Asking for help

[marsup]

So basically I have a character that I plan on commissioning that is inspired by Juri Han from the street fighter series. More specifically her personality, I have pretty much everything about the character planned out but I currently am at an impasse. Since Juri who is the inspiration already has black hair I can't use that for my character and as a result I have to find her another hair color.

Unfortunately I cannot seem to find a color that keeps the "menace" that black hair gives without going into full edginess, the other colors either look ridiculous on her or make her look "soft" like she might just be a misunderstood person. She isn't, she won't turn all sweet and swoon she is a wild person to the bone the best you can do is keep her on a tight leash.

Since my knowledge of hair colors is rather limited I wanted to ask the members of this community if they had any suggestions (preferably with pictures) or colors I might not know about that could fit the bill.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Evil]

Sometimes its not the hair colour that seems "sinister", but rather the style itself. For example, a punkish style could draw more than a few gazes, such as Natalie Dormer's side shave from a couple of years ago or any of P!nk's hairstyles. Its more the idea that you're breaking a conventional idea of femininity by shaving some of the head.

With regards to this character's hair colour, I would say go with whatever colour you like. To be honest, these days I wouldn't even blink at someone with bright green hair, or someone with frosted tips.Go with what you like.

 

[marsup]

Sometimes its not the hair colour that seems "sinister", but rather the style itself. For example, a punkish style could draw more than a few gazes, such as Natalie Dormer's side shave from a couple of years ago or any of P!nk's hairstyles. Its more the idea that you're breaking a conventional idea of femininity by shaving some of the head.

With regards to this character's hair colour, I would say go with whatever colour you like. To be honest, these days I wouldn't even blink at someone with bright green hair, or someone with frosted tips.Go with what you like.

I agree with your point on the hairstyle and Juri's "horns" give her a slight demonic look and if I could I would have used that but since I am already inspiring myself from her personality adding her hairstyle would make it a carbon copy of her which isn't allowed. I have also looked at real life "hair horns" to see if there is anything similar in real life i can use but most of them are way over the top or are so small that they look downright silly. Which is why I want to find a color that keeps the "menace" look to compensate.

I don't really feel like giving her a "punk" as I feel like it doesn't feel like it would fit with her personality or the back story I have planned for her.

But thanks for your advice, I might have to do what you proposed if I can't find an alternative.

 

[Thebiologist]

I've always found silvery white mixed with another darker, but faint color to be pretty terrifying.


There's also dark auburn with dark red.

 

[null_blank]

Spoiler

Jokes aside, as Evil said it isn't just the color but the cut.

Black or dark purple with a hime cut though a bit of a trope at this point does well.

 

[marsup]

I've always found silvery white mixed with another darker, but faint color to be pretty terrifying.
View attachment 8911 View attachment 8912 View attachment 8913

There's also dark auburn with dark red.
View attachment 8915

I also thought of using white or silver but felt like it gave her a feel of being menacing but in a "ice queen" kind of way which is unfortunately the opposite of the character who is quite volatile. But I don't want to use the brighter colors because it gives the impression she might have redeeming qualities (like black widow from avengers she is menacing but you feel like she is on the good guys side mostly by looking at her.)
The dark auburn just might be what I am looking for mixed with maybe purple or something else it could potentially fit. If you have any other color that is similar or darker to dark auburn I would be very interested in it.

 

[Thebiologist]

I also thought of using white or silver but felt like it gave her a feel of being menacing but in a "ice queen" kind of way which is unfortunately the opposite of the character who is quite volatile. But I don't want to use the brighter colors because it gives the impression she might have redeeming qualities (like black widow from avengers she is menacing but you feel like she is on the good guys side mostly by looking at her.)
The dark auburn just might be what I am looking for mixed with maybe purple or something else it could potentially fit. If you have any other color that is similar or darker to dark auburn I would be very interested in it.

I'm just gonna upload more hairdos, see if you like any:

Spoiler

 

[Thebiologist]

Part 2 because 10 image limit:

Spoiler

 

[Evil]

I agree with your point on the hairstyle and Juri's "horns" give her a slight demonic look and if I could I would have used that but since I am already inspiring myself from her personality adding her hairstyle would make it a carbon copy of her which isn't allowed. I have also looked at real life "hair horns" to see if there is anything similar in real life i can use but most of them are way over the top or are so small that they look downright silly. Which is why I want to find a color that keeps the "menace" look to compensate.

I don't really feel like giving her a "punk" as I feel like it doesn't feel like it would fit with her personality or the back story I have planned for her.

Okay, I want to stop you there with any sort of notion of "hair horns". They are ridiculous, they're just naff looking hair buns.

I get you like this character (I had to look her up because whoooo boy, its been a long time since I played Street Fighter). So you've created a character that tries to capture some part of her, good for you. Keep in mind though that hair colour doesn't really play into how menacing someone appears to be anymore. It is the haircut. Which tells far more about someone that what dye they use.

Example, look at Hela in Thor Ragnarok. Her hair is wild, its unkempt, it hides part of her face (a callback to Hel in Norse mythology who is missing half her face). Its simple and its very effective.

Conversely, the kids from the film Village of the Damned have rather sinister looking bobs (and similar cuts), with very light blonde hair, almost white. That style with that colour is intimidating at any age, largely due to how out of place it looks.

Meanwhile, the side cut hairstyle, while becoming more commonplace, originally had a quite hard look to it. Its the kind of hairstyle a fighter would have, especially if the other side was left quite short.

 

[Foxxling]

If you're going for a striking and physically menacing woman you can keep the black hair and shorten it or make it dangerously wild. The color doesn't mean much but if you're going for the traditional "evil" colors that deep dark red or dirty blond also work.

Spoiler: Pics

I think menace is less about "colors" and more about how they hold their expression and ESPECIALLY their speech. But when it comes to appearance we depend more on style, make up and accessories. Since you're doing Juri you should look at styles that have the same "feel" instead of concentrating so much on hair color... if that makes sense?

or since she's korean you can research what that culture considers "menacing" and simply make that your own. That way you avoid the whole copy vs inspiration issue altogether.

Also any hair color can look "evil" if the person wearing it smiles just right.

 

[marsup]

First of all thank you all for the great advice and the hairstyles (I might use them for other characters in the future). I think I found what I am looking for which ironically comes from another game character and wanted to ask you guys thought of it.

So the hairstyle I really like is the one belonging to tracer from Overwatch its just the right mix between wild/messy (the spiky part of her hair that goes in different directions) and controlled (how smooth the hair is).

I also liked these 2 but will probably use them for other characters.

For the second one I probably wouldn't make it cover so much of her face.