Flight attendants are the face of any airline’s brand, and that comes with clear expectations about grooming and uniform standards: a clean, professional, well-groomed appearance is a big part of the job. But what that actually means in practice can vary quite considerably between airlines.
JetBlue’s appearance standards for Inflight Crewmembers have changed quite significantly, and in a way that will open up this role to more candidates than ever before.
The biggest change: JetBlue now permits visible tattoos, which marks a real shift from the airline’s previous position that tattoos couldn’t be seen at any time while in uniform. It’s a similar move to the one United Airlines made back in 2021.
Read on to find out all of the details of JetBlue’s appearance and grooming rules for Inflight Crewmembers.
Tattoos
✅ What’s allowed: One visible tattoo, no larger than an ID badge, on the arms or legs only.
❌ What isn’t allowed: Any visible tattoo on the neck, head, face, or hands, regardless of size; these areas remain a hard no. Offensive content of any kind isn’t permitted, visible or otherwise.
Covering rules: Any tattoo that doesn’t meet the visible standard above, whether that’s due to size, location, or content, needs to be covered. Acceptable covering methods include a small, discreet Band-Aid, tattoo-specific makeup, or a uniform garment like a sleeve, pant leg, or even a uniform scarf to cover a neck tattoo.
Compression sleeves are specifically not allowed. If a larger Band-Aid is necessary, it needs to be paired with a uniform-compliant accessory, like a watch or bracelet, to keep it discreet.
Tattoos or piercings that don’t meet the standard can’t become visible at any point while in uniform, including during physical drills in training, so it’s worth being mindful of clothing that might shift or ride up.
Hair
Length and styling
- All hair, regardless of style or length, must be well-kept, neat, and, if colored, properly maintained.
- Hair touching the top of the shoulders must be pulled back into an approved style: a bun, braid, or ponytail.
- Hair longer than the middle of the back, once pulled back, must be pinned up into a bun. No hairstyle should be wider than your shoulders.
- If hair falls into your face or swings forward when you bend down, it’s considered not secure enough, regardless of the style you’re using.
What’s not permitted
- Mohawks, faux hawks, mullets, or shaved designs.
- Pigtails, side buns, or side ponytails.
- Loose strands framing the face. Hair must stay out of your face and eyes at all times, with the exception of cut, styled bangs that never extend below the eyebrows.
Hair accessories
- Hair ties must be navy, black, clear, brown, or match your hair color.
- Black or brown barrettes and solid black or brown plastic or leather headbands are permitted.
- Flowers, feathers, scarves, claw clips, beads, scrunchies, and colored or adorned barrettes or headbands are not.
- Sunglasses can’t be worn pushed up into your hair or on top of your head.
Color
- Highlights and synthetic hairpieces must be blended and woven through the hair, not blocky or highly contrasting.
- Roots can’t exceed one inch and can’t be a highly contrasting color.
- Any non-natural color, bright reds, purples, blues, and similar shades must be corrected before training begins.
Facial Hair
Facial hair must be fully grown in before training starts, be a natural color, and not be shaved into an extreme or non-traditional style.
- Beards, goatees, and soul patches must be neatly trimmed and cannot extend more than half an inch off the face.
- Mustaches can’t extend more than a quarter inch beyond the corner of the mouth.
- Sideburns can’t extend past the middle of the ear.
Makeup and Nails
Makeup: Not required, but if worn, it should look fresh and natural rather than dramatic.
- Lip color options are neutral tones, pinks, and reds. Purple, blue, or neon shades aren’t permitted.
- Eye makeup should also reflect a fresh look. Cat-eye styles and asymmetrical shapes aren’t allowed, and eyelash length can’t be long enough to interfere with vision.
Nails: Must be clean, neat, and trimmed, extending no more than half an inch past the fingertip.
- Polish must be a single color, from an approved palette: pinks, corals and reds, wine and burgundy, nude, beige, and brown, gray and taupe, and navy blue.
- Classic French manicures are permitted, and nails must be well maintained with no chipping.
- Stiletto nails, hand-painted nail designs, crackle polish, glitter polish, nail decorations, and fingernail jewelry are all not permitted.
Jewelry
Rings: Up to two per hand, with a wedding set counted as one ring. Rings can’t exceed one inch in width, and midi or knuckle rings aren’t permitted.
Watches: Only one watch at a time, and it isn’t mandatory. A non-metal band must be a single color with no patterns and must complement the uniform. A metal band can be two-toned. The watch face can’t exceed two inches or carry a pattern. Smartwatches are permitted under the same standards.
Necklaces: One pendant or chain necklace, no longer than 18 inches, with a pendant no larger than a US quarter, is permitted, and it must complement the uniform. A single-strand pearl necklace is also an option, up to 18 inches, pearls between 4mm and 7mm, in black Tahitian or white only, one color throughout. Necklaces should never be visible outside a jacket or shirt collar.
Bracelets: Up to two per arm, each no wider than one inch. Only one can be a charm, “cause,” or banded bracelet, also capped at one inch with no patterns. Ankle bracelets aren’t permitted.
Earrings: No larger than a US dime. Only studs, small hoops, or huggie/cuff-style earrings are permitted, one per earlobe. Earring color must complement the uniform.
Facial piercings: Not permitted at all, this includes cartilage, nose, chin, tongue, and tragus piercings, or any other visible body jewelry. Existing gauges from before hire must be removed.
General Uniform Standards
- Uniform pieces must be free of fraying, tears, rips, stains, dirt, fading, wrinkles, discoloration, and iron burn marks at all times, and should be neatly ironed at the start of each shift or trip.
- Any alterations to a uniform garment can’t change its intended style or shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, one visible tattoo is permitted, no larger than an ID badge, on the arms or legs only. Tattoos on the neck, head, face, or hands must stay covered regardless of size.
No. JetBlue doesn’t permit any facial piercings, including nose, cartilage, chin, tongue, or tragus piercings.
No. Any non-natural hair color needs to be corrected before training begins.
No, makeup isn’t mandatory, but if you choose to wear it, it needs to follow the approved color guidance and reflect a natural, fresh look rather than a dramatic one.
No. Nails can’t extend more than half an inch past the fingertip, and stiletto shapes, along with hand-painted designs and nail jewelry, aren’t permitted.
Up to two rings per hand and two bracelets per arm, each within specific width limits.
For everything else you need to prepare for your JetBlue application, check out our Ultimate Recruitment Guide and the JetBlue Cabin Crew Salary and Benefits guide.
