Airlines / ET · Grooming
Ethiopian Airlines — Appearance & Grooming
Conservative and formally assessed: grooming is checked at the assessment stage at Ethiopian's headquarters, and the airline pays a grooming allowance on top of base salary.
Grooming · Ethiopian Airlines
- Hair
- Ethiopian publishes no list of approved styles. The standard is neat, secure and off the collar, in a natural colour; male crew keep a short cut.
- Make-up
- Groomed and conventional, matched to the uniform. Expect it to form part of the grooming check at the assessment rather than to be described in the vacancy notice.
- Facial hair
- Male crew are expected clean-shaven; Ethiopian publishes no beard allowance.
- Nails
- Short, clean and neutral; nothing extended or decorated.
- Glasses & contacts
- Ethiopian does not publish a spectacle rule; its medical is to Ethiopian CAA standards and covers corrected vision. Plain frames or contact lenses are the safe preparation for the assessment.
- Piercings
- One pair of small earlobe studs for female crew; nothing visible elsewhere.
- Jewellery
- Minimal and plain — a watch, a wedding band, small studs and the issued badge.
- Tattoos in uniform
- Nothing may be visible in uniform, and the wider grooming standard is conservative, so cover-ups are not the intended route. Placement under the uniform is what makes ink workable here.
- Headscarf
- Ethiopian Airlines does not publish a headscarf option for cabin crew and the uniform has no headscarf piece. Ask the recruitment team at the Ethiopian Aviation Academy directly rather than assuming either way.
- Uniform
- A uniform in the airline's green and gold brand palette, finished with a patterned scarf; male crew wear a dark suit.
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 have tattoos as Ethiopian Airlines cabin crew?
No. Nothing may be visible in uniform, and the airline's grooming standards are conservative throughout — covered placements are the only workable option.
How strict is Ethiopian Airlines grooming?
Strict and formally assessed: a grooming check sits inside the assessment stage at the airline's headquarters, and Ethiopian even pays a grooming allowance alongside base pay.
Does Ethiopian Airlines allow glasses?
Ethiopian publishes no spectacle rule and its medical accepts corrected vision. Plain frames or contacts are the safe preparation — confirm on the official careers page, since grooming rules change more often than any other requirement.