New: eLite Hair from SkyShop HOC

June 27th, 2007 at 09:41pm Aidan Recreant

How do I look as a blond? A redhead? What if my hair was blue?

When I was rezzed, I chose black for a hair color, because in real life, I’ve never dared to dye my hair black. Quickly, though, I fell into the same trap in my Second Life as in my first– I can’t buy any hair other than black, because I can’t justify the expense of so many hairstyles in all the different colors I’d like to try. I was resigned to being stuck with dark colors forever.

Until Cay Trudeau appeared, and introduced me to her magic eLite hair.

Most good hair is heavy with prims. Cay’s is no exception– the Catalpa style, above, has 91 prims, many of them flexi. In the past, any color change scripting would have to be put into each individual prim, ending in hair that might crash a sim. But according to SkyShop’s info card, “Thanks to LL we have to now use only 1 to 10 scripts per hairdo, instead of the old way of having one script per prim!!”

The first style I tried was “Catalpa,” a unisex Native-American inspired design. Bangs (sold separately) add side braids to the style, as well as optional hair feathers. Each came with small, medium, and large options, with a HUD book explaining in detail how to resize the hair to one’s own specifications. I wish I’d had this book to help me when I was learning to build; it’s that thorough. An included notecard gave me the color chart, and detailed and simple instructions on how to change the color of my hair.

At first, I stayed in my comfort zone. The top picture shows the “Crow” color, the right “Ebony2,” and the left “Blackbird.” The coloring and highlighting on each are subtly different, much as you might see in a hairstyle offered in a pack of colors. And then? Then I started going a little bit crazy. Aidan as a blond. Aidan with brown, purple, blue hair. Blond again. Once I began, I could. Not. Stop. And this was just one design!

(Left to right, top to bottom: Blackberry, Blond, Blue2, Plum, Ivory, Raven, Hazel, Brown.)

And that’s not even a quarter of the available colors. It’s staggering. Notice, also, that the HOC (Holger-Orclurch-Cay) script changes not just the color, but the shadows as well. This isn’t just a tint; it’s an entirely new texture each time. No yellow hair with black streaks, no unnaturally bright highlights on a dark color, there’s no “original” color that looks the best. It’s all good.

The “Laurent” style is geared toward men who want to look their age. The hair begins halfway back on the head, giving tribute to male pattern baldness, with a tiny flexi ponytail. This style comes with bangs (not shown) that appear only at the center of the head, emphasizing the receding hairline. I’m sorry, I am too vain to wear it. Instead, I added the “John” bangs to cover up my scalp. Does that count as a combover?

In honor of Ryan, I give you “John Laurent” in some of Cay’s reds: Cinnamon, Ginger, Red2, and Ruby.

Every color is available in every style. Despite receiving these designs as review copies, I went to the store and bought two more. It’s a pleasant shock, each time I open them, to realize they can be any color I want, any time I want. Now all I need are color-changing eyebrows. Cay, get on that, will you?

Catalpa is L$350; Catalpa bangs are L$65; Laurent + bangs are L$250; John bangs are $L50.
SkyShop is located in Heaton.

Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: Yes | Friends List: No

Notes: On Aidan: The Body Politik Pale Lucent Clean-Shaven skin by Maximillion Grant. House of International Style Lakota Sioux Man by Oryx Tempel. SpritWar Creations Men's Gray Fringed Moccasins by SpiritWar Kyong.

Entry Filed under: Hair, New Items, SkyShop HOC