Customizing your trainer's look is a core part of the Alola region experience in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. When Game Freak introduced advanced character customization in Generation VI and expanded it in Generation VII, players gained the ability to pick not just outfits and hats, but also hair lengths, bangs, and dye colors. Getting the right aesthetic for your female protagonist takes a bit of planning, local currency, and visits to the right salons across the islands.
Understanding how the salon system works changes how you approach the game's early hours. Unlike standard clothing boutiques that are scattered everywhere, hair salons share locations with apparel shops in specific towns, and changing your look costs a flat fee of Poke Dollars plus a separate charge if you want to dye your hair. This guide breaks down every available cut, how to unlock different shades, and where you need to travel to find specific styles.
Salon Locations Across the Alola Region
You can't change your hair right when you start your adventure in Bulbapedia. The option unlocks once you reach Heahea City on Akala Island, which is roughly a few hours into the main story. From that point onward, you have access to full salon services in major urban hubs across each island.
Each salon offers the same core catalog of cuts and colors, meaning you don't need to hunt across multiple islands just to get a specific bob or braid. However, keeping track of where these salons sit helps when you want a quick refresh between island trials.
Heahea City Salon on Akala Island
Located on the second island, this is the first salon you encounter. It sits right next to the local clothing boutique. Visiting here early lets you ditch the default hat-and-hair combo you start the game with.
Konikoni City Salon on Akala Island
Konikoni City offers a more relaxed, boutique atmosphere on the southern coast of Akala Island. The salon here matches the town's artisanal aesthetic. If you're shopping for specific dresses or accessories, you can step right next door to update your hair to match.
Malie City Salon on Ula'ula Island
Ula'ula Island features a bustling salon in Malie City, situated near the outer cape and shopping district. Malie City draws heavy inspiration from Johto architecture, making it a scenic spot to sit down for a major restyle.
Hau'oli City Tourist Bureau and Salon
While the main Hau'oli City location on Melemele Island focuses heavily on initial clothing options, subsequent visits and updates across the region streamline your style choices. You'll return to these hubs whenever you want to test a shorter crop or grow your locks out.
Core Cut Options for Female Trainers
When you sit in the salon chair, you choose between hair length and bangs. The game categorizes choices into short, medium, and long styles, each paired with specific fringe options that change how your character's face frames.
Short cuts range from sharp pixie styles to casual bobs. They work exceptionally well if you plan to wear beanies, baseball caps, or berets, as shorter hair avoids clipping issues with certain hat models.
Medium cuts include shoulder-length lobs, wavy cuts, and layered styles that strike a balance between casual and formal. These look great with headbands and flower accessories found in Alolan boutiques.
Long cuts feature flowing straight hair, side ponytails, and intricate braided styles. While they take up more visual space on screen, they offer the most dramatic silhouette changes when paired with dresses and tank tops.
Hair Dye Colors and How to Unlock Them
At the start of your journey, your color palette is limited to basic shades like black, brown, and blonde. To unlock vibrant fantasy colors, you need to answer questions posed by the salon stylist when you first sit down.
The stylist asks what kind of image you want to project or how you feel about your current look. Your responses determine which color palette unlocks for your save file.
- Bright Red and Orange: Unlocked by expressing bold or energetic preferences during the initial consultation dialogue.
- Honey and Ash Blonde: Available early or through neutral style choices that lean into traditional natural tones.
- Pastel Pink and Purple: Unlocked by selecting cute, gentle, or whimsical answers when chatting with the stylist.
- Dark Green and Blue: Tied to calm or edgy dialogue choices during your initial salon visits.
Once you unlock a dye color, it stays available for future salon trips, though changing both your cut and your color in the same visit incurs separate fees.
Matching Hair Styles with Alolan Outfits
Hair choice heavily influences how hats and colored lenses interact with your overall trainer sprite. Because hats are mandatory for certain default clothing sets in Pokémon Moon, you want to pick a style that complements headwear.
Short bobs and side-swept bangs look crisp under snapbacks and straw hats. If you prefer wearing no hat at all—an option unlocked later by removing headwear in the changing room—longer braids and voluminous waves take center stage without getting squished by brims.
Color coordination also matters. Alola's tropical setting encourages bright, saturated clothing options like aloha shirts, tank tops, and shorts. Pairing vibrant yellow or pink hair with contrasting dark outfits creates a striking look on the overworld map and during battle cutscenes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a haircut cost in Pokémon Moon?
A standard haircut costs 500 Poke Dollars. If you want to add a hair dye treatment alongside your cut, it costs an additional 500 Poke Dollars, bringing the total to 1,000 Poke Dollars per visit.
Can male characters get female hairstyles?
No, the hair salon options are strictly separated by the gender you select at the start of the game. Male characters have their own distinct short and medium styles, though both genders share access to certain color palettes once unlocked.
Can you change your eye color and hair color at the same time?
Hair color is changed exclusively at the salon chairs in major city boutiques. Eye color, on the other hand, is managed by equipping colored contact lenses through your character's bedroom mirror or inventory screen after purchasing them at local shops.
Do hairstyles affect gameplay or stats?
No, changing your hair, clothes, or accessories is purely cosmetic. It doesn't affect your Pokémon's affection levels, catch rates, or battle stats in any way.
