Military grooming standards have nothing to do with race.
They are for the express purpose of keeping the troops alive.
When WW1 came along and they deployed poison gas and other nasty things, gas masks would not seal on a face with a beard, nor would they fit properly with long shaggy hair.
The problem that I have with these regs is that it does the opposite. A black woman who doesn’t want to use relaxers or nasty weaves is left with few options here. This is impractical for women in combat or the field.
She can’t have multiple braids, so cornrows are out. She can’t shave the sides short and leave a bit on the top (a high and tight) because she has to leave it with some length.
I get that there need to be regs, but they just took away most of the healthy options.
And during the Civil War era, long hair and beards attracted lice. And so after campaigns and long marches, both Union and Confederate soldiers often shaved themselves to deal with the “lousy” pests.
Long hair also is a problem as relates to lice, fleas and other vermin. This can be a big issue for fighting troops in the field who do not have opportunities to bathe frequently.