Hair Color (AAMVA Standardized) Regex for Java

What this pattern does

This page provides a well-structured, multi-part regular expression for matching hair color (aamva standardized), ported and verified for Java. Identity and credential patterns need both correctness and safety, since they're frequent targets for adversarial input. The snippet below is ready to drop into your Java project — whether you're validating in a Spring Boot controller, a Jakarta EE service, or a standalone utility class.

Java Implementation

// Hair Color (AAMVA Standardized)
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Identity & PII > Biometric & Physical

import java.util.regex.Pattern;

public class HairColorAamvaStandardizedValidator {
    private static final Pattern PATTERN =
        Pattern.compile("^(?:BAL|BLK|BLN|BRO|GRY|RED|SDY|WHI|UNK)$");

    public static boolean validate(String input) {
        return PATTERN.matcher(input).matches();
    }

    // Example
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println(validate("BAL")); // true
    }
}

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Identity & PII > Biometric & Physical category and carries a ReDoS-safe certification. That matters for Java developers because critical in Java applications since the JVM regex engine uses backtracking and is susceptible to ReDoS without careful pattern design. RegexVault audits patterns against known backtracking attack vectors, ensuring you have the necessary context before using this regex in a high-stakes production environment.

Common Pitfalls

Technical Notes

AAMVA codes: BAL=bald, BLK=black, BLN=blond/strawberry, BRO=brown, GRY=gray, RED=red/auburn, SDY=sandy, WHI=white, UNK=unknown. Used on US/Canadian driver's licences. Part of physical description data.