A Link between hairstyles
polygon.comIn 2014, writer Alice Gregory, while arguing in favor of uniform dressing, proclaimed, “My hair, I have decided, is my main accessory.”
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That easily applies toThe Legend of Zelda series’ hero, Link. While his uniform — green tunic, floppy beanie, boots, and relatively skintight pants — remains fairly consistent (with the exception of the highly customizable outfits in newer installments), Link’s hair defines the Hero of Time with each console incarnation. The Hero of the Skies from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword sports an uncanny early Instagram look, with over-inflated lips and neat, side-swept bangs. The Hylian Champion in Breath of the Wild rocks a modern reinterpretation of a mullet cut.
Link is not your average mascot: His looks, which include soft, androgynous features, a sharp nose, and a lithe physique, set him apart from most Nintendo, Sony, and Sega mascots. He is, by all means, classically handsome and hot — and his hair plays a major role in conveying his handsomeness. That’s because all of Link’s hairdos reflect major hairstyle trends across the decades.
Link’s original character design featured a button nose, freckles, and a stubby frame and limbs. Official lore has it that Peter Pan played a great part in the character design inspo. In an era of low-res pixel screens and limited color capabilities, his pointy ears and voluminous, pompadour-like mullet were instrumental in making the character recognizable in the in-game graphics — that’s why Mario got his mustache, after all. Link keeps the flip inThe Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link,
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