Yes we do. Is it correct to do so?
Why would it not be correct? It is a useful tool for daily life, otherwise it wouldn't have evolved the way it has. I'm not suggesting we can't/shouldn't change our personal perceptions of certain styles of dress. I'm simply pointing out that in the real world, how you present yourself to others matters. No amount of wishful thinking will change that, it's built into our coding.
Until you get to know the character of a person, all you can judge them on is the way they choose to present themselves in the world. If someone
chooses to look unkempt, then they will be treated like someone who can't even be bothered to do the basics to look presentable and professional in our society.
Until 2018, the societal expectation was that military members, unless in the Navy or Pioneers, were clean shaven. The social media backlash to BEARDFORGEN is much like the one now - being called “unprofessional” or “lazy” for having beards at all, plus the whole gas mask fit thing.
Except BEARDFORGEN had clearly laid-out standards for beard appearance, which conformed to the standards for Pioneers, and the RCN. Standards which were entirely acceptable to Canadian society as a whole, unlike "dwarven beards", and some of the other looks that came from the last dress regulations updates.
The social media "backlash" for BEARDFORGEN was limited to a few angry vetflakes, the in person and social media backlash for the current regulations seems to be far broader, crossing national borders.
Edit: To be clear, I'm not opposed to purple hair, long hair, or beards. I just think there needs to be clear standards for how the hair and beards are groomed. If a guy wants hot pink mid-back length hair, and a beard, rock it. Just rock it in a neatly groomed professional style, not a rat's nest beard and hair all over the place.