New grooming standards for its cabin crew that was released in Indian media have drawn criticism for Air India. Five pages of the tight regulations are devoted to hairstyles alone, while other parts specify the kind of clothing that hotel personnel is permitted to wear.
According to a document released by NDTV, all cabin staff has been instructed to routinely color their grey hair.
The crew who have “frizzy hair” must get hair relaxing or smoothing treatments.
The rules indicate that “Wavy, curly, and frizzy hair cannot be left open” and “Bushy, unruly, and unattractive hairstyles are not authorized.”
Additionally prohibited are side bangs and forehead bangs. Hair accessories and wigs may only be worn for “medical reasons” and with written authorization from the airline.
The instructions state that “Crew with a particularly large forehead or sparse hairline should arrange the front hair with a side sweep and must disguise the receding hairline.”
Also advised to “maintain a whole bald appearance” are men with bald patches or receding hairlines.
“A clean appearance requires daily head shaving. No crew cuts are allowed, “reads the manual, according to NDTV. Aside from the Sikh cabin staff, beards are also prohibited.
There is no tolerance for nose piercings. Religious jewelry of some kinds is also prohibited. The handbook states that “wedding choora, religious threads, black threads, and beads on wrist, ankles, and forearms are not authorized.”
Short skirts, “hot pants,” and ripped jeans are prohibited for cabin workers on leave who are flying with Air India.