OSRS How to Change Appearance A Complete Guide

OSRS How to Change Appearance A Complete Guide

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), customizing your character’s appearance is a fun way to express your style and stand out in Gielinor. Whether you’re a new player stuck with the default bald-bearded look or a veteran looking to refresh your avatar, this guide covers everything you need to know about changing your appearance in OSRS. From visiting NPCs to using in-game furniture, we’ll walk you through the process, locations, and tips to make your character truly yours—all for free in most cases!

Your character’s appearance in OSRS is more than just aesthetics—it’s a way to personalize your journey in this iconic MMORPG. After the initial character creation on Tutorial Island, many players find themselves wanting to tweak their look, especially if they skipped customization or ended up with a default avatar due to a glitch or disconnection. Fortunately, OSRS offers several ways to modify your character’s hair, clothing, skin color, and more, all accessible through specific NPCs or player-owned house (POH) features.

Benefits of Customizing Your Character

  • Personal Expression: Tailor your character to reflect your personality or roleplay style.
  • Social Appeal: A unique look can make you memorable in crowded areas like the Grand Exchange.
  • Quest Requirements: Some quests, like Recruitment Drive, may require specific appearance changes.
  • FashionScape: Combine appearance changes with cosmetic gear for the ultimate “FashionScape” vibe.

Key NPCs for Changing Appearance

OSRS provides several NPCs who offer makeover services, each specializing in different aspects of your character’s appearance. Since an update on August 14, 2024, most customization options are now accessible through a unified makeover interface, making the process simpler. Below, we detail the main NPCs and their locations.

Makeover Mage (South of Falador)

The Makeover Mage, located southwest of Falador near the Crafting Guild, is your go-to for changing body type, skin color, and pronouns. This NPC, also known as Pete or Peta (they switch genders every 10 seconds), offers these services for free. The Makeover Mage is also notable as OSRS’s first canonically transgender character, adding a unique lore element to the game.

How to Get There: Exit Falador’s south gate and head southwest, or use the Fairy Ring code C-L-S if you’ve unlocked Fairy Tales II – Cure a Queen. The nearby Agility shortcut (level 5) makes banking quick if you’re gathering wool at the Crafting Guild.

Customization Options:

  • Body Type: Choose between Type A (masculine) or Type B (feminine).
  • Skin Color: 13 options, including green, black, white, and blue (unlocked via Halloween events) or purple (available to all since September 20, 2018).
  • Pronouns: Select “He/him,” “She/her,” or “They/them.” Note that choosing Type A or B may auto-set pronouns to “He/him” or “She/her” unless “They/them” was previously selected.

Thessalia (Varrock)

Thessalia, found in Thessalia’s Fine Clothes in southern Varrock, specializes in clothing customization. Her shop is free to use, and you can access the makeover interface to change your torso, sleeves, bottoms, shoes, and wristwear.

How to Get There: Head to Varrock’s south entrance, just west of the general store. No equipment can be worn during customization, so unequip everything first.

Hairdresser (Falador)

The Hairdresser, located near Falador’s west bank, handles hair and facial hair changes. With 57 hairstyles and 15 facial hair options (for masculine body types), there’s plenty of variety.

How to Get There: From Falador’s west bank, walk slightly southwest. The Hairdresser’s shop is easily accessible for free-to-play (F2P) players.

Other NPCs for Specific Customizations

While the makeover interface has consolidated most options, some NPCs still offer unique services:

NPC Location Customization Requirements Cost
Reinald Northeast Keldagrim Armguards (silver, gold, or bare) Start The Giant Dwarf quest, Members-only 500 coins
Yrsa West Rellekka Shoes Complete The Fremennik Trials, Members-only Free

Using Player-Owned House for Appearance Changes

If you’re a member with a player-owned house (POH), you can change your appearance without visiting NPCs. By building specific furniture in your bedroom, you gain access to random hair and clothing customizations.

Dresser for Hair Changes

A dresser in your POH bedroom allows you to change your hairstyle and facial hair. Higher-level dressers (e.g., Mahogany Dresser at Construction level 64) offer more options, but even a basic Oak Dresser (level 22) works. The catch? Styles and colors are chosen randomly, so you may need to try multiple times for your desired look.

Wardrobe for Clothing Changes

A wardrobe in your POH bedroom lets you modify your clothing, including torso, sleeves, bottoms, and shoes. Like the dresser, the options are random, but higher-level wardrobes (e.g., Mahogany Wardrobe at level 80) provide more variety.

Tip: Build your POH in Rimmington for easy access early on, and use the Construction skill guide to plan your furniture upgrades.

Special Considerations and Tips

Changing your appearance in OSRS is straightforward, but there are a few nuances and tips to keep in mind to avoid frustration and enhance your experience.

Appearance and Equipment Interactions

Some equipment in OSRS uses your character’s default colors, affecting their appearance. For example:

  • Shoe Color: Impacts items like Dragon axe (or), Larupia hat, and V’s shield.
  • Torso Color: Affects Moonclan gloves.
  • Skin Color: Influences Fairy heraldic banner and Shrink-me-quick animation.
  • Hair Color: Changes the appearance of items like Jogre heraldic kiteshield.

Experiment with these to create unique looks when combining cosmetics with gear!

Free-to-Play vs. Members

Free-to-play players can access most customization options via the Makeover Mage, Thessalia, and the Hairdresser. However, some features, like armguards (Reinald) and certain shoe styles (Yrsa), are members-only. Post-August 14, 2024, F2P players can now change shoes, closing a previous gap.

Avoiding Glitches

Between August 14 and September 25, 2024, exiting the makeover interface could reset custom weapon animations or hide worn equipment. These issues were fixed, but always double-check your appearance after changes. Teleporting or logging out can resolve any lingering visual bugs.

Quest-Related Appearance Changes

Some quests require specific appearance tweaks. For example, in the Recruitment Drive quest, players may need to visit the Makeover Mage to change their body type to defeat a specific enemy. Always check quest guides to ensure you meet these requirements.

SEO Tips for FashionScape Enthusiasts

If you’re sharing your OSRS appearance journey on a blog or social media, optimize your content to reach fellow FashionScape fans:

  • Use Keywords: Include terms like “OSRS change appearance,” “OSRS makeover guide,” and “FashionScape tips” naturally in your content.
  • Engage with Community: Share your looks on Reddit’s r/2007scape or the OSRS Discord to drive traffic.
  • Visuals: Post screenshots of your customized character to attract clicks on platforms like X or YouTube.
  • Update Regularly: As Jagex adds new customization options (e.g., via holiday events), keep your content fresh.

With 57 hairstyles, 13 skin colors, and countless clothing combinations, OSRS offers plenty of ways to craft a unique look. Whether you’re visiting the Makeover Mage, tweaking your outfit at Thessalia’s, or building a POH dresser, changing your appearance is a rewarding part of the game. Dive into Gielinor, experiment with your style, and let your character shine!