I realized today, that I left out some things from yesterday’s post. You’ll want to read it before you read today’s post.

I also did a second podcast episode to deal with all the call ins. You may want to listen to that episode before reading below.

Grooming Methods

Combing and brushing. One can comb with the fingers or an actual comb. Those with long hair will have some form of comb. Some may choose to decorate them with fancy wood, shell inlay, or silver or gold wire. A brush does a better job of handling longer hair. A brush may also be fancy.

Hair can be removed or shortened by plucking, cutting, or shaving. Plucking is literally pulling out the hair. In some cultures it is done with the fingers, others will have invented tweezers to make this easier. Cutting can be done with a knife, whether a knapped flint or a forged one. Scissors were invented to make this easier. Shaving is scraping the skin with a sharp object, whether a sharp knife or custom made razor. Knapped flint or obsidian can be used as a razor.

Eyebrows can be left natural, or modified into some societal idea of beauty. As with hair and beards, one could make eyebrow decoration mean something.

There’s also ear hair and nose hair. They may not be plentify, but they can get quite long if you don’t cut them. They also tend to have more substantial roots, or the sensitive nature of the area leads to feeling like they’re tougher than other hair.

Hair in other areas of the body could also fall prey to a given culture’s understanding of how things “should” or “must” be done. Whether it is nothing, grooming for length or shape, or removal.

Color

Are beard and hair color the same or different?

Perhaps all dwarven females have blonde hair. Bearded or not, their braids align with their clan of marriage in patriarchal societies. In Matriarchal societies the men join the female clan and learn the new braids. Maybe these types of societies lead to fewer marriages outside of clan. In society of equals an individual will have one or or more braids to signify clan of birth and another for clan of marriage. That would also work in other types of societal organization.

What Color?

1. Black
2. Blonde
3. Brown
4. Red
5. Pick a color with a dash of another, usually red.
6. Salt & Pepper

Hair Type

Hair has a quality in the way it feels. Head hair and beard hair can be different. For example, my hair is fine and straight as can be. My beard is much thicker hair and it gets wavy as it gets longer.

1. Fine
2. Coarse

Hair Shape

Hair comes in all shapes, and again, can vary between head and face.

1. Straight
2. Wavy
3. Curly
4. Kinky

Braid Shape

Braids can be flat, round, square, and perhaps other shapes. I know how to do flat, round (twisted), and square weaves using the plastic lace material you use to make lanyards at camp. I don’t have the dexterity to do those fancy weaves on my face. I’m lucky I can do a decent standard 3 strand braid.

Braids can also be tight or relaxed.

1. Flat
2. Round
3. Twisted
4. Square
5. Hexagon
6. Other

Number of Strands

1. Two
2. Three
3. Four
4. Five
5. Six
6. More…

Signs & Totems

I had a call in to the podcast from Matt Jackson who mentioned something he read in a book. Hair-covered aliens braided their fur and used braids given to another to signify their service to the clan.

For dwarves, they could have a key braid to signify their clan. If a non-dwarf bears one it would have different meanings. If a trusted species, it would mean a great honor. If a goblin had such a braid on them, it would mean their doom, as all would assume they were party to killing said dwarf.

Rank, Honors, and Other Information

All kinds of information can be encoded in a braid. For example rank of social station or military rank was mentioned in my prior post. But a dwarf who slays a giant in single combat (witnessed by others, or course) will have the giant slayer braid conferred by the witnesses.

In addition to clan, it could encode genealogy. Nobles are very particular to indicate how many generations since the clan split from another, or that the clan chief’s mother is so many generations removed from royalty. More detailed genealogy could also be encoded.

More Examples from the Real World

Usually, men and women have different styles. One sex may keep short hair, the other long, or both the same general length, whether long or short.

Religion plays a role, such as many religions where the hair is not cut, or certain parts are not cut, or it is styled a certain way, such as the tonsure of medieval priests.

In imperial China the partially shaved heads and long braided queue of Chinese men, signified loyalty to the Manchu dynasties. It was imposed on the Han by their conquerors the Qing. This makes sense for in-game, certain victors in war might demand their conquered subjects show loyalty in hair styles. Certain religious orders were exempt. This made loyal men evident, and allowed identification of friend or foe on the battlefield. Cutting off one’s queue was an act of rebellion with the death penalty.

Religious wars could breakout over affronts to a certain faith’s hairstyles. In some real world faiths, removing all the hair may be an act of penance, signifying commitment or re-birth.

The hairstyle we think of as a Mohawk is actually from the Pawnee. The true Mohawk hairstyle is created by plucking all but a square patch at the back of the crown, the remaining hair was shortened and has braids that are highly decorated.

Here is a list of hairstyles. This should help those, like me, who aren’t into the fashion of hair to make it more interesting in game.

Other Species

Dwarves shouldn’t be the only ones who style their hair and beards certain ways. Throwing the possibility of piercings and tattoos into the mix adds even more variety. However, as in the real world, not all cultures will have piercings, tattoos, and certain types of hairstyles.

You could see rival villages in a region each have different hair styles. Noble houses could have a distinct hairstyle. At the very least, nobles might style their hair differently from the masses.

You don’t have to make them like the official bestiary. They can have more or less hair including adding it or removing it from how you describe them.

Maybe orcs are hairy and shave all their hair.

Animals

Animals uses for work, riding, or as pets can have their hair styled. Horses can have their manes and tails braided or cut. Herd animals with long hair might have a braid that serves as a brand.

The hair of animals is gathered and pressed to make felt. Some is of course woven to make string, yarn, and cloth. One could do similar with one’s own hair. IDEA: Maybe some cultures save all their hair until til a certain age and them make a symbolic item that is woven or felted from their own hair.

Bonuses

Cody M. left a message in response to the original podcast that if a dwarf spends a turn (ten minutes) grooming that it will confer a reaction bonus. Would this be to other dwarves or all involved?

Conclusion

I’m wracking my brain to ensure I didn’t forget anything else. I’m no hairstyle expert, so if there’s anything else that can be added to this, please comment!