Ever seen photos of our SF guys who spent very long periods of time living with the locals in some rather mountainous country?
All had beards...some had Pony Tails.....and performed their military duties in a most satisfactory manner.
There is a time and place that kind of appearance.....on the Parade Ground is not one of them.
When you are engaged in serious combat for lengthy periods of time....grooming standards are far less important that your combat skills and accomplishment of the mission.
The ultimate inspection of a unit or for individuals in the military is direct combat with an aggressive and capable enemy....sadly that becomes our own leadership when we are back home and are in a peacetime environment.
Two tours of combat in Vietnam and I never heard mention of someone being called on the carpet over a lack of a haircut.....we got our haircuts when we could...but putting up as many Aircraft as we could and flying as many hours as we could was the priority.
Shined boots and pressed Trousers....and a filthy weapon immediately identified a REMF whose sole purpose In life was self advancement and avoidance of physical danger....and justly deserved scorn by the scruffy who got the real work done.