In episode 21 of K-ON!, the girls try out a variety of different hairstyles in preparation for their class photos. One commenter, Don Kangol Jones, mentioned that he thought this was a subtle commentary on how a character’s design and, by extension, personality is defined by their hairstyle. This got me thinking about past anime and manga where characters have changed their hair. One example that stuck in my mind was the final volume of A.I. Love You, where Cynthia trimmed her long locks into a bob cut that, frankly, didn’t suit her at all. Although her personality technically stayed the same, she just seemed like an entirely different person based on appearance alone. I think Don hit the nail on the head; hairstyle is the most important aspect of any anime character’s design.

So, what kind of anime hairstyle do you like best? And what type of personality do you think that hairstyle suits? Do the twintails make the tsundere, and do all tomboys sport short haircuts? Should an elegant bushido girl wear a ponytail, or let her flowing tresses fly free? I’m interested in hearing your thoughts. Vote in the poll below, and leave your opinion in the comment section!

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