New tag options for forking hairstyles

The forking hairstyle is something character designers started frequently using as gacha games began their transition from 2D to 3D. Because of it solving clipping issues and simultaneously being able to show off back details without having to compromise hair length, it has become a staple of 3D gacha character design. A similar style can be occasionally seen in animanga, but 3D pushes it to the extreme because it needs to be practical.

Here is one example each from 5 different games, except it's actually two Genshin ones because I felt like being generous:
1) Wuthering Waves (Carlotta)
2) Genshin Impact (Dehya)
3) Honkai: Star Rail (Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae)
4) Honkai Impact 3rd (Herrscher of Rebirth)
5) Genshin Impact (Ningguang)
6) Punishing: Gray Raven (Selena)
I know, I'm not very diverse.

I would find this tag really helpful, so because some interest was expressed for it, I would like to know more people's thoughts on the definition and naming.

The gacha community often refers to it as split hair, but for the purpose of a tag it's vague and unintuitive, and can be easily confused with the already existing split dyed hair tag. Someone on discord (sorry, I don't know your username here) suggested forked_hair, which could also be forking_hair. Until we have more opinions and suggestions, maybe keywords like forked, forking, splitting, divided, separate(d), branching might be worth thinking about?

As for the definition, what I think makes it a distinct hairstyle is the split happening very close to the nape, and unlike how hair usually behaves, these two parts never touch. Additionally, the hair has to be long enough for the fork to happen and also stand out enough to be its own thing. Splits are typically reserved for waist length and below, but I feel like the mid-back point is a good bare minimum. Let me know your thoughts on that.

Ideally, I want to popularize a tag that most people would find helpful and intuitive to use, with a definition that makes sense.

After all the slander from gacha players, I demand justice for split hair.
If anyone asks, no I did not mess up the links, I did not put anything in the wrong order, and I definitely didn't include Genshin twice without noticing.

Finally I can sleep in peace

It could be worth considering how we could differentiate lengths between low and regular, like low_twintails and twintails.

I suggested forked hair because split-color hair is already a tag and I think it'd lead to confusion, and parted hair is more specifically for bangs and the top of the head.

This is definitely a hair style that's taggable. A few other examples Fine from Symphogear post #2457976 post #2092574 and Shimakaze from Kancolle but she isn't often drawn with it post #1506257

Oh duh, I feel a bit dumb but I never considered the reason for it being so prevalent in miHoYo games.

I think forked_hair works, otherwise maybe separated_hair. Useful tag either way. Escoffier is another Genshin character who has very split hair post #9049727

Serai-XIV said:

It could be worth considering how we could differentiate lengths between low and regular, like low_twintails and twintails.

Those refer to where the hair is tied up, but I get what you're saying. I think tagging forked_hair and hair length separately would be enough, but I'm open to the idea. It's not like I have any actual authority over this anyways :p What about the tag itself? Go with forked_hair?

zetsubousensei said:

I suggested forked hair because split-color hair is already a tag and I think it'd lead to confusion, and parted hair is more specifically for bangs and the top of the head.

This is definitely a hair style that's taggable. A few other examples Fine from Symphogear post #2457976 post #2092574 and Shimakaze from Kancolle but she isn't often drawn with it post #1506257

I agree with your assessment, thanks for your help!
I'm not exactly sure how Shimakaze's hair works, if her hair always remains split in that design or if it's just hair physics, but if it's a hairstyle it would ideally use the tag.

Tieria said:

Oh duh, I feel a bit dumb but I never considered the reason for it being so prevalent in miHoYo games.

I think forked_hair works, otherwise maybe separated_hair. Useful tag either way. Escoffier is another Genshin character who has very split hair post #9049727

Lol don't feel too bad, I'm just passionate about character design and how the standards change depending on context.
One more vote for forked_hair, then. What do you think about the definition?
Ice coffee's hair is... certainly something

From the topic name I thought this was going to be about antenna hair, not about the hair being split at the end. That might be a concern worth considering when creating the tag, but other than that I think it's a concept that deserves its own tag.

nonamethanks said:

From the topic name I thought this was going to be about antenna hair, not about the hair being split at the end. That might be a concern worth considering when creating the tag, but other than that I think it's a concept that deserves its own tag.

Good point, though I do want to point out that since this hairstyle has no specific name, we have to use some existing word. Do you have suggestions for a keyword that serves as an apt description, but can't be confused with existing hair tags? I'm stumped

Xelith said:

Lol don't feel too bad, I'm just passionate about character design and how the standards change depending on context.
One more vote for forked_hair, then. What do you think about the definition?
Ice coffee's hair is... certainly something

It was just so obvious once you started explaining it, I can't believe I never thought of it.
I think the definition is accurate, though the Symphogear character zetsubousensei referenced has a split at her middle upper back instead of nape, and artistic interpretation means there could be some inconsistencies here but there isn't much we can do about that.
And yes, there is a lot going on with her hair, more than just the fork, that's for sure.

I think it's a tricky tag if we don't want it to interfere with split-color_hair and parted_hair which I imagine hair_split or anything with "parted" would too. Obviously the answer is bifurcated_hair. Maybe something with "divided" in it?

I like forked_hair. Otherwise, branched_hair is the only other name I can think of.

Would it help if it were more specific like forked back hair or split long hair or something? Although back hair makes it sound like they have a hairy back, and long hair doesn't work if there's an example with medium hair. But something along those lines?

Hair forked in back?

Yeah so I vanished, sorry. ._.

Tieria said:

It was just so obvious once you started explaining it, I can't believe I never thought of it.
I think the definition is accurate, though the Symphogear character zetsubousensei referenced has a split at her middle upper back instead of nape, and artistic interpretation means there could be some inconsistencies here but there isn't much we can do about that.
And yes, there is a lot going on with her hair, more than just the fork, that's for sure.

I think it's a tricky tag if we don't want it to interfere with split-color_hair and parted_hair which I imagine hair_split or anything with "parted" would too. Obviously the answer is bifurcated_hair. Maybe something with "divided" in it?

It's really cool, isn't it? This is what happens when artists are challenged. Sometimes limitations are a good thing?
I think the definition can stay, then. Some leeway will be given, and some taken... It's a guideline, anyway.
Esco's hair kind of reminds me of crape paper lol, like those creatures in Veluriyam Mirage from the flagship event

I agree. bifurcated_hair is the most logical option.

heartattack said:

Would it help if it were more specific like forked back hair or split long hair or something? Although back hair makes it sound like they have a hairy back, and long hair doesn't work if there's an example with medium hair. But something along those lines?

Maybe it would! I just don't want it to get wordy or convoluted.
__ed back hair just makes me think of some kind of slicked back hair. Also we have to think about how people are going to intuitively find this tag, obscure wording makes it less likely to be used.

Unbreakable said:

Hair forked in back?

That's a good description actually, but it kinda feels clunky as a tag? Hmm

We probably made it to a point where it's appropriate to start the process. Although some different variations exist, forked hair is clearly the favorite by a landslide. So, it's official! Kind of. I don't make the rules.
Thank you everyone for your personal input to help make this a community effort. As the tag gets more popular, I'm expecting a lot more opinions, so that would be the next step. Who knows, maybe we'll get a language wizard in here eventually make a BUR for an even better name.
Until then, we're forked.