then again you could get a really cool DI who lets you put it in a bun..RARE but it could happen.

You'll find out at orientation what it needs to look like.

[Mike925]

I echo what alot of people above me are saying about male hair length-- make it a "0"! I had a "1" for day 1 and did 50 push-ups for it. A "0" isn't that much of a difference. If you want you can shave your head with a razor, some guys in my class do it, but I feel if you do that its more noticeable when you need a cut.