MUMBAI: In Air India‘s exhaustive list of grooming guidelines for its cabin attendants, male crew with deep receding hairline or balding patches must keep a clean shaved head/bald look, reports Manju V. Head must be shaved daily and a crew cut is not permitted, it says. For female crew members, the list is longer: no pearl earrings, an optional bindi within 0.5cm size, only one bangle without design and stones, and no high top knots or low buns for the hair.
The latest norms though spell out every single aspect right down to the minutest detail. While an exhaustive list was issued over a month ago, the airline recently issued another document which highlighted key changes in uniform guidelines with the don’ts highlighted in a bold font.
For women cabin crew, it has specified only gold or diamond round-shaped earrings without design or ornamentation; an optional small bindi with a saree that is within 0.5 cm size; rings not more than 1 cm in width and only one allowed on each hand; only one single bangle without design and stones; hair styled into high top knots or low buns not permitted; only four black bobby pins to be used; eyeshadow, lipstick, nail paint and hair shade cards to be strictly followed (personal shades not permitted); sheer calf length stockings matching skin tone that is mandatory for flight duties with both saree and Indo-western wear etc.
Both male and female crew members with grey hair are also required to regularly colour them in a natural shade. “Fashion colors and henna are not permitted,” it says. Black or religious thread on wrist, neck, ankle not permitted. As if alluding to social media influencers, guidelines state that crew should not wear the uniform and its accessories when off-duty. The grooming guidelines issued earlier covers aspects such as code of conduct (crew shall not carry plastic bags or shopping bags in public area), deportment, etiquette, personal hygiene, method of carrying uniform etc.
Airline sources said the changes haven’t yet been adopted by the crew entirely. “For decades now, the finer details of the grooming norms haven’t been strictly adhered to. Details such as hair color, or shaving the head, wearing tie-pins, these were never enforced. Enforcement will happen with the newer lot of flight attendants first,” said a crew, requesting anonymity.
The latest norms though spell out every single aspect right down to the minutest detail. While an exhaustive list was issued over a month ago, the airline recently issued another document which highlighted key changes in uniform guidelines with the don’ts highlighted in a bold font.
For women cabin crew, it has specified only gold or diamond round-shaped earrings without design or ornamentation; an optional small bindi with a saree that is within 0.5 cm size; rings not more than 1 cm in width and only one allowed on each hand; only one single bangle without design and stones; hair styled into high top knots or low buns not permitted; only four black bobby pins to be used; eyeshadow, lipstick, nail paint and hair shade cards to be strictly followed (personal shades not permitted); sheer calf length stockings matching skin tone that is mandatory for flight duties with both saree and Indo-western wear etc.
Both male and female crew members with grey hair are also required to regularly colour them in a natural shade. “Fashion colors and henna are not permitted,” it says. Black or religious thread on wrist, neck, ankle not permitted. As if alluding to social media influencers, guidelines state that crew should not wear the uniform and its accessories when off-duty. The grooming guidelines issued earlier covers aspects such as code of conduct (crew shall not carry plastic bags or shopping bags in public area), deportment, etiquette, personal hygiene, method of carrying uniform etc.
Airline sources said the changes haven’t yet been adopted by the crew entirely. “For decades now, the finer details of the grooming norms haven’t been strictly adhered to. Details such as hair color, or shaving the head, wearing tie-pins, these were never enforced. Enforcement will happen with the newer lot of flight attendants first,” said a crew, requesting anonymity.