The U.S. Navy has announced that it is joining other branches of the armed forces – including the Army, the Air Force, and Marines – in lifting its ban on dreadlocks for the women who serve our country.
The Navy announced the end of its ban during a live broadcast on its Facebook page on Tuesday.
Female sailors will soon be able to wear ponytails and dreadlocks while working or in dress uniforms. Women who choose to wear buns will be allowed to style the bun as wide as the back of their heads, according to the Navy.
Petty Officer 1st Class Jacqualynn Leak led efforts behind the reversal.
“I wanted to make an argument so compelling that every reason my chain of command could give me for why dreadlocks were banned could easily be rebutted with facts,” Leak told The Huffington Post. Leak has had dreadlocks since 2014.
Back in 2014, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jessica Sims was honorably discharged after she refused to cut off her dreadlocks after reportedly wearing them in a bun for years.
