‘Edgar’ Haircuts Banned as El Salvador Public Schools Tighten Rules

The Central American country has adopted a more disciplined approach to education under the newly appointed Education Minister Karla Trigueros.

Rudy Blalock

Published: 8/22/2025, 11:38:46 PM EDT

‘Edgar’ Haircuts Banned as El Salvador Public Schools Tighten Rules — Salvadorian students walk past signs indicating permitted and prohibited haircuts at the National Industrial Technical Institute in San Salvador, El Salvador, on Aug. 22, 2025. (Marvin Recinos/AFP via Getty Images)

El Salvador has implemented new appearance standards for public school students that effectively ban the popular "Edgar" haircut, as the nation adopts a more disciplined approach to education under newly appointed Education Minister Karla Trigueros.

President Nayib Bukele appointed military officer Trigueros, who is also a physician, as education minister on Aug. 15. The appointment signals a shift toward a more disciplined approach in Salvadoran public schools, with new regulations taking effect on Aug. 20.

"Within the framework of strengthening discipline, order, and the personal presentation of the student community, the following guidelines are established for strict compliance," Trigueros wrote a social media post to X, sharing a memorandum of understanding sent to all school and college principals nationwide.

The new rules require school principals to personally greet students at entrance gates each morning, inspecting their appearance for compliance with the new standards. Students must now maintain "clean and orderly uniforms," display "proper haircuts and appropriate personal appearance," and enter school facilities "with a respectful greeting," according to the official memorandum.

The regulations seemingly may rule out the bowl cut-like "Edgar" haircut, a distinctive style popular throughout Latino communities, according to critics online responding to Trigueros' post, which has over 1,400 comments and 1,200 shares. Under the new guidelines, this recognizable hairstyle appears to violate the "appropriate haircut" requirements, effectively banning it from public schools across the country. News photos of school posters with what are unacceptable haircuts, including the "Edgar", confirm this to be the case.

School administrators face consequences for non-compliance with the new rules. "Failure by principals to comply with these provisions will be considered a serious breach of administrative responsibility and will give rise to the corresponding actions," according to the memorandum issued by Trigueros.

The education minister emphasized the expanded role of school leadership under the new system. Principals must now "assume their role as models of order and discipline for students, teachers, and administrative staff," according to her directive.

Bukele publicly endorsed the move on social media. "To build the El Salvador we dream of, it is clear that we must completely transform our education system. GOD UNION FREEDOM," he posted on X in response to Trigueros' announcement.

The new school discipline measures represent the latest initiative in Bukele's broader campaign to reshape Salvadoran institutions. Some on social media praised the focus on discipline, while critics argued that a more regimented environment mirrors models under authoritarian regimes.