Customizing your trainer's appearance in the Alola region is a core part of the experience, but changing your look requires finding the right location and knowing what styles are available. To change your hairstyle in Pokémon Ultra Moon, you need to visit any of the hair salons located directly next to the Apparel Shops found in major cities like Hau'oli City, Heahea City, Malie City, and Konikoni City. A standard haircut costs 500 Pokédollars, while changing your hair color also costs 500 Pokédollars, making routine style updates quite affordable.
The salon system expands as you progress through the main story and eventually defeat the Elite Four. Certain cuts, bangs options, and vibrant dye shades remain locked until you clear specific milestones. Knowing where to go and which cuts unlock at different stages helps you plan your character's final look without wasting hard-earned cash on trial and error.
Locating Hair Salons Across Alola
You can't change your hair at just any Pokémon Center. Salons are paired exclusively with clothing boutiques in specific urban hubs. As you travel through the islands, keep an eye out for the scissors-and-comb icon on local town maps.
- Hau'oli City: The first salon you encounter on Melemele Island, perfect for an early-game trim shortly after completing your initial trials.
- Heahea City: Located on Akala Island, offering a fresh set of options once you cross over into the second island's broader selection of fashion items.
- Malie City: Situated on Ula'ula Island, featuring urban styles that fit the district's distinct aesthetic.
- Konikoni City: Another Akala Island hub providing alternative styling choices for travelers looping back through the southern region.
Entering any of these salons and speaking to the receptionist lets you choose between altering your haircut, adjusting your bangs, or modifying your hair color. Keep in mind that the game doesn't feature a visual preview screen before you commit, so you'll want to check style lists beforehand to ensure you get the exact look you want.
Male Trainer Hairstyles and Cuts
Male characters start with a solid foundation of short and medium options, with a few extra cuts unlocked later in the adventure.
- Medium and Smooth: A clean, relaxed look parted neatly on the side.
- Medium and Layered: Adds a bit of texture and volume around the crown.
- Caesar Cut: A short, uniform crop with a blunt, straight fringe.
- Modern Quiff: Swept upward and away from the forehead for a sharper profile.
- Short and Layered: A tight cut introduced to give shorter lengths more dimension.
- Short and Tousled: Features messy, casual texturing for a rugged vibe.
- Braided Cornrows: A tight, intricate braided pattern running backward along the scalp.
- Long and Tousled: A longer style that becomes available only after you defeat the Elite Four.
Female Trainer Hairstyles and Cuts
Female characters enjoy a massive variety of lengths, updos, and fringe combinations. Every primary cut can also be paired with sideswept bangs, straight bangs, or no bangs at all, which effectively triples your styling choices.
- Chin-Length Bob: A classic, clean cut that frames the face neatly.
- Short and Bobbed: A tighter variation of the bob sitting slightly higher above the jawline.
- Medium and Wavy: Soft waves adding natural volume and movement.
- Long and Straight: Sleek, flowing locks that cascade down your trainer's back.
- Long and Wavy: Relaxed, beachy waves fitting the Alola island atmosphere.
- Romantic Tuck: A styled arrangement tucked neatly behind the ears.
- Braided Tails: Neat side braids adding a playful, adventurous look.
- Flipped-Out Bob: A retro-inspired cut with ends curving outward.
- Cornrow Braided Bun: An intricate updo keeping hair securely off the neck.
- High Pigtails: A high-volume double ponytail style unlocked after defeating the Elite Four.
Hair Color and Dye Options
Changing your hair color works independently from cutting your hair. When you first start out, you have access to natural tones like black, brown, and honey blonde. As you progress and visit salons on later islands, more vibrant shades open up.
- Natural Tones: Ash brown, caramel blond, and platinum blond give your character a grounded, realistic appearance.
- Fantasy and Bold Tones: Pink brown, wine red, and stark white become available later in the game. Wine red and white specifically require deeper progress into the main story or post-game milestones before the stylists will offer them.
To check out official merchandise or look up broader gameplay details, you can visit the Nintendo official website. For community-driven tracking on game mechanics, Bulbagarden serves as an extensive historical resource for past Pokémon generations.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Because salon visits cost money and lack a visual preview window, players often run into minor frustrations. Avoiding these pitfalls saves time and keeps your Pokédollars in check.
- Expecting free previews: Don't walk into a salon expecting to rotate a 3D model of the hairstyle beforehand. Look up screenshots or lists online if you are protective of your character's current look.
- Ignoring post-game unlocks: If you're hunting for specific cuts like Long and Tousled for male trainers or High Pigtails for female trainers, don't waste time checking early-game salons on Melemele Island, as they won't appear until after the credits roll.
- Confusing boutiques with salons: Remember that buying clothes happens inside the boutique, but you must step over to the separate salon counter right next to it to handle hair changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my hair color without changing my haircut?
Yes. The salon receptionist lets you choose separate prompts for changing your cut, adjusting your bangs, or altering your hair color independently.
How much does a trip to the salon cost?
Both haircuts and hair dye applications cost a flat fee of 500 Pokédollars each, making it easy to experiment once you have a bit of cash flow from trainer battles.
Are hairstyles gender-locked?
Yes. Male and female trainers have completely separate pools of available cuts, lengths, and updo styles tailored to their character models.
Do hairstyles affect gameplay or stats?
No. Trainer customization in Pokémon Ultra Moon is purely aesthetic and has zero impact on your Pokémon stats, affection levels, or story progression.
