Even for those who aren’t anime fans, it’s clear for everyone to see that most anime characters sport some of the most over-the-top hairdos of all time. In fact, some of these hairstyles have become so well-known that most anime fans can recognize a character simply from the color and style of their hair. Keeping this in mind, here are some of the most iconic hairstyles in anime history.
Updated on November 13, 2022, by Ritwik Mitra: Most characters are pretty unique and distinguishable from each other in anime based on their looks alone, barring a few exceptions. For the most part, these characters end up becoming some of the most iconic parts of the show based on their hairstyles alone, which is a testament to how visually distinct this medium really is. Some of the greatest anime of all time have attained this reputation as a result of having amazing art styles, and character designs definitely contribute to that. Here are some of the most iconic hairstyles in anime that viewers will remember long after they’re finished watching a particular series.
20 Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon)
Sailor Moon is a series that needs no introduction. Many people consider this series to be one of the most iconic magical girl anime ever made, with each installment featuring various memorable moments and character interactions that fans absolutely adore.
The look of Sailor Moon herself is worth mentioning here. The elaborate blonde pigtails are the most noticeable thing about her hairstyle, which is over-stylized to such a ridiculous extent that it’s genuinely impressive.
19 Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)
Tokyo Ghoul’s anime might’ve had some serious missteps, but there’s no denying that the art style and animation are in a class of their own. Ken Kaneki himself looks like a fairly boring character… before he gets tortured inhumanely by Jason.
This leads to his hair turning completely white and his personality changing quite a bit. However, Kaneki’s soft side definitely remains, even if his white hairdo is definitely one of the most striking and noticeable things about this character after his transformation.
18 Shoto Todoroki (My Hero Academia)
My Hero Academia has many great character designs, with many characters being beloved for their looks alone. In the case of Shoto, not only does he look absolutely unique, but his powers are also pretty awesome to boot.
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His hair is half-red and half-white to show that he can use both his mother’s and father’s powers. It’s a simple yet great way to show how powerful he is, with his looks being just as intimidating as his Quirk.
17 Kyojuro Rengoku (Demon Slayer)
Kyojuro Rengoku is one of the most memorable Hashira in Demon Slayer. The man wasted no time in displaying his powers during the Mugen Train arc, making the ending all the more heartbreaking for so many fans.
Regardless of how things panned out, there’s no denying that Rengoku’s hairstyle is easily the most recognizable thing about this character. Yellow hair with a red outline seems like such a deceptively simple thing to do, and yet Ufotable manages to make such a simple thing looks so awe-inspiring.
16 Yuno Gasai (Future Diary)
Future Diary is a riveting mystery show where twelve people are pitted against each other to become a new God. The two people that take up the most screen time are Yukiteru Amano and a girl who’s absolutely obsessed with him — Yuno Gasai.
Yuno is easily one of the most beloved yandere characters of all time, with her unpredictable personality forming a core part of what made the series interesting for so long. Her pink hair is one of the most noticeable things about her character, making her seem both naive and devious whenever the situation demands it.
15 Toshiro Hitsugaya (Bleach)
Hitsugaya might not be the most powerful shinigami in Soul Society. However, no fan cares about this — his hair was enough to turn him into one of Bleach’s most iconic characters.
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Of course, this child prodigy isn’t famous just because of his hair. His Hyorinmaru features some effective ice powers that only become more potent over the course of the manga.
14 Senku Ishigami (Dr. Stone)
Dr. Stone is one of the most unique shonen anime out there. The idea of scientific innovations being the driving force behind the heroes gaining power is surprisingly riveting.
At the heart of this show is the mad genius Senku Ishigami. Watching this man at work is engrossing enough as is, but it’s his hairstyle that cements his character design as one of the very best in the entire show.
13 Tanjiro Kamado (Demon Slayer)
If there’s one thing that people can say about the protagonist of Demon Slayer, it’s that his character design is sublime. This goes for his hair as well, even though it might be one of the more muted aspects.
That being said, there’s no denying the fact that Tanjiro still has a striking and memorable hairstyle. This, coupled with the massive influx of popularity for Demon Slayer, has helped cement Tanjiro’s ‘do as an integral aspect of his character.
12 Afro (Afro Samurai)
The name of this show itself should be indicative of just how important this hairstyle really is. In fact, even the main character of the series is named after his hairdo as well!
Of course, Afro’s hairstyle is only one part of his character… albeit a really important part. His quest for revenge and the recovery of the Number 1 Headband is easily one of the driving forces of the show.
11 Josuke Higashikata (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is easily one of the greatest anime of all time. The legacy and fandom of this series are truly immense in the East. Furthermore, the excellent anime adaptation has assured that this popularity is reaching all over the world as well.
The fourth part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Diamond is Unbreakable, is especially notable in this regard due to its amazing plot and cast of characters. The main JoJo of this arc is a massive highlight in this respect. Josuke is easily one of the better protagonists in the anime, with his pompadour easily serving as the highlight of his character design.
10 Inuyasha (InuYasha)
An iconic character that most people know well, InuYasha is a symbol of the golden age of anime. One reason why the titular character was so memorable was due to his long, lustrous, flowing white hair.
It made sense as to why Inuyasha had such remarkable hair. After all, he was a half-dog demon, an aspect that lent itself well to such an over-the-top hairstyle that has definitely become synonymous with his character.
9 Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Fullmetal Alchemist is easily one of the greatest anime series of all time, and a big part of its success lies with the protagonist. Edward Elric is one of the most well-written main characters in anime history. His character sports strong motivations but still provides moments of comic relief. These touches add some much-needed levity to certain scenes in an otherwise dark anime.
Of course, fans can’t fail to mention Edward’s iconic blond ponytail as well. Suffice to say, this is definitely one of the more memorable aspects of Edward’s character design and distinguishes him from the rest of the cast brilliantly.
8 Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)
For the majority of anime fans, Bleach is a sore topic to bring up. A series that had immense potential, it eventually ended up fizzing out long before it reached its much-derided conclusion. Yet, its characters live on in fans’ memories.
The main character of Bleach is an iconic figure who splits the fanbase down the middle in terms of their thoughts on him. However, regardless of one’s opinion of Ichigo, it’s hard to deny that his orange hair makes for a striking look that helps him stand out from the rest of the pack.
7 Saitama (One-Punch Man)
This might seem like a joke entry at first glance. However, technically speaking, a bald head is still a hairstyle of sorts. In that regard, Saitama certainly ends up rocking this hairdo — or, to be more specific, his lack of one.
Of course, Saitama’s bald head ends up being less humorous when viewers realize that his intense training led to him losing his hair. Once the One-Punch Man ends up getting serious, no one has the audacity to laugh at him, especially his foes. They’re too busy trying to save their own hides.
6 L (Death Note)
Death Note is easily one of the most iconic anime of all time. Thus, it only goes without saying that the show’s fan-favorite character would also bag a spot on this list. When it comes to this case, it’s easy to see why.
L’s character design is nothing short of masterful. His hairstyle might not seem all that special at first glance. However, it’s the amazing manner in which this style compliments his overall look that makes L one of the most visually memorable anime characters of all time.
5 Kakashi Hatake (Naruto)
Speaking of fan-favorite characters that everyone loves, one can’t fail to mention the beloved Kakashi Hatake. The son of the White Fang definitely takes after his father, especially when it comes to his spiky white hair.
Given Kakashi’s looks and behavior at the start of the series, nobody could fault audiences for assuming that this character had a happy life. Sadly, that’s nowhere near the truth, and pretty much every Naruto fan would agree.
4 Yugi Mutou (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
One of the most popular anime of all time, Yu-Gi-Oh! features a protagonist with one of the most striking and memorable anime hairstyles of all time. Of course, it helps that Yugi’s personality is also fairly interesting — albeit with a few caveats.
Yugi’s personality shifts from a shy student to a confident gambler within the blink of an eye. Considering this dual nature, it’s genuinely surprising to see how his character design — especially his hair — ends up perfectly complimenting both sides of Yugi.
3 Vegeta (Dragon Ball)
Vegeta is one of the most iconic characters in anime history. His personality serves as a fresh change of pace from the goody-two-shoes Goku and his pure-hearted schtick.
Of course, it would be impossible to talk about Vegeta without mentioning his iconic spiky hair. It’s a hairdo so iconic that it didn’t even need to change when Vegeta went Super Saiyan!
2 Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)
The Number 1 Hyperactive Knuckle-Headed Ninja has gone through major changes since the start of Naruto. Watching this once-bumbling genin turn into one of the most powerful shinobi of all time is a truly inspirational story.
Thankfully, there’s one thing about Naruto that never changed — his spiky yellow hair. It might not be the most striking aspect of his character, but it’s genuinely surprising how this hairdo grows on viewers over the course of Naruto’s run.
1 Goku (Dragon Ball)
It would be impossible to list out the most iconic anime hairstyles of all time without mentioning one of the most popular anime of all time. Dragon Ball Z was a cultural phenomenon, paving the way for anime to become a universally appreciated medium of entertainment all over the world.
At the heart of this series was an innocent Saiyan called Goku. There are many ways in which this character becomes the center of the show, with his changing hairstyles definitely contributing to the same. All of them, however, remain iconic in fans’ memories and among the entire community of anime fans.
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