The Finnish Defence Forces are considering allowing male conscripts to have long hair to promote equity with female recruits, who can wear long hair tied back.

Lieutenant General Rami Saari said in an interview with MTV News that this change aligns with non-discrimination laws and could take effect with the July recruit intake.

Saari said the deputy parliamentary ombudsman and the ombudsman for equality found that the old rules no longer follow the Equality Act, as views on gender and what soldiers can look like have changed.

Currently, men’s hair must be short, while women’s hair can be long if neatly tied back.

The Defence Forces believe that allowing long hair for men could boost motivation and support gender equality.

Still, eye‑catching styles like mohawks will continue to be banned in the military.