Well...Joss did say once that sometimes it really is all about the grape...maybe this really IS all about the hair...

Fun little read, actually.

HowlingLupe | June 23, 23:03 CET

LOL! I'm glad that I'm not the only one who marks Buffy seasons by Buffy's hairstyle. Like the author, I've believed all along that Buffy's hairstyle was a reflection of what was going on in the Buffyverse.

P.S. Season 5's wavy hairstyle is my favorite. I also prefer Faith's and Willow's hairstyles in season 7 over their hairstyles in previous seasons.

ricetxpeaches | June 23, 23:14 CET

Well, I would assume the makeup/wardrobe/whoever people were purposely choosing her hairstyles to reflect the character. I mean, that's kind of their job, right?

They gave most of the characters more "mature" hairstyles as they grew up. Makes sense to me.

RaisedByMongrels | June 23, 23:34 CET

"Next week: Willow's shoes and what they meant for season 6"

No, no, Willow's hats surely?

moley75 | June 23, 23:43 CET

As long as it's germane, have any of you noticed Dawny's "blue period?" Dawn was dressed in blue 90% of the time during the 6th season--especially in the first 15 or so episodes. Without fail, she's wearing blue.

alexreager | June 23, 23:59 CET

The end of season four and through season five Buffy, Willow, and Xander all had extremely unfortunate hair. Extremely unfortunate. Especially the other two.

[ edited by marvelknight616 on 2008-06-23 21:09 ]

marvelknight616 | June 24, 00:09 CET

This is my favourite link on Whedonesque ever.

daylight | June 24, 00:22 CET

I do remember epic discussions about Buffy's hair on the message boards when the show on the air.

Simon | June 24, 00:29 CET

I would rank her hair seasons as 5, 7, 6, 3, 2, 1 with (obviously ;) crinkly hair Buffy from 'Beer Bad' being king of the hair hill, defending its metaphorically blocked plug-hole against all comers, standing crinkled against a sea of tongs.

Philosophically speaking, of course.

Saje | June 24, 00:48 CET

I do remember epic discussions about Buffy's hair on the message boards when the show on the air.
Those were the good old days. Too bad I missed 'em.

Also, I disagree, marvelknight616. I like both Buffy and Willow's hair in Season 5.

jcs | June 24, 01:25 CET

I loved Willow's shorter hair, though I also think she looks great in season seven with her long layers. :) As for Buffy's hair, I enjoyed it pretty much throughout, with the exception of her hair in the first season (though it WAS rather reflective of the style at the time).

ariana75 | June 24, 01:31 CET

I think I remember hearing commentary that Buffy's hair in season one was styled in a softer (they used a term like "earth mother") fashion due to a misunderstanding, and that it should have been more "mall queen".

Or am I making this up?

ETA: Also, Willow's short, flippy, freshman 'do in early season 4 was her best ever, IMO.

[ edited by melanie on 2008-06-23 22:44 ]

pillboxed | June 24, 01:42 CET

I also missed the online discussions of Buffy's hair when BtVS was on the air. For the record, I love Willow's Season 5 hair the best.

Watching Buffy finally convinced me that a woman could be strong *and* look good. This is not a Buffy-changed-the-world point, but I think that the show liberated me from a belief that I had to look frumpy in order to be taken seriously.

TawnyJayne | June 24, 01:48 CET

I'm with you, melanie on Willow's hair in S4. I loved that look on her; I thought it perfectly suited both her personality and her face shape.

I do think that Xander's hair could have used some help during the middle seasons. I liked Spike's better in S7 versus S2, because the curls were a little less plastered, and more tousled.

I recall reading somewhere about Buffy's "unfortunate bob of Season 2." I'm re-watching it now, and I like her hair. I don't think it's her best, because I really liked S5's hair the best. Although her short hair in S6 was way cute, IMO, even if the reason for its shortness wasn't in the realm of "cute."

Also, I always loved how Buffy was perfectly coiffed when appropriate, but that there were other times (like some slayage instances) when her hair was just thrown up, where it was messy but perfunctory. I liked that touch of realism.

BandofBuggered | June 24, 01:57 CET

I think Buffy's hair looks gorgeous in "Once More, With Feeling" and I agree that Willow's S4 look was her best.

Buffy's worst hair was in "Bargaining I/II" but I suppose that's forgiveable considering the circumstances...

moley75 | June 24, 02:12 CET

I think I remember hearing commentary that Buffy's hair in season one was styled in a softer (they used a term like "earth mother") fashion due to a misunderstanding, and that it should have been more "mall queen".

Or am I making this up?

I remember that. I think it was from the pilot commentary, they said that her hair and makeup were too dark, making her look too "earthy."

ormaybemidgets | June 24, 02:38 CET

"Her hair can only be a sign of hard times to come. The "waves" are going to crash down hard on Buffy. Season five was a season of changes."

This is EXCELLENT.

qui_ca | June 24, 02:56 CET

I do realize that this is meant to be jokey...but I've always been curious about the Buffy hair choices. Some of the more exuberant dos- masses of waves, or very bleachy, seem a little like the "Buffy" name...over the top, a kind of disguise, almost. I actually think whoever was making the hair decisions for all the female characters was very clever and expressive with them, and added quite a bit.

There is something on one of the dvd extras I think, about the filming difficulties that ensued when Anya's hair was too similar to Buffy's.

toast | June 24, 03:41 CET

I'm too much of a guy; I like willow with the longer hair S-1 and S-7 altho I prefer the in-between color. I can imagine her and tara both with the long hair and levitating while...well, read my fic "old Marrieds" for the rest of it.

DaddyCatALSO | June 24, 03:47 CET

I'm too much of a guy; I like willow with the longer hair S-1 and S-7 altho I prefer the in-between color. I can imagine her and tara both with the long hair and levitating while...well, read my fic "old Marrieds" for the rest of it.

DaddyCatALSO | June 24, 03:47 CET

Buffy's *really* wavy hair was a device used to signal episodes which were of a more comedic nature (Beer Bad, The Zeppo, etc.) I believe this was even confirmed by the writers. But like many devices on Buffy, it was hair today and gone tomorrow. Bwahahahaha!!!!

OzLady | June 24, 04:14 CET

I really loved her pigtails that weren't quite pulled all the way through. I used that a lot when my hair was still long.

chance | June 24, 04:56 CET

I just watched the Wish again the other day. I wonder what the author would have made of Wishverse Buffy's hair? Is the single braid just more practical or is it symbolic of this Buffy being bound to her destiny to die at the Master's hands? Wishverse Buffy has closed herself off from the world. She has no friends, no family, only the slaying. Is her hair a reflection of this?

laoshi | June 24, 05:25 CET

Let's not forget Buffy's flapper hair in Restless. Kind of a Louise Brooks bob, I believe. She was the bee's knees as a brunette, and I'm sure some kind of deep psychological point was being made by having Willow dream of her with short black hair.

Or not.

shambleau | June 24, 09:32 CET

There's no telling what was intentional in "restless" and what wasn't. (A lot of things in it, I'm convinced, became "retro-intentional," actually.)

But given how close B&W are, Willow probably knows what color Buffy's roots are anyway -snerk-.

DaddyCatALSO | June 24, 16:27 CET

I just loved the Beer Bad "Daryl Hannah in Clan of the Cave Bear" hair, and how SMG worked it. That hair was like a separate character.

Shey | June 24, 18:48 CET

shambleau - Thanks for reminding me of Buffy's Restless hair. Like DaddyCatALSO, I'm a guy who likes long hair, but she made that short cut look so cute. I also loved the Caveslayer hair, and the dead-cat morning hair when she wakes up in Angel's digs in Season 3. Made me think nasty thoughts. Oh well, us guys and our sales.

witchlover | June 24, 19:25 CET

I love this thread, particularly for my inability to not take it seriously.

Pointy | June 25, 02:32 CET