Airlines / EY · Grooming
Etihad Airways — Appearance & Grooming
Etihad's Ettore Bilotta uniform comes with an unusually detailed image standard, administered by a dedicated Style and Image team that also signs off exceptions such as glasses. Strict, but more transparent than most Gulf carriers about what it wants.
Grooming · Etihad Airways
- Hair
- A French twist, low bun or short cut that does not touch the shirt collar are the accepted styles, held with pins and product so nothing works loose in flight. Hair colour must be natural or within a couple of shades of your own.
- Make-up
- Female crew wear a full face built from foundation, powder, blusher, eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick, coordinated with the uniform palette rather than to personal taste. The look is taught during the image module and expected to be complete before every report.
- Facial hair
- Male crew present clean-shaven for duty; the standard does not accommodate beards or designer stubble. Sideburns are kept short and level, and any exception would have to come from the Style and Image team rather than a line manager.
- Nails
- Nails are polished before every duty in neutral tones — beige, pale pink or a French manicure — and kept well maintained. Acrylics are permitted provided they are not dramatically long or decorated.
- Glasses & contacts
- Etihad handles eyewear formally: prescription glasses and contact lenses are accepted with an approval letter from the Style and Image department, and crew carry a spare set in their trolley. Sort the paperwork during training rather than on the line.
- Piercings
- A single pair of small, plain earrings is the limit for female crew, with no other visible piercings in uniform and none for male crew. Retainers and clear studs are not a workaround.
- Jewellery
- Necklaces and bracelets are not worn with the uniform. Two plain rings, one on each hand, plus a simple watch, is the whole permitted set.
- Tattoos in uniform
- Nothing visible in uniform, and Etihad specifically rules out covering a tattoo with makeup or bandages, so a concealed-in-practice design will not pass the check. Anything on the forearm, wrist, hand, lower leg, neck or face is disqualifying; upper arm, back, torso and thigh are unaffected.
- Headscarf
- Etihad does not publish a hijab option for cabin crew, and the scarf worn with the uniform hat is a styling element rather than a religious accommodation. Ask recruitment directly if you need a definitive answer.
- Uniform
- The Ettore Bilotta uniform introduced in 2014 — a tailored chocolate-and-purple palette with a hat and draped scarf for female crew — remains in service, and female crew have had a trouser option since 2019. Fitting and image training happen in Abu Dhabi before your first flight.
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 Etihad cabin crew wear glasses?
Yes, with approval. Glasses and contact lenses are accepted once the Style and Image department has issued an exemption letter, and crew are expected to carry a spare set onboard.
How much makeup do Etihad cabin crew have to wear?
A complete face: foundation, powder, blusher, eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick, in shades that coordinate with the uniform. The routine is taught in training and expected before every report.
Can Etihad cabin crew have tattoos?
Only where the uniform never exposes them. Nothing may be visible in uniform and covering with makeup or bandages is not permitted, so forearm, hand, neck and face tattoos rule you out.