Complete Guide to Hair Customization in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Personalizing your trainer’s appearance is one of the most enjoyable aspects of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. While the games offer extensive customization options, styling your character’s hair requires visiting specific locations throughout the Paldea region. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about changing your hairstyle, finding salons, and exploring all available hair options.

Understanding Character Appearance Options

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduce unprecedented levels of character customization compared to previous titles in the franchise. When you begin your adventure, you’ll select from eight different starter avatars, each of which can be heavily customized to match your preferences. The character creation system allows you to adjust various facial features, including eye shape, eye color, lip style, and even blemishes.

One of the most progressive features in these games is the removal of gender-based clothing and hairstyle restrictions. Unlike earlier Pokémon generations, any player can choose any hairstyle or wear any clothing item regardless of their character’s gender. This inclusive approach to customization reflects modern design principles and gives all players complete freedom in expressing their character’s identity.

However, it’s important to note that not all appearance changes can be made through the same menu. While outfits and certain facial features can be adjusted on the fly, hairstyle modifications require a visit to a dedicated establishment.

Accessing the Outfit Customization Menu

For most appearance modifications, you’ll utilize the outfit menu, which is accessible almost anywhere in the game. To open this menu, simply press the left button on your controller’s D-pad. This action brings up a comprehensive customization interface where you can make immediate changes to your look.

Through the outfit menu, you can perform the following customizations:

• Change your current outfit by selecting from purchased clothing items
• Switch between academy uniforms (including seasonal variations for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter)
• Adjust eye shape and color to your preference
• Modify lip style and appearance
• Add or remove various blemishes and facial markings

The seasonal academy uniforms deserve special mention, as they offer a unique way to adapt your appearance throughout your journey. Each season features its own distinct uniform design, allowing you to maintain visual consistency with the in-game world as the seasons change.

Finding and Visiting Hair Salons

While the outfit menu handles most customization needs, hairstyle changes require visiting a physical location within the game world. Hair salons are scattered throughout Paldea, with three main locations serving as your primary options for hair styling services.

Primary Salon Locations:

• Mesagoza (Academy area) – Available from the start of the game
• Cascarrafa
• Levincia

Identifying a salon is straightforward once you know what to look for. Each salon features a distinctive visual marker: a spinning barber pole in red, white, and blue colors displayed outside the building. This iconic symbol makes salons easy to spot even if you’re unfamiliar with a particular city’s layout. The barber pole appears by the window, serving as a clear waypoint for finding the salon entrance.

The salon in the academy area is particularly convenient, as it becomes available to you immediately after gaining free movement in the game. This early-game accessibility ensures that you can experiment with different hairstyles throughout your adventure without traveling extensively.

The Hair Styling Process and Costs

Once you enter a salon, the process of changing your hairstyle is remarkably straightforward. Approach the cashier or receptionist at the front desk and initiate a conversation. From there, you’ll be presented with a comprehensive list of available hairstyles and colors to choose from.

Each hair styling session costs 3,000 Pokédollars, which is a reasonable investment given the frequency with which you might want to refresh your appearance. Importantly, there are no limits on how many times you can change your hairstyle. If you experiment with a new look and decide it doesn’t suit you, you can immediately return to the salon and try something different without any penalties or restrictions.

The pricing structure is consistent across all salon locations, ensuring that you won’t encounter unexpected costs when visiting different cities. This uniformity, combined with the reasonable price point, encourages players to explore different styling options and discover looks that genuinely resonate with their aesthetic preferences.

Exploring Available Hairstyles

The base game of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet offers 25 distinct hairstyles, providing substantial variety for character customization. These styles range from short, practical cuts to elaborate braided designs and modern aesthetics. Here’s an overview of the diverse options available:

Many of these hairstyles become available from the start of the game, allowing you to experiment with different looks early in your adventure. However, some styles are exclusive to the salon and can only be accessed after visiting one for the first time.

Hair Color Selection

Beyond hairstyle variety, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet provides an extensive palette of hair color options. The base game includes 26 distinct hair color variations, each carefully designed to complement different character types and personal preferences. Unlike some cosmetic options in other games, hair colors are not locked behind salon exclusivity—all colors are available to every player regardless of where you access the salon.

The available colors span natural shades as well as fantastical options, reflecting the imaginative nature of the Pokémon universe. You can choose from classic tones like various browns and blondes, striking reds and blues, and unique ash-toned variations that give your character a distinctive appearance.

Expanding Your Options: DLC Content

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s DLC expansions introduce additional hairstyling opportunities. The Teal Mask DLC adds 8 new hairstyles to your available options, while The Indigo Disk DLC includes 6 additional styles. This brings the total number of hairstyles to 39 across all content.

Accessing these new hairstyles requires obtaining the corresponding style cards. The Teal Style Card unlocks the Teal Mask hairstyles, while the Indigo Style Card provides access to The Indigo Disk styles. Once you possess these cards, you can visit any salon in Paldea and immediately access the new hairstyles alongside your existing options.

The DLC hairstyles follow the same pricing structure as the base game options, costing 3,000 Pokédollars per styling session. This consistency makes DLC hairstyles feel like a natural extension of your customization options rather than a premium feature.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Customization

Can I change my hairstyle through the outfit menu?

No, hairstyles can only be changed by visiting a salon in person. The outfit menu handles clothing and some facial features, but hair modifications require visiting one of the designated salons in Mesagoza, Cascarrafa, or Levincia.

Are there any hairstyles exclusive to a specific salon?

All salons offer the same selection of hairstyles regardless of location. The salon you visit doesn’t matter—each provides access to every available hairstyle, making convenience your only consideration when choosing which salon to visit.

Can male and female characters access different hairstyles?

No, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet eliminated gender-based restrictions on hairstyles. Every hairstyle is available to every player, regardless of their character’s gender. This inclusive design philosophy extends to all customization options in the game.

What happens if I don’t like my new hairstyle?

You can change your hairstyle as many times as you wish by returning to any salon and paying the 3,000 Pokédollar fee again. There are no penalties for frequent changes, and you can experiment freely without concern.

Do I need the DLC to access certain hairstyles?

The base game includes 25 hairstyles accessible to all players. The 8 Teal Mask hairstyles and 6 Indigo Disk hairstyles are exclusive to those respective DLC purchases. If you purchase the DLC, you’ll automatically gain access to these additional styles after obtaining the corresponding style cards.

Maximizing Your Character’s Appearance

Creating a memorable trainer character involves coordinating multiple appearance elements. While your hairstyle is important, consider how it complements your chosen outfit, eye color, and overall aesthetic. The game’s inclusive customization system means you can experiment freely and create exactly the character you envision.

Many players enjoy changing their appearance periodically throughout their playthrough, using hairstyle changes to mark significant moments in their journey. Others prefer locking in a look early and maintaining consistency. The beauty of the system is that it supports both approaches equally.

Remember that your character’s appearance is entirely personal, and with no gender-based restrictions limiting your options, you have complete creative freedom in expressing your vision through your trainer’s look.