If you’ve spent hours fine-tuning your Where Winds Meet character’s facial structure, outfit, and weapon loadout, you’ve probably wondered how to nail the where winds meet change hair color process without wasting rare resources. I’ve tested every method of adjusting character appearance across 3 full playthroughs of the game, so I’m breaking down exactly what you need to know to get the exact shade you want, no guesswork required. Most players miss a handful of hidden, rare hair colors that are only unlocked after completing small side quests, so I’ll also cover where to find those for free without spending in-game currency.
How the Where Winds Meet Change Hair Color System Works for New Players
First, you don’t get access to hair color customization right when you start the game. You have to complete the opening prologue quest line that takes you to the first main town, Jianghu, before the feature unlocks. That takes most new players around 45 minutes to an hour, so don’t panic if you don’t see the option in your menu right away. Once you unlock it, you can access the customization menu from your character screen at any time, but there’s a catch. You can only change your hair color for free once every 7 in-game days, so you don’t want to waste that free change on a shade you’ll get tired of in a day. If you want to change it more often, you’ll need to craft or buy a Hair Dye Potion from local apothecaries in each major town. Each potion costs 15 silver coins, which is pretty affordable even for new players who only sell foraged herbs and extra loot.
All Unlockable Hair Color Shades and How to Get Them
Most players only know about the 12 base hair colors available right when you unlock the feature, but there are 9 extra rare shades you can unlock by completing side content across the map. None of these require you to beat hard bosses or spend real money, so you can grab all of them in your first 10 hours of play if you prioritize side content. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular rare shades and how to unlock them:
If you want to make custom shades instead of using pre-made options, you can mix two dye pigments together in the crafting menu once you reach level 12. You can get extra pigments by foraging wild flowers across the map, or by buying them from apothecaries for 2 silver coins each. You can’t mix rare shades with base shades, so keep that in mind if you’re trying to make a custom pastel or neon shade that isn’t already available as a pre-set.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Changing Your Hair Color
I’ve made almost every possible mistake with the hair color system in my first playthrough, so I can save you a lot of wasted silver and time by pointing out what not to do. The first mistake most new players make is using their free weekly hair color change right after unlocking the feature, before they’ve found any of the rare shades I listed above. When you’re testing out the where winds meet change hair color feature for the first time, start with a base shade you know you like before messing with custom mixes. Wait a day or two to explore the map and unlock a few rare shades first, so you can pick something you’ll actually want to keep for a while. Another common mistake is forgetting that your hair color will show up in all cutscenes and character portraits, so don’t pick a super bright neon shade if you want your character to fit the game’s historical martial arts aesthetic. That’s totally fine if you just want to have fun with your look, but I’ve had friends who picked a bright pink shade and regretted it when it looked out of place in serious story cutscenes. If you’re playing in multiplayer mode, other players will also see your hair color, so you don’t have to worry about it only showing up on your screen. You also can’t change your hair color right before entering a dungeon or PvP match, so make any adjustments you want before you queue up for group content.
Tips to Customize Your Hair Color for Different Playstyles
You might not realize it, but your hair color can actually help you with different playstyles if you pick strategically. For example, if you mostly play stealth builds that rely on sneaking through forests and mountain areas to avoid enemies, pick a darker brown or forest green shade that blends in with your surroundings. Enemies have a 5% lower detection rate for players with hair colors that match the environment, which is a small but useful buff that most players don’t know exists. If you play a lot of group PvP or raid content, pick a bright, easy to spot shade like red or white so your teammates can find you quickly in crowded fights. That makes it way easier for healer players to target you when you’re low on health, and for your team to stick together when you’re pushing objectives. If you’re someone who likes to roleplay your character, pick a hair color that matches their backstory. For example, if your character is a traveler from the northern mountain regions, a pale silver or blonde shade fits perfectly, while a character from the southern coastal regions would fit well with darker brown or black hair. You can even change your hair color to match your outfit if you collect multiple cosmetic sets as you play.
At the end of the day, the where winds meet change hair color system is designed to let you make your character feel truly yours, so don’t stress too much about picking the “perfect” shade right away. Take time to explore the map, unlock all the rare shades, and play around with custom mixes until you find something you love. The small buffs for matching your hair to your playstyle are a nice bonus, but the most important thing is that you enjoy how your character looks as you play through the story and explore the open world. If you end up hating the shade you picked, you can always use a Hair Dye Potion or wait for the free weekly change to switch it up whenever you want.
