Bald & Beautiful: Air India Orders Cabin Crew to be Spiffy, not Shabby

Be at your spiffiest best, not your shabbiest worst. This is the new Tata Sons-owned Air India (AI) grooming mantra for its cabin crew.

According to the latest grooming guidelines, reported by news agency ANI, AI cabin crew cannot wear religious rings with coloured stones and pearls, nose pins, neck jewellery and thumb rings, and black and religious thread on the wrist, neck and ankle.

The 40-plus pages ‘Cabin Crew Handbook’ has instructed the crew to immediately follow the revised image and uniform guidelines.

Air India's new grooming guidelines are out. Watch to know all about it. #AirIndia #Grooming #NewsMo pic.twitter.com/xVJZAiqyy0

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) November 25, 2022

The male crew must regularly colour their grey hair in a natural shade and those with deep receding hairlines and bald patches must shave their head regularly.

The most ridiculous bit of the Air India grooming guidelines is that you aren't allowed to have grey air. Ageist much? https://t.co/dUlAAACErV

— sunetra choudhury (@sunetrac) November 24, 2022

The female must use eyeshadow, lipstick, nail paint and hair shade card as per uniform with a ban on personal shades in these four products. Nail paint colours from the shade card must be matched with the uniform.

From specific make-up shades to the size of bindi, Air India cabin crew gets new grooming guidelines | https://t.co/oYOG2PagCh pic.twitter.com/JOQvGTVDye

— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) November 25, 2022

“For the male crew, black uniform jackets must be worn throughout the flight in all cabins. (During boarding, service and deplaning). Personal tie pins are not allowed. Crew can wear a tie without the tie pin if not issued. Only black calf-length socks without logos are to be worn with the uniform. Men must maintain neat short haircut with side parting (without volume),” the circular reads.

It is mandatory to shave daily and apply hair gel. “Use of hair gel is mandatory. Male crew with deep receding hairlines and male balding patches must keep a clean shaved head or bald look. The head must be shaved daily.”

The guidelines don’t allow a crew cut and grey hair. “Grey hair must be regularly coloured in a natural shade. Fashion colours and henna are not permitted.”

Only one ring in the wedding band design, one Sikh kada with a maximum width of 0.5 cm thickness in gold or silver without any design, logos or stones is allowed.

The latest circular has discontinued aprons, black blazers with Indo-western uniforms and cardigans with waistcoats for its female crew. It is mandatory to wear calf-length stockings (sheer ones and matching the skin tone) on board with both a saree and an Indo-western uniform.

“The company-issued black cardigan can be worn for boarding and deplaning (during winter months only) and inflight for lull periods on LH and ULH flights throughout the year. Cardigan and waistcoat must never be worn together. Cardigan is not permitted during service.”

Foundation and concealers matching the skin tone are mandatory. “The crew must wear complete make-up as per the new uniform guidelines for all flight duties using the company shade card only. Eyeshadow, lipsticks, nail paint and hair shade cards are to be strictly followed as per uniform. Personal shades in these four products are not permitted.”

Nail paint colours from the shade card should match with the uniform—red and corals for red uniform, pink with blue uniform and nude, pearly white and French manicure with both uniforms. Gel nail polish and French manicures are allowed with regular refills and must be well-maintained.

Only round earrings with gold and diamond studs without any design and ornamentation are allowed. Pearls are not allowed. A small bindi is allowed only with a saree (optional) and must be within 0.5 cm. Besides, two rings with 1 cm width are allowed but one in each hand. Only one thin gold or silver bangle without design and stones may be worn.

The female crew must colour grey hair in a natural shade or use one in the shade card. “Blonde hair colour and streaking is strictly not permitted. Hair must be neat and styled according to company hair guidelines. Very high top knots and low buns resting on the neck are strictly not permitted. The bun must be made in the centre of the crown. A donut must be used for making a round bun. Only a thin sheer invisible net must be used with buns. Thick nets are not permitted.”

Only four black medium-size tic-tac or bobby pins must be used. “Pins must be of the same size and type. Short open hair must be blow-dried or permanently smoothened.

Several crew members told ANI that AI is the “only airline in the country which has been serving the world for many decades. Representations and images of its crew members are not as per international standards. The new management wants to change the perception of flyers”.

The guidelines triggered hilarious reactions on the Internet though several Twitter users termed them too stringent while others approved of them.   

In a circular issued in February, the airline had instructed its cabin crew to “adhere to the uniform regulations with emphasis on minimum jewellery being worn in order to avoid any delays at customs and security checks”.

“The cabin crew should not visit duty-free shops and proceed to the boarding gate soon after completing immigration and security checks,” the February circular read.