Shared hairstyles, new hairstyles and changing them

[fmonkey13]

This kinda disappoins me if all they are doing is giving all hair styles to all races and clans. It kinda defeatss the purpose of each clan and race having their own lore and culture. I mean look around the world differnt races and cultures have different styles, wish it would happen in the game, plus it helps add variety to the game if different races and clans have unique hair cuts.

[Altena]

This kinda disappoins me if all they are doing is giving all hair styles to all races and clans. It kinda defeatss the purpose of each clan and race having their own lore and culture. I mean look around the world differnt races and cultures have different styles, wish it would happen in the game, plus it helps add variety to the game if different races and clans have unique hair cuts.

How your hair is cut isn't genetic. Anything to add more customization to each player is a positive IMO.

[fmonkey13]

How your hair is cut isn't genetic. Anything to add more customization to each player is a positive IMO.

I am not talking genetic. I am talking culture. Each clan has it's own lore and culture, seems like they would have their own unique hairstyles. Mind you I am not talking all hairstyles, but atleast a few that are unique.

[Niqote]

I am not talking genetic. I am talking culture. Each clan has it's own lore and culture, seems like they would have their own unique hairstyles. Mind you I am not talking all hairstyles, but at least a few that are unique.

I sympathise... but where do you draw the line? For example colours would fall into the same trap and if all purples are only available to Elezen M+F the general populace will ask for the colour to be available to all races. In a time where all races live together there is no real excuse not to have shared styles.

If anything I would think the styles should be divided by region, eg. Gridanian (more free flowing) Ul'Dahian (More regal/fashion thinking) Lominsian (Tighter bonds to combat sailing winds and salt)

But overall, we are sacrificing lore for customization options.

[Shougun]

I sympathise... but where do you draw the line? For example colours would fall into the same trap and if all purples are only available to Elezen M+F the general populace will ask for the colour to be available to all races. In a time where all races live together there is no real excuse not to have shared styles.

If anything I would think the styles should be divided by region, eg. Gridanian (more free flowing) Ul'Dahian (More regal/fashion thinking) Lominsian (Tighter bonds to combat sailing winds and salt)

But overall, we are sacrificing lore for customization options.

First, freaking love your region hairstyle idea..


But through the barber in that particular region it would be nice to get access to it cross region wise.


For racial hair styles though... I hope some are staying particular to that race.

[Altena]

For racial hair styles though... I hope some are staying particular to that race.

That's just not fair! It ruins my immersion!

[Loggos]

About the race-restricted hair styles:
I don't know if this is really a good idea because most hair styles are sort of basic hair styles that can be found in many cultures. To tie your hair back into a pony tail is rather practical I think so why should e.g. hyuran with long hair tie it together (when working) while mi'qotes don't? Or braid it or split it into two braids etc.
Besides since there is so much interaction and the local culture seems to have a bigger impact than the racial one (besides some exceptions as the naming) I think it would be sort of logical if there was some kind of visual exchange. Next to "common hair styles", if a lalafell sees a new hairstyle he/she likes a lot and feels like wearing it then it would be a "limitation of his/her self-expression" if he/she can't. I know, I'm talking about a gaming character but lore-wise/characterwise I wouldn't consider it too logical another way.
Dreads are not considered typically western, yet I know a lot of caucasians who wear dreads because it represents their own lifestyle that they have found for themlselves. Their own "culture" so to speak.

An idea that might be a balance is to have different hand-created hairstyle shapes "filled" or interpreted with a race's typical hair structure. For example roegadyns seem to have really wild and stubborn hair so a high/low ponytale on them would look different than the ponytale of a lala with silk hair.


Tl, dr: Rather than differentiating between races by man-made hairstyles give them the chance to wear the hair styles they want but differ between them by hair structures (that are genetic), e.g. very stubborn and wild hair on roegadyns that will make shared hairstyles still look different.