Finding Free Hair In Second Life A Guide To Virtual Hairstyle Freebies

In the virtual world of Second Life, freebies play a significant role in allowing users to customize their avatars without financial commitment. Among the various types of free content available, virtual hairstyles are particularly popular as they enable users to experiment with different looks and styles. This article explores the landscape of free hair offerings in Second Life, where to locate them, how to access them, and considerations for their use.

Understanding Freebies in Second Life

According to the Second Life Fandom wiki, freebies are content that is given away or charged a nominal 1 Linden dollar (L). These freebies often serve as promotional material for stores and help new users customize their avatars without initial investment. The freebie culture is well-established in Second Life, with many stores offering free or nearly free items as part of their marketing strategy. Freebies can include a wide range of items, from clothing and accessories to skins and hairstyles, with hair being one of the most sought-after categories.

Where to Find Free Hair in Second Life

Several locations in Second Life specialize in offering free hair items to users:

• Savoir Hair: Organized by a blog of the same name, Savoir Hair is a place where both new and experienced players can discover hair designers throughout Second Life. The store features a newbie-friendly layout that makes it easy to find free or $1L gifts from various designers.

• Bare Rose Gift Area: This location offers free and $1L items from Barerose and the vendors at Barerose, with options for both male and female avatars.

• Fab Free: A newly remodeled store that offers all items for free (0L$), making it an excellent resource for users looking to build their avatar's wardrobe without spending.

• Free Designs Lapointe & Bastchild: This store offers free items from designers at Lapointe & Bastchild, with options for both male and female avatars.

• The Free Dove: This location provides free and $1L items from designers all over Second Life, with options for both male and female avatars.

• Mystical Cookie: Known for its famous Mystitool freebie version available for 1L.

• Fleur (also known as Tete a Pied): Offers newbie sets for men and women, making it particularly helpful for new users.

• Adam n Eve: A well-respected retailer that offers freebie newbie skins for both men and women.

• Another Shop: Features two freebie female skins in its main store.

• Sin Skins: Provides female skin for newbies.

• Nora: Offers a freebie newbie skin for women.

• Freebie skin from Lassitude & Ennui: Provides additional options for users looking for free avatar customization items.

Popular Free Hair Items and Their Features

Several specific free hair items are available in Second Life:

• eDelsToRe mesh men hair "Ted": This free item includes all colors and is described as rigging fitted mesh hair. Reviews from users are mixed, with some praising the texture and style while others noting issues with a HUD box that attaches to the hand and cannot be deleted. The item can be found at the main store located at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sorriesa/34/3/22. User comments indicate that while the hair has nice color options and a great look, the HUD box issue renders it unusable for some. Other positive reviews mention that the hair can be modified, is rigged, and has fantastic and clean textures.

• Aili Japanese girly girl hair: Available through Outworldz Grid, this free mesh hair is boned and weight painted to fit any avatar. The license is described as Open Source CopyLeft, allowing users to modify and use it as they wish. The textures are from Linda Kellie, and the hair is by Ferd. The zip file includes both the Blender file and a DAE exported for Opensim. Users need to upload this with both avatar checkboxes enabled on the 3rd screen for it to attach as weighted and flexible mesh. It can be worn on any attachment point as the bones will move it into place.

• Various hair from designers: Many designers offer free or $1L versions of their hair products as promotional items. These can range from simple styles to more complex designs, with some stores offering freebies alongside their premium products. For example, stores like All Divas, Rama Salon, Wasabi, Hold, CAMO, Opale, Sintiklia, MINA, and aem offer various hair products at price points of 50L to 99L, with some occasionally offering free promotional versions.

How to Access and Use Free Hair Items

The process for accessing and using free hair items in Second Life generally involves:

1. Locating the freebie store or item location using the Second Life map or teleport links.

2. Arriving at the location in-world.

3. Finding the freebie section or vendor.

4. Acquiring the item, which may involve:

   • Touching or clicking on a vendor or object
   • Joining a group (in some cases)
   • Paying 1L (for some freebies)

5. The item will typically be delivered to the user's inventory.

6. To use the item, users need to:

   • Attach it to their avatar (usually through the inventory)
   • Some items may come with a HUD (heads-up display) for additional customization options

7. For mesh hair items like the eDelsToRe "Ted" hair, users may need to ensure their avatar is properly rigged to display the mesh correctly.

Considerations When Using Freebies

When using free hair items in Second Life, users should consider several factors:

• Permissions: Free items may have different permissions regarding copying, modifying, and transferring. Users should check these permissions before using or distributing the items.

• Quality: Free items may vary in quality compared to paid items. Some users report that while free hair may look good, it may not be as customizable or well-made as premium options.

• Support: Free items typically come with limited or no customer support from the creators.

• Updates: Free items may not be updated as frequently as paid items, potentially leading to compatibility issues with newer avatar technology.

• Legal considerations: Users should be aware of the licensing terms for free items. For example, the Aili Japanese hair from Outworldz is licensed as Open Source CopyLeft, which allows for modification and redistribution, but other items may have different terms.

• HUD issues: Some users have reported issues with free hair items that come with HUD boxes, such as the eDelsToRe "Ted" hair, which reportedly attaches to the user's hand and cannot be deleted.

• Creator support: Users are encouraged to support creators by leaving positive reviews if they like free items, as feedback is important for creators even when items are given away for free. One user review specifically mentions: "customers please support creators by leaving good reviews if you like the items! its very important the feedback, even when it is an awesome gift like this!"

Conclusion

Free hair items in Second Life offer an accessible way for users to customize their avatars without financial commitment. Various locations throughout Second Life specialize in offering freebies, including dedicated freebie stores and sections of larger retailers. While quality and functionality may vary, these free items provide valuable options for new users and those looking to experiment with different styles without investment. By understanding where to find free hair, how to access and use it, and considerations regarding permissions and quality, users can make the most of the freebie culture in Second Life.

Sources

1. Pinterest: Second Life Hair Ideas
2. Second Life Marketplace: FREE eDelsToRe men mesh hair
3. Second Life Fandom: Freebie
4. HairSL Store Directory
5. Outworldz: Free mesh hair for Second life and Open Sim