U.S. Navy Lifts Ban on Dreadlocks for Women Ethnic hairstyles have long been scrutinized in the military. The U.S. Army reversed its ban on braids and dreadlocks in 2017, and now the Navy has
followed suit. The bans were criticized for unfairly targeting black women. First Lt. Whennah Andrews, U.S. Army National Guard, to Huffington Post Now Navy servicewomen no longer have to feel pressured to choose between their service and their natural hairstyles.