Hair Apparent

Guile earns the #10 spot on this list, just edging out Paul Phoenix from Tekken. Guile’s hairstyle isn’t nearly as over-the-top as some of the other entries on this list. In fact, Guile doesn’t even have the most outlandish hair in the Street Fighter series (that honor would probably go to Birdie or C. Viper). With this said, there is no doubt that Guile has one of the most recognizable hairstyles of any video game character. The flat-topped anvil look is the perfect fit for his chiseled jaw and hardened personality. With a military rank of Colonel, Guile is obviously devoted to his country. He’s also devoted to his hair, and will often run a comb through it after winning a fight. The relatively simple gesture marked one of the first instances in which a video game character had been seen taking care of their hair, and it secures Guile’s spot on this list.

Scarlet Jacobs (better known by her pseudonym Shinobu) proudly represents the big hair contingent on this list. No More Heroes is known for a diverse cast of bizarre characters, and Shinobu is a perfect example. The youngest known ranked member of the United Assassins Association, Shinobu is still a high school student. In spite of her youth, Shinobu is a deadly fighter and highly skilled with her katana. Moreover, she’s got a major ‘tude and kills several of her classmates with no remorse. The image of a school girl carrying around a sword is strange enough, but her eye-catching hairstyle makes the entire scenario seem even stranger. It’s certainly not unusual for black characters to have afros. However, Shinobu’s bright white hair has an exotic quality and really makes her stand out.

Kabuki Quantum Fighter is a relatively obscure NES game that was released in 1991. The game revolves around a military agent named Col. Scott O’Connor who transfers his brain into raw binary code in order to combat a rogue program in the Main Defense Computer. The concept in of itself is already a pretty big stretch, but things get even stranger as the story progresses. After undergoing the experimental brain transfer to enter the computer, O’Connor’s body takes the form of a Kabuki actor. The explanation for this is that O’Connor’s ancestors were Kabuki. (O’Connor sure sounds like a traditional Japanese name to me!) In any case, the Colonel makes the most of his situation and uses his ridiculous red hair to whip his enemies. Hair may not be the most conventional weapon, but it gets the job done.

Benimaru was loosely based on a character named Polnareff from the Japanese manga, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Some might view Benimaru’s hair as a transparent attempt to make a bold fashion statement, but there’s actually a practical explanation behind Benimaru’s bizarre hairstyle. (Surprisingly, this explanation doesn’t involve the use of hair gel.) Benimaru has the remarkable ability to control electricity, and this causes his hair to stand straight up as a side effect. Benimaru looks outrageous when his hair is affected by static electricity. When he wears his hair down, however, his hair has an unmistakable feminine quality. Depending on how he wears his hair, he either looks like a freak or he looks like a girl. Neither option is necessarily bad, but it makes for a noteworthy hairstyle nonetheless.

Shantae is the titular star of an oft-overlooked Game Boy Color game and has become something of an indie darling in recent years. The half-genie heroine has a childlike view of right and wrong, but she also has a strong sense of justice and feels obligated to help those in need. She is able to learn new fighting skills rapidly and often confounds enemies with her belly dancing skills. Shantae is even able to transform into a variety of creatures (including a monkey, an elephant, a spider and a harpy) by performing her magical dances. The reason Shantae’s on this list has nothing to do with her dancing skills. Rather, Shantae’s on this list because her primary form of attack involves her using her magical purple ponytail as a whip. Her hair is almost as big as the rest of her body, so there’s gotta be some weight behind it.

When Heavenly Sword was first revealed, many gamers were quick to classify the game as a blatant God of War clone. This comparison wasn’t entirely fair, however. While there were certainly similarities between the games, there were also several substantial differences between the main characters. (And I’m not just talking about the fact that you can see Nariko’s panties, either.) Nariko’s long red hair sharply contrasts the bald head of Kratos. It may seem like a minor detail at first, but Nariko’s flowing hair is actually one of the most widely acclaimed aspects of Heavenly Sword. Nearly every review talked about it. Her hair is both a reflection of her fierce fighting style and a symbol of her beauty. She’s a quintessential example of a fiery red head, and her hair perfectly accentuates her bitchy personality.

Many were skeptical when Dixie Kong was introduced as a replacement for a kidnapped Donkey Kong in the highly-anticipated sequel to Donkey Kong Country. After all, how could you have a Donkey Kong Country game without the main character? Gamers would soon find that Dixie was not only an adequate replacement, but was actually superior to the famous ape in several ways. Without question, Dixie’s most defining trait is her long, golden locks. Dixie can use her hair to pick up barrels or attack enemies, and she can even turn herself into a makeshift helicopter in order to slow her descent! Dixie Kong hasn’t been given a lead role in a video game since Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble in 1996, but such is the life of a video game character. You know what they say: Hair today, gone tomorrow. (I’ll show myself out.)

With an eclectic cast that includes pirates, witches, and sexy cross-dressing nuns, the Guilty Gear series is home to some of the most bizarre video game characters ever conceived. Millia Rage is a perfect example. Born of Russian descent and orphaned at an early age, Millia Rage was raised in an assassin guild. As she grew older, Millia practiced the art of the “Six Forbidden Magics” and developed an uncanny ability control her hair’s movement and alter its length and shape at will. Not only can Millia whip and stab her opponents with her hair, but she can also form shields out of it. One of Millia’s many noteworthy attacks involves her transforming her hair into a pair of wings in order to dive down at her opponent from the sky. Millia’s abilities served her well in battle and made her an effective (albeit conflicted) assassin.

Twintelle’s signature curls remind me of the weaponized hat worn by Cerebella in the Skullgirls games. The queen of the silver screen is the picture of elegance, but the A-list movie star can hold her own in the ARMS league since her celebrity status renders her opponents starstruck and slows down their punches. While her rivals all have extendable arms made from various components like ribbons or springs, Twintelle fights with her hair! Her extendable pigtails have hi-tech boxing gloves affixed to them, leaving her hands completely free during battle. Her fights look effortless as she struts around arenas with her hands on her marvelous hips. She’s as slick as she is THICC, and you really have to admire a person who can punch you in the face and enjoy a spot of tea at the same time.

When it comes to hairstyles in video games, Bayonetta is basically in a league of her own. She uses a wide variety of weapons during her adventures – including swords, whips, and multiple handguns – but her most intriguing attacks involve her hair. Bayonetta doesn’t merely use her hair to whip her enemies. Instead, strands of her hair are actually used to form a variety of behemoth beasts that can assist her in battle. Bayonetta’s very outfit is also made up of her hair, and her long black locks cling to her body to create her clothing. Her “wicked weave” is often used for combat purposes, and Bayonetta is sometimes left nearly naked as a result! Although Bayonetta has been featured on several lists already, there was no way that the raven-haired witch wasn’t going to secure the coveted number one position.