Airlines / EK · Grooming
Emirates — Appearance & Grooming
One of the most tightly specified looks in aviation: the beige uniform, the red hat with its draped white veil, and the signature Emirates red lipstick worn on every duty. Image is taught as a formal module in initial training and checked on the line afterwards.
Grooming · Emirates
- Hair
- Hair is worn up and off the collar — a low bun, French twist or neat plait — pinned and netted so nothing moves during the service, with flyaways and baby hairs smoothed down. Colours must read as natural; male crew keep hair short, tapered and above the collar.
- Make-up
- Female crew wear a full face on every duty, finished with lip liner and lipstick in the Emirates red that matches the hat. The airline teaches the exact sequence during the image module, so you are not left guessing which products and shades qualify.
- Facial hair
- Male crew are clean-shaven for every duty. Beards and goatees are not accepted, and stubble is not treated as a stage on the way to anything; a moustache is permitted only once it is fully grown in and neatly trimmed.
- Nails
- Nails are kept short, filed and immaculate, in clear polish, a French finish or the Emirates red — no other shades. Chipped polish counts as a grooming failure, which is why most crew keep a repair kit in their cabin bag.
- Glasses & contacts
- Prescription glasses are accepted on duty provided the frames are understated black or brown rather than a style statement, and crew carry a spare pair. Contact lenses are equally acceptable if you prefer them.
- Piercings
- The published requirements allow one pair of small, plain earrings and nothing more. Nose, lip, eyebrow, cartilage and second-lobe piercings are not worn in uniform, and male crew wear no earrings at all.
- Jewellery
- Keep it minimal and plain: a simple watch and a wedding or plain band in a classic metal. Necklaces, bracelets and decorative pieces are not worn over the uniform.
- Tattoos in uniform
- Nothing may show in any uniform variant, and Emirates is explicit that covering a tattoo with makeup, plasters or a bandage is not acceptable — so the ink has to sit where the short-sleeved shirt, skirt and open collar never expose it. Upper arm, torso, back and thigh are fine; forearm, wrist, hand, ankle, neck and face are not.
- Headscarf
- Emirates does not publish a hijab option for cabin crew. The white veil worn under the red hat is a uniform element rather than a headscarf, so do not read it as a policy — ask recruitment directly before applying if this matters to you.
- Uniform
- The beige two-piece with the red pillbox hat and the white veil draped under the chin is among the most recognisable uniforms in the world; male crew wear a beige suit with a red tie. It is issued and fitted during training in Dubai, and hat angle, veil, shoes and hosiery are all specified.
Grooming rules change more often than any other requirement. Verify them on the airline's official careers page before you buy anything or book a hair appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wear glasses as Emirates cabin crew?
Yes. Prescription glasses are permitted on duty as long as the frames are subtle and black or brown, and you are expected to carry a spare pair. Contact lenses are an equally accepted alternative.
Does Emirates allow beards for male cabin crew?
No. Male crew must be clean-shaven on every duty — beards, goatees and stubble are all out. A neatly trimmed moustache is the one exception, and only once it is fully grown in.
Can Emirates cabin crew wear a hijab?
Emirates does not publish a hijab option in its cabin crew uniform standard, and the veil worn with the red hat is not one. Ask the recruitment team directly, and verify on the official careers page — grooming rules change more often than any other requirement.