There are certain events in Second Life that appear on my calendar every year and immediately become the thing I am looking forward to most, no matter whatever else might be happening in-world at the time, and Hair Fair is absolutely one of them.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that Hair Fair occupies a very special place in my virtual heart, because unlike shopping events dedicated to furniture, landscaping, clothing, accessories, décor, fantasy creatures, pets, houses, vehicles, weapons, roleplay items or any of the other things we regularly convince ourselves we desperately need, Hair Fair is entirely focused on something that every avatar requires, namely hair. Lots and lots of hair.

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Hair Fair, which is impressive. In internet years that makes it approximately 143 years old and eligible for a pension. For two decades, Hair Fair has been bringing together hair creators from across Second Life while raising money for Wigs for Kids, a charity that provides hair replacements for children experiencing hair loss.
As shopping justifications go, it is one of the better ones. “I bought another hairstyle because it was pretty” sounds frivolous. “I bought another hairstyle because it supports charity” sounds responsible and mature, which is exactly the sort of narrative I prefer to tell myself while enthusiastically adding fatpacks to my inventory.

There are also some special activities taking place this year to celebrate the anniversary, including exclusive name change opportunities donated by Linden Lab and, later in the event, auctions for two Lifetime Premium accounts!

The event build itself is gorgeous as always and wonderfully easy to navigate, consisting of six connected regions arranged like one enormous shopping street. Walking through it feels less like attending a shopping event and more like visiting a small town whose entire economy is somehow based on hair.

Everywhere you look there are hairstyles displayed in every imaginable length, texture and colour, alongside flowers, clips, ribbons, crowns, headbands, brows, beards and moustaches. It is the sort of place where, if someone opened a dedicated sideburn store, nobody would even question it. We would simply nod approvingly and say, “Yes, of course. This is Hair Fair. That seems perfectly reasonable.”

As much as I look forward to Hair Fair every year, I will admit that I always find it slightly overwhelming, although perhaps “slightly” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.

I spent quite a while wandering the regions, collecting demos, admiring displays and repeatedly telling myself that I was simply looking around before making any purchasing decisions, which is of course one of the biggest lies ever told in Second Life.
Nobody arrives at Hair Fair just to look around. That is like visiting a beach and claiming you have no intention of getting sand on your feet. The outcome is already predetermined.

And yet, despite the enormous selection and my annual enthusiasm for all things follicular, I have somehow exercised an amount of restraint that I did not know I possessed. So far, my grand Hair Fair 2026 haul consists of exactly one hairstyle: No.Alibi by No.Match.
The fatpack, obviously, because there was never any realistic possibility of me purchasing a single colour option.

At the moment, that is the only thing I have bought, which feels both impressive and suspicious. Impressive because I have successfully escaped six regions of hair with only a single purchase. Suspicious because Hair Fair is still open….(till 14th June)

If you have not visited Hair Fair yet, I highly recommend it. Whether you are looking for everyday hairstyles, fantasy creations, elaborate updos, rugged beards, decorative accessories or simply an excuse to support a wonderful cause while engaging in a little retail therapy, there is something there for everyone.

Just make sure you arrive with a budget, write it down somewhere, and then prepare to ignore it completely the moment you spot something you absolutely, definitely, unquestionably need.

After all, it only comes around once a year. And hair is important!

Slurl to Hair Fair 2026

Official Hair Fair website

Official Wigs for Kids website

Slurl to bidding boards Second Life Lifetime Accounts