'Use Gel, Dye Grey Hair, No Religious Thread': Air India Tells Crew

The cabin crew members of Tata-owned airline Air India have been barred from wearing black and religious thread on the wrist, neck and ankle

Cabin crew members of Tata-owned airline Air India will have to adhere to new grooming rules. From a bald look for those with male pattern baldness to colouring hair in a natural shade to hide grey hair are some of the rules made mandatory by the airline.

The instructions about the 'No More Chalta Hai'culture also restricts crew members from wearing black and religious thread on the wrist, neck and ankle, reported news agency PTI.

"Religious rings with coloured stones and pearls, nose-pins and neck jewellery" along with thumb rings are not allowed either, according to the news guidelines.

The airline has issued new rules on grooming for its male and female crew members that also mentioned they should not have grey hair and must be regularly coloured in natural shade.

"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 noted, reported news agency ANI.

The airline has allowed a bald look for the crew. "Crew with deep receding hairline and male balding patches must keep a clean shaved head/ bald look. Head must be shaved daily. Crew cut is not permitted," it added.

The 40-page circular noted that grey hair is not permitted and must be regularly coloured in a natural shade. "Fashion colours and heena are not permitted," the statement read.

In addition to this, Air India asked the male crew members to shave daily and apply hair gel mandatorily.

Soon after taking over Air India in January this year, Tata group advised its cabin crew to wear minimum jewellery to avoid flight delays.

"Rings- Only one ring in wedding band design is allowed for men. Only one Sikh Kada with a maximum width of 0.5 cm thickness in gold or silver without any design, logos or stones may be worn. (No bracelets)," the guidelines read.

"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 are to be used. Pins must be of the same size and type. Short open hair must be blow dried or permanent smoothening to be done," the statement added.

 "The cabin crew should not visit duty-free shops and proceed to the boarding gate soon after completing immigration and security checks," Air India had said in a circular in early February.

(With inputs from agencies)