If you thought that working for a low-cost airline meant that appearance and grooming standards didn’t matter, think again. Ryanair might not be known for its style, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have high standards for how its cabin crew presents themselves.
Admittedly, Ryanair’s appearance and grooming standards aren’t the same level as a Middle Eastern airlines like Emirates, but that doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all. Ryanair’s rules are direct and specific, less about general presentation and more about exact, checkable standards like the permitted length of nail extensions, the allowed shades of lipstick, and how long men can grow their beards.
This article covers Ryanair’s official grooming and appearance rules, including tattoos, hair, makeup, nails, jewellery, and the standards specific to men.
Tattoos: What’s Actually Allowed
Ryanair takes a conservative approach to tattoos, and cabin crew are still banned from having any visible tattoos in uniform. At the same time, there is clearly a realization in Ryanair that more and more candidates will already have visible tattoos before they apply for the job, so there are options to cover tattoos that aren’t concealed by the uniform, including using makeup or a flesh-coloured plaster.
Worth knowing: While Ryanair’s tattoo policy sounds strict, it is actually one of the more permissive tattoo policies amongst major airlines in Europe, simply because crew have the option to use makeup or plasters to cover their tattoos. question compared with some other major carriers.
For the full airline-by-airline picture, including how Ryanair compares to Emirates, Etihad, and Delta on tattoos specifically, see the complete cabin crew tattoo policy guide.
Ryanair’s grooming guidance splits almost entirely into separate standards for men and women rather than one shared list. Makeup is required for female crew and explicitly not permitted for men; earrings are required for female crew if pierced and explicitly not permitted for male crew.
Female Cabin Crew
Hair
Hair needs to be clean and styled, and if coloured, maintained frequently. Bright or unnatural colours and visible highlights aren’t permitted.
Anything longer than shoulder length has to be worn up, in a ponytail (using a hair tie close to the natural hair colour), a bun, a French roll, or braided hair, kept neat and tidy at all times. Hairpins and bobby pins need to be simple in design and close to the hair colour; hair clips aren’t permitted.
Buns are capped at 15cm in diameter, styled at the back of the head rather than on top, and hair may be worn down only if it’s cut above the jacket collar, kept neat, and trimmed regularly, it can’t fall over the face.
Ponytail specifics: it can’t be longer than the middle of the back, it needs to start at the middle of the back of the head or lower (no high ponytails), and it can’t be shorter than the bottom of the jacket collar, meaning all the hair needs to actually fit into the ponytail rather than being left loose, with the exception of a fringe.
❌ Not permitted: hairpieces or extensions, dreadlocks, two-tone colours or visible regrowth, and asymmetrical haircuts.
Makeup
Makeup needs to look natural and complement skin tone. Eye makeup can’t be bright or contain glitter, and blush and mascara are both required rather than optional.
Lipstick is required at all times, in red or bright pink shades, with lip liner matching the lipstick colour if worn.
Worth knowing: Ryanair’s own standard for lipstick vibrancy is blunt rather than vague; the guidance is essentially that if it’s not obvious you’re wearing lipstick, the shade isn’t vibrant enough. It’s one of the more quotable specifics in the whole document and a good sign of how literally the airline means “bright and vibrant.”
Lipstick and nail polish are expected to match, with one exception: a French manicure, where either a red or pink lipstick is enough on its own.
Nails
Red or pink nail colours are permitted, and a French manicure is allowed, provided the lipstick is red or bright pink. Nail extensions can be worn if well maintained, but can’t exceed the same maximum length guideline that applies to natural nails, which is 20mm.
Facial and Body Hair
Visible body hair is expected to be removed regularly for female crew.
For Male Cabin Crew
Male cabin crew follow an entirely separate set of standards from female crew.
Face and Beard
Crew need to be either clean-shaven or wearing a full beard. Where a beard is worn:
- Neatly trimmed, with a minimum length of 7mm and a maximum of 12mm.
- A clean, defined line below the chin and neck.
- Beards need to be fully grown in, stubble isn’t accepted as a stage in between.
- Tufts of hair under the bottom lip aren’t permitted.
- Goatees aren’t permitted.
- Moustaches can’t protrude past the rest of the facial hair.
Hair
Hair needs to be kept neat at all times in a business style, above the collar, and regularly trimmed. Long sideburns aren’t permitted, and neither is a wet-look style using gel.
Makeup
Makeup isn’t permitted for male cabin crew.
Gender-Neutral Standards (All Crew)
Piercings
One piercing per ear is permitted
❌ Not permitted: tongue piercings and any other visible piercing are strictly prohibited.
Earrings (Female Crew)
If ears are pierced, earrings must be worn. Permitted styles are limited to pearl, gold, silver, or diamond studs in white or silver tones. Earrings aren’t permitted for male crew at all.
Rings
One ring per hand, worn on the ring finger only, with the exception of a wedding and engagement ring worn together. Rings can’t be large or ornate.
Necklaces
Chains and necklaces aren’t permitted.
Bracelets
One bracelet may be worn, on the right wrist only, in silver or gold. Bangles, leather, and other material bracelets aren’t permitted.
Watches
Watches need to be in working order and worn at all times, in a neat, classic style. A second hand, or digital equivalent, is required, since it’s used for timing during passenger medical emergencies. Straps are limited to navy, black, brown, gold, or silver, plastic watches aren’t permitted.
Glasses
Glasses are permitted in a neat, classic style, with frames limited to clear, black, or navy.
