Buffy's Hair Evolution

[RachM]

(Hope this shameless self-promotion is okay) This is my latest video, over-analyzing Buffy's hair throughout the seasons. Hopefully this will be better received than my last BtVS vid 😉

 

[Mrs Gordo]

This was a cool vid @RachM. I'm loving your transition to your new essay styles to your vids. I hadn't even though of many of these hairstyle changes. I was particularly struck by how after Joyce's death Buffy wears her hair straight. I think it really shows a shift in her character as well. Thanks for sharing 🙂

 

[Ethan Reigns]

Excellent video and you have a nice voice for this sort of essay style.

One thing someone mentioned previously in the forum was that whenever Buffy has crimped hair, she is in an altered state of mind as in "Something Blue". Any comment on this?

 

[RachM]

One thing someone mentioned previously in the forum was that whenever Buffy has crimped hair, she is in an altered state of mind as in "Something Blue". Any comment on this?

It's an interesting theory but I don't think it's entirely accurate, as we see her with crimped hair in several instances where she's in a normal state.

There is a similar theory about Cordy's hair; on AtS she only seems to wear her hair in curls when she's not in a real-world situation, such as Birthday, Angel's fantasy in Soulless and You're Welcome. Although, again, I think there are a couple of instances where this isn't accurate.

 

[LilyAnne]

One thing someone mentioned previously in the forum was that whenever Buffy has crimped hair, she is in an altered state of mind as in "Something Blue". Any comment on this?

It's an interesting theory but I don't think it's entirely accurate, as we see her with crimped hair in several instances where she's in a normal state.

This is really cool. I never noticed all of the subtle, in-season color changes before, especially in Season 6. You’re very perceptive! But I also always thought that her crimpy-haired look was styled like that whenever Buffy was not herself. It first shows up, I think, in “The Zeppo”, which kind of fits since, like, everything about the structure of that episode is out of character (love it). It shows up the most in Season 4, off the top of my head in “Something Blue” and “Who Are You?”, two episodes where Buffy is either acting out of character or simply not herself. It’s different than curly hair, and closer to “Beer Bad”, which also fits. 😛 I’m just curious, which episodes does she have crimpy hair where it doesn’t fit?

 

[RachM]

This is really cool. I never noticed all of the subtle, in-season color changes before, especially in Season 6. You’re very perceptive! But I also always thought that her crimpy-haired look was styled like that whenever Buffy was not herself. It first shows up, I think, in “The Zeppo”, which kind of fits since, like, everything about the structure of that episode is out of character (love it). It shows up the most in Season 4, off the top of my head in “Something Blue” and “Who Are You?”, two episodes where Buffy is either acting out of character or simply not herself. It’s different than curly hair, and closer to “Beer Bad”, which also fits. 😛 I’m just curious, which episodes does she have crimpy hair where it doesn’t fit?

Well, my first thought was The Zeppo but you blew holes in that! 😛 I think she also has slightly crimped hair in Choices.

 

[BuffyBot22]

It's an interesting theory but I don't think it's entirely accurate, as we see her with crimped hair in several instances where she's in a normal state.

There is a similar theory about Cordy's hair; on AtS she only seems to wear her hair in curls when she's not in a real-world situation, such as Birthday, Angel's fantasy in Soulless and You're Welcome. Although, again, I think there are a couple of instances where this isn't accurate.

This was fantastic! So much that I didn't pick up on. But her hair really did symbolize her life and her emotions.

You should do one for Cordy & Willow too! They both often change their hair. I mean of course if you want to do one for them.

 

[RachM]

This was fantastic! So much that I didn't pick up on. But her hair really did symbolize her life and her emotions

Thank you! So glad you enjoyed the vid!

You should do one for Cordy & Willow too! They both often change their hair. I mean of course if you want to do one for them.

I could def do one for Cordy but for Willow I'm planning to do vid focusing on her clothing, as I feel that Willow's style evolution really emphasises her evolving character, even more than her hair.

 

[NileQT87]

You missed something really notable. You can see that Buffy had dyed her hair RED between seasons 2 and 3. Well, more specifically, SMG did for Simply Irresistible, but her hair starting in Anne has the red beneath the chunky bleached streaks (which resulted in her hair looking a bit orange) very visible. The bleaching is more severe than ever due to what it's covering up and not entirely successful.

In the narrative, that comes across as her completely changing her appearance in a radical dye job to distance herself from her past, but perhaps it was too radical and the beauticians had to work to cover up the last dye job. It takes a few episodes in the season for her to successfully bleach out the red.

I would also note that anytime SMG has a fresh layer of fake orange tanner (which she uses) and more bleach in her hair, it gives off a more stereotypical California blonde look, which is decidedly further from her natural paler brunette look. Going even more California blonde and bronze with a lot of pastels in her wardrobe also serves to make her the physical opposite of dark-haired, dark vamp makeup-wearing Faith from Boston.

 

[NileQT87]

There's also the recurring cutting of bangs, which she most notably wears in season 1, but they also show up again in season 3 (tiny, short ones in Amends) and again in season 7 (Him).

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Wouldn't that be a hairvolution?

 

[Cohen]

This was great! I loved the insight you provided. I never realized how symbolic her hair choices could be! You really need to do Willows! She has different hair every season!! Hahaha

 

[MarieVampSlayer]

Great video! You should definitely do one for Willow, Cordy and Anya as they all have a lot of different hairstyles throughtout the show!

 

[Mrs Gordo]

You could do one for Angel... assess the level of spikey-ness in his hair. Hahha. 😛

Anyway I don’t think anyone’s hair means as much as Buffy’s hair because she is the protagonist. But idk maybe Willow and late seasons Cordy...

 

[thetopher]

This theory of Buffy haircuts being symbolically significant is very plausible to me, the show did lots of things like this, with all the clothes/fashion choices for example.

Clothing changes and hair styles were used to subtly signpost character development for lots of people; Buffy, Willow and Xander being the most obvious since we get to see them mature on-screen from a young-ish age;
But even Faith S3 transition from wild and untamed brunette to darker and straightened/ 'controlled' when under the Mayor's evil thrall, And Anya's constant dye jobs/changes to represent her insecurity about her identity.

Anyway, good job with the vid. 🙂

 

[RachM]

HowiMetdaSlayer will there be a Willow one too?

Sort of, my Willow one will focus on her clothes not her hair.

 

[WillowFromBuffy]

Amazing video! Solidly researched, easy to understand points, and you have a really comfortable speaking voice.

If you're going to do a video on Willow's clothes, could it also be about her hair? Much of what you said about Buffy's hair would also apply to Willow. The only time I can remember Willow wearing her hair up is in Selfless, when she is very much on probation.

There are so many videos you could do on visual cues. It could be a whole series.

 

[Willow Tara]

I LOOOVED this video! Love Buffyverse analyzing of any kind. 🙂 And if I'm right (I'm not sure but I think he said something like that.) Joss Whedon said that the only thing on Buffy that doesn't mean something is the Cheese Man. So the hair has to mean something, right?
I watched this video over and over again it is really interesting and fun to watch. (And as others already said: You have a nice voice.) I am looking forward to your other Buffy videos. I already subscribed so that I'll know when you make a new Buffy video 🙂. More analyzing and Buffy discusion yeay!!! Can't wait! 🙂

 

[Taake]

I never thought Buffy's hair could be so interesting! That was a really great video. I hadn't reflected on pretty much any of those things. 🙂

 

[DeadlyDuo]

Good vid. I like the less aggressive style, it felt more neutral and balanced.

her hair starting in Anne has the red beneath the chunky bleached streaks (which resulted in her hair looking a bit orange) very visible.

Buffy's hair in early Season 3 is very reminiscent of Rogue from the X-Men which is funny since Buffy is supposedly inspired by Kitty Pryde from the X-Men.

Great video! You should definitely do one for Willow, Cordy and Anya as they all have a lot of different hairstyles throughtout the show!

Anya changes her hair practically every episode, but I agree, it would be good to see a video on the style evolution of the female characters as they mature. The males don't really change clothing wise, Spike practically wore the same outfit throughout the show with only minor adjustments, Xander stopped wearing shirts and started wearing jumpers, Oz changed his hair colour a couple of times, grew a beard then shaved it off. The only male who has a considerable style change is Giles after he is fired from the WC. Maybe Tweed was the uniform?