For many veterans of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the journey from the original 2011 release to the Special Edition (SSE) has been one of mixed blessings. While SSE brought 64-bit stability, enhanced lighting, and god rays, it also broke thousands of classic mods. Among the most mourned losses for character customization enthusiasts was the original HG Hairdos mod—a staple for players who wanted lore-friendly, voluminous, and stylish hair without dipping into the overly polished, anime-inspired locks of other packs.
Enter HG Hairdos 2 SSE.
This isn't merely a port of the original. It is a comprehensive remaster, reimagining, and expansion of one of Skyrim’s most iconic hair packs. If you are tired of vanilla’s lackluster buns and braids, and you want a mod that balances realism, performance, and sheer variety, this is your ultimate solution.
HG Hairdos 2 is a popular high-quality hair pack for Skyrim Special Edition (SSE)
, often sought after for its modern, "high-poly" aesthetic. This guide will walk you through getting it running smoothly in your game. 1. Requirements & Prerequisites
Before installing the hair pack, you must have the following core mods installed. Without these, you won't be able to select the hairs or they may not display correctly. SKSE64 (Skyrim Script Extender):
Essential for advanced mod functions. Verify it's working by typing getskseversion in-game console
This is the interface you will use to select the new hairstyles. FSMP - Faster HDT-SMP (Optional but Recommended):
If the version of HG Hairdos you download has "physics," you need this for the hair to move naturally rather than staying static. 2. Installation Steps Since HG Hairdos is often hosted on sites like (usually for free) or VectorPlexis , download the SSE-specific version of the archive. Mod Manager: Open your preferred manager (Vortex or Mod Organizer 2). Drag and drop the
file into the "Drop File(s)" area at the bottom of the Mods tab.
Click the "Install a new mod from an archive" button and select your file. Deploy & Enable:
Ensure the mod is enabled and your plugins are deployed/sorted. 3. Using the Hairs In-Game
Once the mod is installed, follow these steps to apply a hairstyle to your character: Open Character Creator:
If starting a new game, it will open automatically. For an existing character, press the tilde key ( ) and type showracemenu Navigate to Hair: interface, look for the tab at the top. Browse Styles:
slider to cycle through the options. HG Hairdos typically adds hundreds of styles, so it may take a moment to load the previews as you scroll.
You can use the "Hair Color" option to further customize the look using the RGB sliders provided by RaceMenu. 4. Common Troubleshooting Hair is Purple/Blue:
This means the textures are missing. Reinstall the mod and make sure the "Textures" folder was correctly extracted into your Data folder. Game Crashes on Hair Tab:
This usually happens if you have too many hair mods or your PC is struggling to load high-resolution textures. Try waiting a few seconds between slider moves to let the game catch up. Physics Not Working: Faster HDT-SMP
is installed and that you haven't exceeded the maximum number of physics-enabled objects on your character. physics settings for this mod? AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
The Complete 2025 Guide to Using Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE)
To get the most out of this hair mod, combine it with:
4.2/5 – A must-download for MM lovers who want TS3 nostalgia without breaking their game’s aesthetic. Best for teen/adult female sims in casual or school-themed saves. Not ideal for fantasy or alpha-heavy setups. HG Hairdos 2 SSE
Tip: Pair with a default replacement eyelash remover to avoid lash-hair clipping on high cheekbones.
Would you like a link to the latest working download or troubleshooting help if the hairs don’t appear in your game?
If you are tired of the limited vanilla options and want your Dragonborn to look unique without breaking the immersion of the game, HG Hairdos 2 SSE remains one of the most reliable and comprehensive hair mods available.
Feature Name: HG Hairdos 2 SSE
Overview: HG Hairdos 2 SSE is a comprehensive hair mod for Skyrim Special Edition (SSE) that offers a wide range of high-quality, custom-made hairdos for female characters. This mod is designed to enhance the game's character customization options, allowing players to create unique and personalized hairstyles for their characters.
Key Features:
Technical Details:
System Requirements:
Known Issues and Limitations:
Future Updates and Support:
The author of HG Hairdos 2 SSE plans to provide regular updates with new hairdos, bug fixes, and compatibility patches. Players can expect:
Elara stared at the chipped, painted sign swinging above the door: HG Hairdos 2 SSE. Below it, in smaller, faded letters: “We Cut, We Curl, We Conjure.”
“Second Skyrim Edition,” she muttered, pulling her fur-lined hood tighter. “Because one version of Tamriel wasn't enough to contain Helga’s grooming.”
A bell jingled as she pushed inside. The smell was immediate: singed moon sugar, lavender oil, and something faintly of ozone. Magelight orbs floated lazily near the ceiling, illuminating stations that were part salon chair, part alchemy lab. Scissors levitated. Combs hummed with a low, protective enchantment.
Behind the counter, Helga the Hag—a woman whose age was measured in eras, not years—was polishing a pair of shears that glowed with a warm, amber light. A single, massive glass eye (her third, for seeing “true split ends”) dangled from a leather cord around her neck.
“Ah. The Dragonborn who cried over her last haircut,” Helga said, not looking up. “The 'Inadvisable Fade.' I remember.”
Elara winced. Last time, she’d asked for a “simple, practical warrior’s chop.” Helga had heard “a soul-gazing bob that reveals your past-life trauma as a Forsworn bride.” Elara had spent three days crying into a bowl of horker stew.
“I’m here for a repair, Helga. A simple repair.”
She pulled off her hood. Her hair—normally a respectable chestnut braid—now looked like a startled skeever had nested in it. One side was singed short and black from an errant Fire Rune. The other was frozen stiff and pointing straight up from a Frost Atronach’s sneeze. A small section near her left ear had turned a shimmering, iridescent gold and whispered mathematical truths she didn’t want to hear.
“Impressive,” Helga said, finally looking up with her good eye. The glass eye swiveled and focused. “That’s not just damage. That’s narrative damage. What did you do, try to Fus Ro Dah a mirror?”
“Worse. I let a novice mage in the College of Winterhold practice ‘Restoration Styling.’” For many veterans of The Elder Scrolls V:
Helga winced. “Amateur. They always over-condition the aura.” She snapped her fingers. A spectral hand appeared and pushed Elara into a chair. Another began mixing a paste in a stone bowl. “Right. For this, we need the SSE treatment. Stabilize, Soothe, and Enchant.”
“Just the first two,” Elara said quickly. “No enchantments.”
“Hush. Let the professional work.” Helga produced a pair of clippers that had a tiny, trapped Daedra heart beating inside the handle. “First: Stabilize. This will stop the singing.”
She clipped a small, cold strand. The moment the shears touched it, the golden whispering section fell silent. The hair turned a normal, dull brown. Elara sighed in relief.
“See? Now for the Soothe.” Helga slathered the paste on the frozen, upright spikes. It smelled of frost salts and chamomile. “This will relax the aggressive posture. In about… three… two…”
The frozen hair went limp and melted into normal waves. Elara felt the tension drain from her scalp and, oddly, from her memory of the Atronach incident.
“One left,” Helga said, eyeing the singed, blackened side. “This is the tricky part. Fire damage leaves a grudge in the follicle. Can’t just cut it. Have to negotiate.”
She pulled out a small, silver tuning fork and tapped it against Elara’s horned helmet. A pure note rang out. The singed hair began to smoke, then tremble. A tiny, angry ember-shaped sprite—no bigger than a thumbnail—popped out of a split end.
“You burned me first!” it squeaked in a high, cinder-voice.
“I said I was sorry!” Elara hissed.
Helga leaned in. “Hair-spite is real, dear. You have two options. Option one: I banish the sprite and you lose three inches on that side. You’ll have an asymmetrical ‘adventurer’s shrug’ for a month.”
“What’s option two?”
Helga grinned, revealing a gold tooth. “The ‘SSE’ stands for Special Edition, remember? Option two: I enchant the angry bit. Turn the grudge into a feature.” She held up a small vial of shimmering, crimson liquid. “We call this ‘Flame-Atronach-But-Make-It-Fashion.’”
Elara hesitated. The sprite flickered defiantly.
“Fine,” she sighed. “Enchant it. But nothing that talks.”
“Deal.” Helga dripped the liquid onto the tuning fork and touched it to Elara’s burnt locks. The hair didn’t grow back brown. It grew back a deep, volcanic red, and the ends curled into perfect, tight spirals that smoldered faintly. A wisp of harmless smoke rose from them whenever Elara felt annoyed.
“There,” Helga said, spinning the chair around to face a full-length mirror framed in carved dragon bone. “The ‘Smoldering Repentance.’ Very you.”
Elara stared. The red streak was bold, fierce, and actually… kind of cool. The rest was soft and normal. She looked less like a disaster and more like a woman who had wrestled a fire and won a fringe benefit.
“How much?”
“Forty septims. Plus the tuning fork’s therapy fee.”
As Elara paid, a massive Nord barged in, his beard a tangled mess of dried mead and what looked like troll snot. HG Hairdos 2 is a popular high-quality hair
“Helga!” he bellowed. “I need the ‘Yarl’s Voluminous’ for the Blue Palace gala. And I want the beard glitter to be hostile.”
Helga didn’t blink. “Take a seat, Jarl Bulgruuf the Slightly Damp. Elara, same time next week for the conditioning ritual?”
Elara pulled her hood back on, careful not to smother the new red spirals. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
As she stepped out into the cold Skyrim air, a small ember from her hair lit a nearby lantern. She smiled. Worth it.
HG Hairdos 2 SSE a comprehensive hairstyle expansion for Skyrim Special Edition (SSE)
, widely recognized for its high-quality textures and unique diversity in hair types . Created by lemonbalmtea
(also known as summerdew), it acts as a standalone or supplementary pack to the original HG Hairdos. Key Features Diverse Representation
: Unlike many other popular hair mods, HG Hairdos 2 specifically excels in providing historically underrepresented styles , including various African, Black, and Redguard-themed hairstyles Styles included
: Long and short dreadlocks, twists, plaits, afros, and curls. Ethnic diversity
: The mod features styles suitable for North African, Arab, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian character designs. Massive Selection
: The broader HG collection features hundreds of unique styles, with dedicated options for both (approx. 324) and (approx. 102) characters. Accessory Integration
: Some hairstyles come with built-in accessories, such as beads, leather bands, or golden hair bands inspired by ancient cultures. Distribution and Installation
Due to its origin and asset sources, this mod is often hosted on sites like or personal storage links (like ) rather than the standard Nexus Mods storefront. Installation : It can be installed using standard mod managers like Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) Download Management
: Because the files are large, some hosts like MEGA may require multiple sessions or a ZIP-within-a-ZIP extraction process to avoid download limits. Supplementary Mods & Patches
The community has developed several tools to enhance or manage HG Hairdos 2:
Here’s a concise review of HG Hairdos 2 SSE (Hairdos for High School Gen 2 + Sedona Sims Ensemble), a popular hair collection for The Sims 4.
A common complaint with older hair mods is texture resolution—either too low (blurry) or absurdly high (killing your VRAM). Version 2 strikes the perfect balance. Most textures are 2K, with normal maps that give hair a natural sheen rather than a plastic gloss. The alpha blending has been tweaked to eliminate the dreaded "halo effect" around hair strands, a frequent eyesore in vanilla SSE.
To understand the value of HG Hairdos 2 SSE, you need a quick comparison:
| Feature | KS Hairdos SSE | ApachiiSkyHair SSE | HG Hairdos 2 SSE | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Hair Count | 700+ | 600+ | 110+ | | Style Aesthetic | Anime/K-pop | High Fantasy Gloss | Realistic / Lore-Friendly | | Physics Support | Limited | Minimal | Robust (SMP) | | Memory Footprint | Heavy (2-4GB VRAM) | Very Heavy | Moderate (1-2GB VRAM) | | Best For | Screenshot Art | Noble/Daedric Looks | Immersion & Gameplay |
While KS Hairdos offers sheer quantity, HG Hairdos 2 SSE wins on quality control. Every single hairstyle in HG looks like it belongs in Skyrim’s cold, harsh world. There are no neon pink pigtails or gravity-defying spikes.
One of the hidden gems of Version 2 is an optional NPC injector. While the base mod just adds hairs for the player, the full version includes an ESP that distributes these hairstyles to random, unnamed NPCs (bandits, guards, townsfolk). This dramatically increases visual diversity without editing specific, modded followers like Inigo or Lucien.