I recently received a question as to Signy's hairstyle. Usually when I'm asked about why a tomboy or masculine-presenting woman would wear such a foofy, feminine style, I jokingly respond that she never grew out of the '80s and can't live without using enough Aquanet that it burns a hole in ozone layer. The truth is, her hairstyle stems from her sci-fi roots and the world building that goes with it.

Because I've really been focusing in sharing more of my writing and getting Signy and Reign's story out there, here's some head-cannon!

On Signy's homeworld, unwed women wear their hair in a single braid. The longer the braid the more desirable the maiden, as her culture sees the length as a direct correlation with her purity. When a woman is married, her husband cuts off her braid with a ceremonial knife. As it begins to grow back out, she braids her hair into many small braids. Length plays it's part in marriage as well - longer braids are seen as a sign of a healthy, happy and long-term relationship. If her husband dies, or she experiences another great loss (like the death of a child), she cuts her hair and burns her braids with the body.

If her husband is a warrior, he will bring her small trophies to weave into her braids. This becomes a status symbol showing the talent and commitment of her husband. All spoils of war are brought back to the wife as a way to show that her man is fighting for her safety and prosperity. With the exception of the weapons of their enemy, warriors claim no trophies for themselves as it's considered a sign of immodesty, selfishness and greed. This is kind of a big song and dance to pretend that all wars are justly fought and only occur for the sake of protecting ones family.

In the modern era, more liberated women have taken to wearing their hair short, half shaven and more scandalously, completely unbound.

Men typically wear their hair shorn similar to a mohawk or long and mane-styled. Warriors, and only warriors, can wear their hair in a top knot as Signy does. Because a fallen or dishonorable warrior's topknot can be severed as a way to shame him for his failures, big impressive ponytails (again like Signy's) are a way to show ones strength and success.

Thus, Signy's hair is considered to be masculine and a sign of her unorthodox position in the military. It would be considered quite controversial for her to wear hair up, and for her to serve in a combat role, but by the time she's wearing it thus her planet has suffered huge losses and the survivors have been relocated to another world as struggling refugees. She hasn't worked with or seen one of her own in 10-15 years by the time her story begins...and even if she has, it's Signy! Miss Chip on Her Shoulder With Something to Prove wouldn't stand for anyone's disapproval.