You just spawned in Ark, punched your first dodo, crafted a stone pick, and then realize your survivor looks exactly like every other random player you run into on PvP servers. That’s where learning how 2 get different hair styles in Ark comes in, letting you put a personal stamp on your character before you dive into building bases or taming T-Rexes. I’ve spent hundreds of hours messing with survivor customization across official, private, and modded servers, and I’ve even had random tribe members recognize me on PvP servers just because I always use the same bright blue mohawk. Customizing your hair isn’t just for fun—it can help you build a reputation in the community, too.
Unlock Base Game Hair Styles With Explorer Notes and Level Ups
First, you don’t need mods or admin access to unlock most base game hair styles. Most players don’t realize you don’t start with all hair options unlocked because they only check the character creation screen once. Every 5 levels you gain, you unlock 2-3 new hair style and color options automatically, so you don’t have to do anything extra besides progressing through the game. For players who want to unlock all base styles faster, finding Explorer Notes scattered across every ARK map gives you a huge EXP boost that speeds up level gains dramatically. If you’re playing on a PvE server where you don’t have to worry about being attacked while exploring, you can knock out all 100+ Explorer Notes on The Island in under 3 hours to hit level 60 instantly, unlocking every base hair style at once. You’ll also unlock all face paint and skin tone options along the way, so it’s worth the grind even if you only care about hair customization.
Use In-Game Barber Tools to Swap Hair Styles Whenever You Want
Unlocking styles is only half the battle, because you don’t have to remake your entire survivor to change your look later. You can craft a Barber Table at level 10 with 20 wood, 10 fiber, and 5 hide, which lets you edit your hair style, hair color, facial hair, and even facial features whenever you want, as long as you’re standing near it. You don’t need any rare materials to use it, either—every hair swap is completely free, no matter how many times you change your mind. I swap my hair style at least once a week on my main playthrough, usually to match the armor set I’m using that week: short spiked hair when I’m running light PvP gear, long braided hair when I’m playing a support role in my tribe. Before you use the Barber Table for the first time, keep these small tips in mind to avoid frustration:
- Hair grows over time in-game, so you’ll need to wait 1-2 in-game days for longer styles to fully grow in after you select them, or use a Growth Potion to skip the wait
- Colors you unlock are permanent, so you can mix and match highlights and base colors as much as you want without re-unlocking them
- You can edit facial hair separately from head hair, so you don’t have to pick a style that comes with a beard if you don’t want one
That last tip is a game-changer for anyone who hates the default paired hair and beard options most new players end up stuck with. You can mix a short buzzcut with a long lumberjack beard, or long flowing hair with no facial hair at all, no restrictions.
How 2 Get Different Hair Styles in Ark With Admin Commands (Single Player/Private Servers Only)
If you’re playing single player or have admin access to a private server, you can skip the grind of unlocking hair styles entirely with a few simple commands. First, you’ll need to open the admin console by pressing Tab on PC, L1+R1+Square+Triangle on PlayStation, or LB+RB+X+Y on Xbox. The command “GiveUnlockAllHairStyles” will instantly unlock every base game hair style and color for your survivor, no level gains or Explorer Notes required. You can also use the “ChangeHairStyle [ID]” command to swap to a specific style instantly without using a Barber Table, if you know the style’s ID number. Just remember: these commands only work if you have admin privileges, so don’t try to use them on official public servers, because you won’t have access and you might get flagged for suspicious activity. I use these commands all the time when I’m testing new mod packs on my private server, so I don’t have to waste time grinding levels just to test new customization options.
Use Mods for Thousands of Unique Custom Hair Styles
If you’ve played Ark for years and are tired of the same 20 base game hair styles, modding is the easiest way to get thousands of unique, community-created looks. Most popular modded servers already run custom hair packs that add everything from anime-inspired styles to fantasy braids, undercuts, and even dyed streak options you won’t find in the base game. Always check if a hair mod is server-side before you download it—if it’s server-side, you don’t have to download anything to use the styles if you’re playing on a server that has it installed. If you’re playing single player, you can download any hair mod from the Steam Workshop directly, and they’ll show up in your Barber Table immediately. I usually run a small custom hair mod on my single player saves that adds 50+ indigenous-inspired braid styles, since the base game has very few options for non-Western hair looks. Just make sure any mod you download is compatible with the version of Ark you’re running, because outdated mods can crash your game or corrupt your save files.
At the end of the day, customizing your survivor’s look is one of the small, fun parts of Ark that makes every playthrough feel personal. Whether you’re grinding Explorer Notes to unlock base styles, using commands on your private server, or downloading mod packs for more options, it’s easy to figure out how 2 get different hair styles in Ark that match your personal taste. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different looks as you play—you can always swap them later if you get bored, no penalty involved.