Hair dye is a type of dye used by characters in A Song of Ice and Fire to cosmetically color their hair and/or facial hair. The colors can be natural shades of human hair, or can be quite outrageous, such as blue,[1] purple,[1][2] green,[3][2] scarlet,[4] pink,[5] and orange.[6]
About
Bright colored hair dyes are not that common in Westeros,[7] although some prostitutes may dye or lighten their hair.[8][9] Hair dye is more fashionable in the Free Cities, especially in Tyrosh,[10][11] which is a major supplier of hair dye. There, a unique variety of sea snail was discovered not long after the city was founded. These snails secreted a substance that, when properly treated, yielded a dye that soon became very fashionable among the nobility of Valyria. This led to merchants traveling to Tyrosh by the thousands. Tyroshi dyers quickly learned to produce different colors of dyes by varying the diet of the snails.[11]
In Pentos, some of the men dye, oil,[12] and fork their beards.[13]
Some characters dye their hair not for the sake of fashion, but in order to disguise themselves.[14][15][16]
History
After the death of her brother-husband, Prince Aegon the Uncrowned, Princess Rhaena Targaryen dyed the silver hair of their twin daughters, Aerea and Rhaella, to hide them from King Maegor I Targaryen. However, the ploy did not work, as the girls were found by Tyanna of the Tower, one of Maegor's wives and his mistress of whisperers.[17]
In 50 AC, Aerea's hair was dyed muddy brown by the order of her grandmother, Queen Regent Alyssa Velaryon, to disguise her as a common girl and hide her from Ser Ronnal Baratheon.[7]
Racallio Ryndoon dyed his long hair and beard purple, his favorite color, with orange streaks.[6]
In 209 AC, Prince Maekar Targaryen ordered his son, Prince Aegon, that when traveling incognito as the squire "Egg" with Ser Duncan the Tall, he must keep his distinctive silver-gold hair shaved or dyed.[18][19]
In 212 AC, Duncan and Egg encountered the black-haired hedge knight, Ser John the Fiddler, who was actually the pretender king Daemon II Blackfyre, dyeing his silver-gold hair to remain incognito while traveling through Westeros.[19]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
Septa Eglantine puts brown dye in Princess Myrcella Baratheon’s hair when they are aboard the Seaswift, on the way to Braavos. She tells Mycella that it is a game, but Myrcella realizes that it is meant to keep her safe in case the ship is taken by her uncle, the rebel King Stannis Baratheon.[20]
A Storm of Swords
Dancy changes the color of her hair from red to honey blonde.[8][9]
Queen Daenerys Targaryen encounters Daario Naharis, the Tyroshi captain of the Stormcrows, who dyes his hair and beard blue, and paints his mustache gold.[21] After the sack of Meereen, Daario dyes his hair and beard a deep rich purple, which also makes his eyes look almost purple.[22]
Lysa Tully tells Sansa Stark that she looks too much like her mother, Catelyn, and that in order to keep her disguise as Alayne Stone, Petyr Baelish's bastard daughter, Sansa's hair will have to be darkened before she is brought to the Eyrie.[14]
A Feast for Crows
In the Eyrie, Alayne Stone dyes her hair with a wash given to her by her aunt Lysa. The wash comes from Tyrosh, across the narrow sea. It changes her rich auburn hair into a burnt brown, but it is seldom long before the red begins creeping back at the roots. Alayne worries what she will do when the dye runs out.[23]
Cersei observes the Blue Bard, who wears all blue clothing, noticing that he even dyes his hair blue.[24]
When Samwell Tarly arrives at Oldtown, the captain of the Huntress tells him that ironmen captured a Tyroshi merchantman on the straits a fortnight ago. They killed her crew, donned their clothes, and used the ship's cargo of dyes to color their whiskers half a hundred colors, meaning to sneak into Oldtown disguised as Tyroshi. However, the oarsmaster of the Lady of the Tower spoke Tyroshi, and discovered the deception when he hailed the ironmen in that language but none could answer.[15]
A Dance with Dragons
Tyrion Lannister meets Griff and Young Griff, a father and son with dyed blue hair. Young Griff says his mother was Tyroshi, and they dye their hair in her memory.[16] Young Griff is later revealed to be the disguised Prince Aegon Targaryen, who allegedly survived his reported death in the Sack of King's Landing.[25][26]
In Volon Therys, Prince Aegon dyes his hair a deep dark blue, which Jon Connington notes, makes his purple eyes look blue as well.[27]
Daenerys Targaryen's paramour, Daario Naharis, dyes his hair back to blue to please her.[1]
Some characters who dye their hair
Historical characters
- Princess Aerea Targaryen - hair dyed twice to hide its distinctive silver color[17][7]
- Princess Rhaella Targaryen - hair dyed once to hide its distinctive silver color[17]
- The Archon's daughter - hair dyed in blue-green[28]
- Racallio Ryndoon - dyed his hair and beard purple with orange streaks[6]
- Galtry the Green - dyed his beard green, in the Tyroshi style[19]
- Daemon II Blackfyre – dyed his silver-gold hair black while traveling incognito through the Seven Kingdoms[19]
During A Song of Ice and Fire
- Moreo Tumitis - has a forked green beard[10]
- Greenbeard - beard is colored bright green, but it is starting to grow out grey[29]
- Dancy - goes from red to honey blonde[8][9]
- Daario Naharis - dyes his hair and beard blue, then purple, and then back to blue[22][1]
- Sansa Stark – dyes her hair brown in the guise of Alayne Stone[14][23]
- Princess Myrcella Baratheon – hair dyed brown by Septa Eglantine[20]
- The Blue Bard - dyes his curly, shoulder-length hair blue[24]
- Griff – hair dyed blue[16]
- Young Griff – hair dyed blue[16]
- Casso Mogat – dyes his hair and whiskers a mossy green[30]
- Wylla Manderly - hair dyed a garish green[3]
- Sweets - hair dyed purple to match their violet eyes[31]
Quotes
Lord Rogar, who was known to harbor thoughts of extending the power of the Iron Throne across the narrow sea to Essos, put forward the notion of forging an alliance with Tyrosh by wedding Jaehaerys to the Archon's daughter , a comely girl of fifteen years who had charmed all at the wedding with her wit, her flirtatious manner, and her blue-green hair.[28]
—words of Gyldayn
Lysa: You look so much like Catelyn.
Sansa: It's kind of you to say so.
Lysa: It was not meant as flattery. If truth be told, you look too much like Catelyn. Something must be done. We shall darken your hair before we bring you back to the Eyrie, I think.[14]—Lysa Arryn and Sansa Stark
—Young Griff's lie to Tyrion
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 43, Daenerys VII.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 14, Brienne III.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 19, Davos III.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 26, Samwell III.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Fire & Blood, A Surfeit of Rulers.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 So Spake Martin: Some Continuity Oddities (February 13, 2001).
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 18, Catelyn IV.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones: d20-based Open Gaming RPG.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 80, Sansa VII.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 45, Samwell V.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 8, Tyrion III.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
- ↑ The Sworn Sword.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 42, Daenerys IV.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 71, Daenerys VI.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 23, Alayne I.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 39, Cersei IX.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 18, Tyrion V.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 22, Tyrion VI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 24, The Lost Lord.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Fire & Blood, The Year of the Three Brides - 49 AC.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 13, Arya II.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 15, Davos II.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 47, Tyrion X.