A 'Game' of wigs: The best and worst wigs in Westeros
How do you make multiple actors and actresses with fairly modern hairstyles look like they belong in a medieval fantasy? Easy -- wigs! And some of the characters' signature looks, from Daenerys' silver locks, to Cersei's blond tresses and to Melisandre's fiery red mane, are thanks to these famed wigs. They're dragged across countries, sets and photoshoots and -- needless to say, some look better than others.
We rank the wigs in Game of Thrones, from rattiest to classiest.
11. The Hound
We know you got burned by your brother when you were a kid, but did that also make your hair permanently stringy? We don't know enough about science to be sure, but apparently neither do the wig caretakers at Game of Thrones.
10. Balon Greyjoy
Don't remember him? Well, remember the self-dubbed King of the Iron Island's awful ratty hair. He definitely paid the iron price for that wig.
9. Season 2 Margaery
It's a challenge to make a stunner like Natalie Dormer seem ugly, but boy, that wig did not do her any favors. Flat, middle-parted and mousy, it was hard to imagine that this Margaery would become the seductive fan-favorite character we love today.
8. Season 3 Daario
Hey look, Daario got a hold of Margaery's wig! Nice look, Desert Fabio. We wonder if that wig was the reason Ed Skrein got recast with Michael Huisman.
7. Arya's Season 1 boy cut
Is there a dead squirrel on your head, Arya? Thankfully we only got this wig for one scene, since actress Maisie Williams decided to chop off her own locks.
6. Later seasons Bran
Speaking of dead squirrels...
5. Desert Daenerys
In early seasons Daenerys treks through the desert a lot, so we kind of forgive her for the grime and frizz. But even when it gets cleaned, it has that weird early 2000s crimped look, which probably doesn't help her get taken seriously by the Thirteen.
4. King's Landing Margaery
Now this is the Margaery we know and love! With a stylish hairdo that perfectly frames Margaery's lovely face, we can finally see why all of King's Landing loves her and why Cersei is perpetually jealous of her.
3. Cersei
Cersei's wig actually went through a bit of a transformation throughout the seasons, starting off straight and a little frizzy (though admittedly more natural) in the first season until it became the tightly woven curls that we know today. And of course, who can forget her colorful series of updos that you'd only find in a fantasy series.
2. Queen Daenerys
Daenerys discovered braids, and her hair became pristine and permanently wavy. Got to have good hair when you're conquering cities.
1. Melisandre
Whatever opinion you have of the Red Woman, you can't deny that she always looks good. And that's thanks in no small part to her fiery red wig, which lends to her imposing, ethereal quality. OK, you may remember her more for her frequent nude scenes and that shadow baby assassin, but still. There's something about that red hair ...