Airlines / QF · Grooming
Qantas — Appearance & Grooming
One of the most modernised standards in aviation. Since 2022 Qantas has run gender-neutral style guidelines: make-up is optional, flat shoes are allowed, and uniform items are chosen regardless of gender.
Grooming · Qantas
- Hair
- Long hair is permitted for any crew member under the 2022 guidelines, worn tied back and clear of service, in conventional colours.
- Make-up
- Optional. Qantas removed the requirement for female crew to wear make-up in 2022 and permits any crew member to wear it — the rule is that it looks neat, not that it exists.
- Facial hair
- Qantas does not publish a clean-shaven rule in its public style guidelines; the standard is neat and well-maintained. Confirm the detail with recruitment, as the full guide is issued internally.
- Nails
- Neat, clean and short enough for safe service. Nail polish is permitted for any crew member under the gender-neutral guidelines.
- Glasses & contacts
- Yes. No Australian carrier restricts corrective eyewear — the requirement is vision corrected to the aviation medical standard.
- Piercings
- Discreet earrings are accepted; conspicuous facial and body piercings are not. Qantas does not publish a count in its external material.
- Jewellery
- Discreet and safe for service — a watch, a wedding band, small earrings and the issued wings.
- Tattoos in uniform
- Tattoos must be covered while you are in uniform, and uncovered visible ink is generally disqualifying. Unlike Emirates or Singapore Airlines, covering is the accepted route rather than a banned workaround, so uniform sleeves and collars do the work.
- Headscarf
- Qantas does not publish a headscarf option in its public style guidelines. Australian discrimination law requires employers to consider religious dress, so raise it with recruitment — it is handled case by case rather than by a published rule.
- Uniform
- The Martin Grant collection — Australian-made, navy with the Qantas red and fuchsia accents — with items selectable regardless of gender since 2022 and flat shoes permitted.
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 Qantas cabin crew have tattoos?
Yes, as long as they are covered in uniform. Uncovered visible tattoos are generally disqualifying, but covering them is accepted rather than banned.
Do Qantas flight attendants have to wear make-up?
No. Qantas made make-up optional for all crew in its 2022 gender-neutral style guidelines, which also allowed flat shoes and long hair regardless of gender.
Can Qantas cabin crew wear glasses?
Yes. Corrective eyewear is unrestricted; the medical requirement is corrected vision to the aviation standard.