Jim's Hair

[California gal]

OK, a lot has been said about Jim's hair styles over the 4 seasons. I think my favorite style is the cut in most of season 3 (and not mentioning how it kept changing in Legion of Death).

My question here is, what color is it? (And if you want to mention your favorite style, fine.)

At times--probably most of the time--his hair appears to be dark brown, brunet I believe is the term for it. But sometimes there is an auburn cast to it, and I don't think it is due entirely to when RC spent a few days at the beach or by the pool.

(The fake Jim in the teaser to Bonus Bandits looks as though he had a bit of bleaching done.)

Is it, like his eyes, depending on the lighting, the camera, the filters used?

[California gal]

Just as an example, this one from Cut-Throats (which I used as my avatar for a long while), his hair is definitely auburn.

[California gal]

And from Circus of Death--darker. (The hair girls, the hair!)

[Nydiva]

I dunno. I wouldn't call it exactly auburn (which is more a reddish tone), though the top pic seems a lighter brown than the bottom.

I think it has a LOT to do with lighting. I'm a brownish auburn (thanks to Loreal!), but when the sun hits me direct, I blaze!!

And never mind the chest, I keep looking at that vest! I LOVE the vests of the Wild Wild West - and will attest that they're the best. And now I shall give this a rest! ;D

[California gal]

I was born a redhead but didn't know it until my perceptive hairdresser pointed out how my complexion and eyes were made for auburn hair.

This pic from Jack O'Diamonds is from a scene in full sunlight, and yet Jim's hair looks quite dark.

[rielle]

Well, now that you ask, I've most often used a term I found in fanfics... calling Jim's hair 'chestnut' which like charity covers a multitude...

There are certainly times that it seems quite dark brown, and other times definitely looks like there's some effect from riding out in the sun, so that the top layer if you will, and the adorable lock that sometimes falls over Jim's forehead are light brown... when you look at some of the profile shots from 'Jack o' Diamonds', its night but somehow the lighting seems to make Jim's hair look lightened a tiny bit...

Now at the beginning of Bogus Bandits... maybe they decided to go to extremes to make the point that after all this guy really wasn't Jim West... but it wasn't a very attractive shade, imo, too yellow.

The first character I ever read of whose hair was described as chestnut was "Jo March" of Alcott's most famous books, but the actresses who've taken on the role on film have pretty much had every shade of hair in the book, from red-headed Kate Hepburn to black haired Winona Rider... and in between June Alyson who's hair for that film was a very dark red. --- so I guess I'll stick to calling Jim's hair chestnut ... until an expert in film, or makeup or styling tells me its something else.

[Paradox Eyes]

Like Rielle, I always go with Chestnut. Chestnut is a great color name for a man's hair and as Rielle alluded, it covers a multitude of shades.

Speaking of Bogus Bandits, am I the only one who thinks that the real James West's hair color was almost black? Maybe it's my video equipment, but in that final scene with Jim looking down at Dr. Loveless while he rants, I swear his hair is nearly black.

[California gal]

Here's a couple from Bogus Bandits. Even the first one, which is in the outdoor scene around the time Artie shows up, looks quite dark. Does anyone have the nerve to call in on RC's show and ask him if he used a color rinse on his hair? ;D

[Dieter]

Just thought I'd add he just looks plain cool with that hairstyle no matter if darker or lighter. He's just a stud and can snatch up any girl he wants with that style. I'd also agree season 3 he found his best way to groom, but took a complete dump during the last half of season 4. He suddenly lost his charm and cool personality all of a sudden!! Maybe frustrated with the lame scripts shoved in his face every week minus a few classics.

[Dieter]

Well Jim was my hero growing up-- You couldn't go beyond him no matter how hard you tried. Definite hero for all dudes but kinda lost his touch during the end. Maybe without Artie for 9 episodes caused his change in looks and personality.

[Paradox Eyes]

He is definitely the hottest hero EVER!!

From the moment I watched him as a child to the day I die, he will be my numero uno TV Hero.

Oh BTW Ace, LOVE that last photo! Hehehehe!! You just know that under that tuff exterior is a fun loving rascal!

And Cal Gal, those two from Bogus Bandits...oh my heart be still!

[snish]

I would call Jim's hair light brown. For comparison, Artie's hair is dark brown. Jim even gets blondish highlights sometimes. Chestnut is a nice term, I could go for that. It's not nearly red enough to be called auburn--I think in that photo from Cut-Throats, it's picking up some red from the wallpaper in the background.

I agree, it's quite lovely hair, until he has his 4th-season meltdown.

[artiesniecewannabe]

Very nice photo essay, Ace! Yep, Jim missin' Artie is kinda like peanut butter missin' jelly.



A theory about Jim's hair in Bogus Bandits: depending on when the fake Jim scene was filmed, RC's hair may have needed artificial darkening to compensate for the blondishness in the teaser.

[California gal]

Nice review of Jim & Artie's relationship, Ace.

That's an interesting theory, Niecie. We know that they don't film in the sequence of the story.

[artiesniecewannabe]

(I also have a theory that they had some of that hair-lightener left over from using it on RM in Tottering Tontine, and figured they'd use it up on RC when they were filming the final episode of season 2.)

[Dieter]

Cool assortment of pics!! I was thinking that where RC first got his lousy hair cut in Season 4 was in Fire and Brimstone, which happened to be Ross' last episode before his heart attack. Maybe RC's hair is what caused all that for Ross!

Actually no---I looked up the production order and saw he got his "new Look" beginning with Juggernaut! Ohhh what a mistake!! haha

[California gal]

Maybe someone looked at pictures of men's hairstyles from the 1870s and saw how awful they were, and told RC he needed to be more authentic.

As for the lighter color in the teaser to Bogus Bandits, perhaps that was filmed last for the episode--after RC had had a weekend at the beach or pool.