Hairpieces that are overused and underused in Lego history?

[Dorayaki]

Recently I'm not sure I'm happy with the minifigures included in the upcoming The Lego Movie products, mostly because many of they come with repetitive hairpiece with known colors.

Hairpirces have been an important element for minifigures, in the use of MOCs, licensed and specific characters and many other things. When we need to create a MOC character, a unique hairpiece is what we often come up with in the first place.

In order to think better, here is a brief flashback of Lego minifigure hairpiece history. You may also check Brickipedia for hairpieces.

Town

The original theme of Lego, which brought the very first hairpiece-- for girls-- Classc Doctress's hair (Part x103) in 1978. Then a one for guys (Part 3901) in 1979. The two hairpiecs were almost the Eve and Adam to the Lego World.

Later, a mid-length hairpiece (part 4530) appeared in 1983, and it was later used to be the very first hairpiece for uni-sex. After almost a decade, the classic Paradisa ponytail (part 6093) appeared in 1992. After that, Town/City doesn't actively introduce new hairpieces, but mostly reused hairpieces introduced from other themes.

Licensed themes

Licensd themes later become an important source of new hairpieces. Star Wars, the very first Lego's longterm licensed is unsurprisingly important. The very first licensed original hairpieces were Padme's long ponytail (part 30475) and Qui-gon Jinn's (part 30410). Leia's double bun hairpiece (part 30409) was invented soon after that. However, there wasn't any other newer hairpiece until the premiere of Clone Wars.

The second license is more important than Star Wars--- Harry Potter, whose new hairpieces are all modern style and we can easily reuse in a City canon. Hermione, Ron, Harry and Hagrid's hairpieces were all new. But not until Hermione got an update in 2007 (part 59363), there was no new licensed hairpiece.

Now almost every theme introduces new hairpieces, but some have many and others have few. For example, dwarves from Hobbit have many different kinds of hair-beard pieces, but the Superhero characters only come with one or two. In dwarves' case, many of the pieces can hardly be reused in a City canon.

Action themes and the others

They occasionally introduce new hairpeces, though not every theme does so. The very first action theme with new hairpieces was Exo-force in 2006. Later in 2008, Agent Trace (part 62696) and Agent Chase (part 62810) from Agent both brought useful modern hairpiece that now becomes popular in both City and licensed themes.

Other subthemes of Castle and Pirate also occasionally bring new pieces for their own need. For example, Islanders' hair (part 6025), Indians' hair (part 30114) and Crown Queen's hair (part 64807).

Collectible Minifigures

Currently CMF series is the very new and exciting source of hairpieces. In order to make unique characters, creativities have forced TLG to introduce more hairpieces, and some of them eventually be reused in its own later series or other themes.

Friends and Minidolls

A little debatable source, because their hairpieces are all made of soft rubber instead of standard minifigures' plastic ones in order to put accessories in their holes. So far these hairpieces are frequently reused in their own theme but not in othere City or licesed themes. IMO, if there is a licensed minifigure character that is perfect with a minidoll hairpiece, she should use it.

The most-used hairpieces

Just according to Bricklink, here are some possibly the most-used hairpieces by the end of 2013:

From old era:

First male hairpiece (part 3901): 445 times.

First unisex hairpiece (part 4530): 127 times.

Paradisa ponytail (part 6093): 141 times.

First female hairpiece (part 3901): 57 times.

Form recent era:

Agent Chase (part 62810): 95 times.

Hermione's redesign (part 59363) 42 times.

Agent Trace (part 62696): 35 times.

Elsa Schneider (part 85974): 30 times.

Dastan (part 88283): 28 times.

Fenrir Greyback (part 85974): 21 times.

Nurse from CMF (part 87990): 21 times.

Polished update?

Some new hairpieces seem to replace old ones in their timeline because of their similarity. Excluding Princess Leia's case, here are other comparisons in City theme.

Paradisa ponytail (part 6093) v.s. Nurse's ponytail (part 87990): both are short ponytails. There was a overlap, but recently the Paradisa ponytail dissappeared from City while Nurse's took its place.

First male hairpiece (part 3901) v.s. Fenrir Greyback (part 92081) v.s. Obi-wan (part 99930): these are similar in a slicked hairstyle businessman way. The first male hairpiece was a strong one, but recently decreases and now is still for Han Solo (would Han Solo get a new hairpiece?)

First unisex hairpiece (part 4530) v.s. Dastan (part 88283): both are mid-length hairstyle. The old one is neatly trimmed, while Dastan's looks more natural.

As the statistics shown, classic hairpieces indeed have much more appearances than the current ones over the past few decades. However, if these new hairpieces are just born to inherit their places, that's just the same story happening and other new hairpieces are still wasted. Honestly I don't mind see the old ones coming back sometimes.

Underused hairpieces

Here are some hairpieces that are not frequently used, but they have potential to be more frequently used for City and other gneric minifigures IMO.

Leia Organa's double buns (part 30409): Unless TLG want to keep it as Leia's exclusive piece, it is a nice choice for little generic girls.

Harry Potter (part 40233): There are lots of minifigures using this hairpices--- but most of them are for Harry himself. It can be a nice hairpiece for young boys or teenagers.

Ron Wesley's old design (part 40240): I can understand why Ron wants to change to the much-cooler Max's hairstyle, but the old one is still very useful for young boys compared with Agent Chase's.

Hermione's old design (part 40251): It is still a nice piece for women besides her new one.

Dumbledore (part 40239): So far it is mostly restricted to aged wizards rather than modern women.

Professor Umbridge (part 59362): Useful for aged ladies or tomboys.

Ice Skater (part 93562): A nice hairpiece for all businesswomen in Lego City, such as a police officer.

Wyldstyle's piece would also be a good one for girls without hair streaks, if TLG won't make it exclusive to her.

Edited January 2, 2014 by Dorayaki

[LEGO Historian]

The x103 Female "Pigtails" hair piece was actually the very first hairpiece of the minifig type. It originated during the first year of the "minfig stiffs" era (no arms or legs) in 1975. Sets such as 365 Wild West Set and 148 Central Station Set had these hair pieces before the 1978 introduction of regular minfigs.

For male hairpieces, the 3901 of 1979 introduction was the first first mens minifig hair. From 1975-1978 men minfigi stiffs and minifigs had either the cowboy (3629), or the policeman type (3624), or the fireman type (3834) hats, and never had hair pieces until 1979.

[jonwil]

Its a pitty that LEGO no longer uses certain classic hairpieces like the pigtails piece.

[Deathleech]

I don't think Lego can legally use the licensed hairpieces in non-licensed sets. For instance you won't see Leia's bun hair on a City girl. One time the elf hairpieces were for sale on their website but when I bought them I was later contacted and told it was an error and they couldn't sell the piece because it was for a property they didn't create. This is probably why there are so many licensed theme hair pieces used so little. Of course if it's something like Gandalf's hair that already existed and Lego just made due with it that's another story. The hair piece has to be unique and created specifically for a licensed character.

[LEGO Historian]

I don't think Lego can legally use the licensed hairpieces in non-licensed sets. For instance you won't see Leia's bun hair on a City girl. One time the elf hairpieces were for sale on their website but when I bought them I was later contacted and told it was an error and they couldn't sell the piece because it was for a property they didn't create. This is probably why there are so many licensed theme hair pieces used so little. Of course if it's something like Gandalf's hair that already existed and Lego just made due with it that's another story. The hair piece has to be unique and created specifically for a licensed character.

That's a very good point! I wonder if this is the same for Maersk blue LEGO elements?

Maersk blue is a trademark color of the Moller-Maersk Corp. Although some loose Maersk parts have made their way out of model shops in bulk (some parts such as Maersk blue 1x1 round bricks were never sold in sets, and only came out of the Windsor England model shop)... I bet that with Maersk sets now switching over to the medium azure color... that Maersk blue will be retired as a LEGO color.

[Freddy Bricker]

What about underused hair colors? I think red isn't seen very often, and I'm talking Poison Ivy/Batgirl red, not Black Widow "red".

[jonwil]

I wish we got more blond generic mail hair (I am referring specifically to the hair color of the Minifigures Series 3 race car driver and Series 2 surfer)

[Faefrost]

I think we have been seeing more, and more varied hair pieces and stylings than ever before. Especially on the female characters. The CMF's have certainly seen a bunch of new ones, or some very effective recolors of licensed ones. Just as examples for new the Trendsetter piece is wonderful and I expect we will see some broader colors of that. The Punk Rock girls bob has also been done in black. The ice skater's piece, the Bavarian Girls pigtails. The Gypsy's headscarf do (ok not real flexible). The beehive, As for interesting re uses, the Movie Star uses you aformentioned Delores Umbrage hair piece in a wonderfully useful light blonde. The Sleepyhead's hair is used for a short spiky haired female Superman character.

I think Lego does shy away from using some shorter or more male known hairpieces for female characters. Simply because the visual language of minifigs is more limited. They want to quickly and strongly communicate through clear visual queues that a character is a woman. The two main tools they have for doing that, regardless of outfit are their preferred hair style and lipstick (even where not truly in place such as Gail the Construction Worker.)

[AmperZand]

Interesting topic. I'm with jonwil in wanting more blonde male hair pieces.

I'm not a mod, but I'm thinking this thread should be in the Minifig Customisation Workshop forum, not General.

[Freddy Bricker]

FaeFrost: I'm very sure that the Hollywood Scarlett's piece from Series 9 is a different piece than the one seen on Delores Umbridge.

[Hrw-Amen]

Was not the Team GB horse rider hair/hat bit the same as the one used in the Friends line meaning that there has been at least one cross over between friends and mini-figures? It may have been a different color I do not have them to hand to check, but i am sure the bit was the same.

[Dorayaki]

Its a pitty that LEGO no longer uses certain classic hairpieces like the pigtails piece.

I do want to see it again, but by today's standards the classic pigtails piece looks "unpolished". I'm afraid TLG might just make another double ponytail hairpices when they have needs for girls.

I don't think Lego can legally use the licensed hairpieces in non-licensed sets. For instance you won't see Leia's bun hair on a City girl. One time the elf hairpieces were for sale on their website but when I bought them I was later contacted and told it was an error and they couldn't sell the piece because it was for a property they didn't create. This is probably why there are so many licensed theme hair pieces used so little. Of course if it's something like Gandalf's hair that already existed and Lego just made due with it that's another story. The hair piece has to be unique and created specifically for a licensed character.

In theory, some hairpieces are obviously exclusive to certain characters and we don't expect to see them being reused even if the license owners have no opinions. For example, a firefighter reuses Nori's piece. Leia's hairstyle is alittle debatable since it is between "unique" and "generic". I mentioned that Leia's buns is redesigned in 2011 so maybe the old one can be free-to-use if Lucasfilm is okay with it.

Well, in this topic, we still focus on hairpieces which already made appearances in generic themes.

Edited January 2, 2014 by Dorayaki

[Cult_Of_Skaro]

Different license holders must have different rules, as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Dumbledore's hairpieces have all made it into generic lego.

[LEGO Historian]

Interestingly enough the very first male hair piece.... the 3901... is shown in some 1979 set images as a different hair piece. Apparently the hairpiece shown in the images was a prototype hairpiece... the actually produced hairpiece was slightly different.

Unfortunately... both the Bricklink and Peeron images are LDRAW images and do not show the actual hair to compare this prototype with. Here set 361 of 1979 shows the prototype hairpiece in the instructions...

From my Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide - Chapter 15 - Prototype LEGO Sets/Parts.

Edited January 2, 2014 by LEGO Historian

[Cult_Of_Skaro]

Very interesting. The old hair looks a bit Elvisesque.

[Faefrost]

Different license holders must have different rules, as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Dumbledore's hairpieces have all made it into generic lego.

It depends on if it is simply a "hairstyle" or if it is a clearly identifiable character trait of a licensed character. And even then there is a little bit of spillage. As an example Harry Potter's hair will only ever appear on Harry Potter, in that color. There is really nothing character defining about Hermione's hair. (The characters hairstyle changes throughout the movies, and is really nothing outside the norms).

Whereas stuff like Jack Sparrows hair is absolutely unique to Jack and is license restricted, just like Stormtrooper helmets etc.

Actually hairstyle shape or molding alone is tough to restrict to one license or IP. It normally needs more specific identifiers such as color, markings or extra details like Jacks bandana. Of the current hair pieces I can only think of a few "hair pieces" alone that are probably IP or character restricted that don't have non hair identifiable details. Superman with its spit curl, the new Slave Leia, and just possibly Leia's classic buns are ones that jump to mind. And even then they may be allowed to use Leia's buns in blonde for a Bavarian girl should they choose.

Also do not forget that Lego has its own internal IP's or identifiable characters if you prefer. They may choose to reserve certain hair piece / color combinations for those named characters. Such as Wildstyles hair, Emetts hair or Possibly Lloyd the Green Ninjas color and style combo.

[Dorayaki]

Maersk blue is a trademark color of the Moller-Maersk Corp. Although some loose Maersk parts have made their way out of model shops in bulk (some parts such as Maersk blue 1x1 round bricks were never sold in sets, and only came out of the Windsor England model shop)... I bet that with Maersk sets now switching over to the medium azure color... that Maersk blue will be retired as a LEGO color.

I never thought a specific color would be licensed. Maybe if TLG has a product that has too many features similar with real brands (eg, a cafeteria set has colors are as same as Starbucks), those company owners may ask them to change it.

What about underused hair colors? I think red isn't seen very often, and I'm talking Poison Ivy/Batgirl red, not Black Widow "red".

I didn't talk about hair colors, because Bricklink can't provide color statistics (can they?) so there is no knowing which colors are in the top five. Yes, having more different colors is interesting though it could be a different story. I believe many people agree that Elsa's hairpieces are not useful for all Superheroines. As for Lego's original brands, TLG should be able to create characters in weird hair colors such as the blue of Queen Marsha.

If I have to choose between many hairpieces in one color or one kind of hairpiece in many colors, I might choose the former .

[Faefrost]

I never thought a specific color would be licensed. Maybe if TLG has a product that has too many features similar with real brands (eg, a cafeteria set has colors are as same as Starbucks), those company owners may ask them to change it.

There are a few cases of companies trademarking certain custom mixed colors as part of their identity. (Typically blues that aren't found in nature or organically.) Maersk is one of the best known examples and the only one that Lego has in their pallets. Grumman Aerospace has or had a unique "Gruman Blue" trademarked to them. As does Richard Petty racing teams, which have "Petty Blue".

[Clone OPatra]

I can't say I agree with your original statement about the LEGO Movie sets. They do give us the bowl cut in dark brown and the newer mail hairpiece (used on Robin, new Obi-Wan, etc.) in dark brown, both new colors for those. There's the 'skater' hair in black again, which up until now has only appeared in black on the skater, and the Agent Trace hair in black, which has only appeared on a single CMF. Elsa Schneider's hair in that neugat-y color, and the new ponytail in that color are also quite rare so far. What's not to like with all of these?

Honestly I think your post illustrates how many hair pieces really are being used currently. Sure, the Mutt Williams hair is used pretty frequently, perhaps to the point of being 'overused,' but now other mail hairpieces are coming in. Seems like there are quite a lot to choose from.

[Cult_Of_Skaro]

It depends on if it is simply a "hairstyle" or if it is a clearly identifiable character trait of a licensed character. And even then there is a little bit of spillage. As an example Harry Potter's hair will only ever appear on Harry Potter, in that color. There is really nothing character defining about Hermione's hair. (The characters hairstyle changes throughout the movies, and is really nothing outside the norms).

Whereas stuff like Jack Sparrows hair is absolutely unique to Jack and is license restricted, just like Stormtrooper helmets etc.

Actually hairstyle shape or molding alone is tough to restrict to one license or IP. It normally needs more specific identifiers such as color, markings or extra details like Jacks bandana. Of the current hair pieces I can only think of a few "hair pieces" alone that are probably IP or character restricted that don't have non hair identifiable details. Superman with its spit curl, the new Slave Leia, and just possibly Leia's classic buns are ones that jump to mind. And even then they may be allowed to use Leia's buns in blonde for a Bavarian girl should they choose.

Also do not forget that Lego has its own internal IP's or identifiable characters if you prefer. They may choose to reserve certain hair piece / color combinations for those named characters. Such as Wildstyles hair, Emetts hair or Possibly Lloyd the Green Ninjas color and style combo.

Superman's hair was actually used in orange for a Team GB minifigure.

[jonwil]

There are a few cases of companies trademarking certain custom mixed colors as part of their identity. (Typically blues that aren't found in nature or organically.) Maersk is one of the best known examples and the only one that Lego has in their pallets. Grumman Aerospace has or had a unique "Gruman Blue" trademarked to them. As does Richard Petty racing teams, which have "Petty Blue".

Not just blues, BP has a trademark on its green color, John Deere has trademarks on the green of its tractors, Deutsche Telekom has a trademark on its magenta color, Cadbury on the purple of its chocolate packets, UPS on its brown color and even IKEA on the blue and yellow of its furniture stores.

[Blondie-Wan]

It depends on if it is simply a "hairstyle" or if it is a clearly identifiable character trait of a licensed character. And even then there is a little bit of spillage. As an example Harry Potter's hair will only ever appear on Harry Potter, in that color.

Actually, the black Harry Potter hair has also been used for both Satipo and the Chauchilla Cemetery warriors in the Indiana Jones theme.

[Faefrost]

Actually, the black Harry Potter hair has also been used for both Satipo and the Chauchilla Cemetery warriors in the Indiana Jones theme.

Interesting. I could swear that the DK book indicated that it was character specific in that color. But then again it's not like DK never gets things wrong.

[LEGO Historian]

Interesting. I could swear that the DK book indicated that it was character specific in that color. But then again it's not like DK never gets things wrong.

Thanks for a good chuckle Faefrost... now I have to wipe down the coffee I sprayed all over my keyboard....

The 1999 Ultimate LEGO Book does have its' share of discrepancies... it mentions that LEGO windows were introduced in 1957... kept me wondering what TLG did for years 1949-56!

[Dorayaki]

I'm talking Poison Ivy/Batgirl red, not Black Widow "red".

Early Town sets had some hairpieces in "pure red", but I guess it was that TLG weren't able to make natura; mixed colors. Now a more natural dark red hair would be like Mia's, while the red ones are for specific characters.

I think we have been seeing more, and more varied hair pieces and stylings than ever before. Especially on the female characters. The CMF's have certainly seen a bunch of new ones, or some very effective recolors of licensed ones. Just as examples for new the Trendsetter piece is wonderful and I expect we will see some broader colors of that. The Punk Rock girls bob has also been done in black. The ice skater's piece, the Bavarian Girls pigtails. The Gypsy's headscarf do (ok not real flexible). The beehive, As for interesting re uses, the Movie Star uses you aformentioned Delores Umbrage hair piece in a wonderfully useful light blonde. The Sleepyhead's hair is used for a short spiky haired female Superman character.

I think Lego does shy away from using some shorter or more male known hairpieces for female characters. Simply because the visual language of minifigs is more limited. They want to quickly and strongly communicate through clear visual queues that a character is a woman. The two main tools they have for doing that, regardless of outfit are their preferred hair style and lipstick (even where not truly in place such as Gail the Construction Worker.)

We're indeed getting more types of hairpieces, though the problem is still that some are over/underused. Well, many hairpieces of the CMFs were meant to show a specific culture or personality so they were not originated from City and they won't be there too. For example, the mohawk of Punk Rocker can be hardly used for others. Don't know if TLG would really make a City citizen in mohawk. (Maybe good for a criminal? But that would be criticized by real mohawk people.)

Sleepyhead is also a potential male hairpiece, but if it was designed to be "messy" for those who excercise, sleep or fight, would it be a natural hairstyle?

I think the second section might be very close to the truth. The reason why Chase and Elsa's hairpieces are overused is that they can typically represent a man or a woman. Umbridge's hairpiece can be use for women, but not a hairstyle that girls love to see (in other words, "unpopulor"). Well, however, I don't think everyone wants the same hairpiece in every set.

Edited January 4, 2014 by Dorayaki