Very confused newbie (skins)

I like the newbie skin, because I can edit everything on there. But people say that I need a new skin, because the newbie one looks like play-dough. However, I want a skin that let's me edit it so I can have the facial hair I want. Is this possible? Or do I have to use the newbie skin for that? I'm really confused...I just want to be able to edit my skin the way I want it.

You -can- find skins that allow modify and copy rights(important in case you bork something trying to modify in the first place) but you may have to look around some. Do a search for skins and go try demos of as many as you can. They are usually free or just 1L so you won't be out tons of cash trying to find something you like. Once you find one, be sure to make a copy and set it aside where you won't mess it up, and then make another copy every time you want to try something else. That way you always have a 'pure' copy thats nice and pretty to play with.

Most male skins have several facial hair options...spend some time looking around. The newbie skin IS hideous, but you should be able to find something you like if you don't rush it. Over time, you may decide to build up your skin inventory with a few different looks, but finding a nice basic one should probably be the focus for now.

I think these are some of the nicest ones I've seen recently: http://www.second-man.com/wp-content/uploads/Catero/fnky_snapshot_002.jpg

Ok, so I'll just have to look around for a skin that works like the newbie one? I just want to be able to completly modify my hair and facial hair.

Also, how do I get my newbie skin back? I'm somehow stuck with this freaky red skin, and I can't get rid of it. I tried doing the tattoo thing, but it gives me the freaky red skin still.

If it's not in the Body Parts folder, look in the Library under Clothes. There are several skins in there, listed under things like 'City Chic Male.' I'm not sure what you come in-world with.

But don't write male skins off just because they're non-mod...I've never actually seen one that was modifiable in the sense you're talking about. Look for skins that have facial hair options you like, buy the one that suits you best and, if you want a different look later, go back.

But can you choose the color of the facial hair? Or does it make you use the color it comes with?

Some skins will let you adjust the skin tone, but I'm not sure about facial hair color...I've never noticed it, but I'm not usually shopping for male skins either. Lots of places offer brunette/redhead/blonde options, though, so it may just be a matter of looking. *sigh* I feel for you; SL is confusing for everyone at the start and trying to get a presentable avatar together with the much more limited options available to guys is tough.

Edit: Body Politik and Nomine might be good places to start looking for skins with multiple facial hair color options.

For the most part, most skins do come with the option to have facial hair, but say you don't want a specific kind? You gotta find a different skin. You can't go into appearances and do facial hair like that when you are wearing a skin. And for the most part good skins are no-mod.

My solution? Get a skin with no facial hair at all. They have nice ones at Curious Kitties, Canimal, Naughty Design, ect. Anyway... You can buy prim facial hair, which typically looks better anyway, and allows you to use one skin, and decide exactly what sort of facial hair you want.

Or you can tell everyone to go stuff themselves and that you want to stick with the basic skin

*shudder*

Not all of it is bad. A lot of it looks as good as prim-head hair. It just depends on where you go, and what sort of hair you are after.

Apparently the people who create the good stuff are also excellent at hiding it from the majority of the populace.

I've seen quite a few prim goatee's that I thought were quite nice.

Mattheous, here's how it usually works... you can choose skins with any combination of body hair, head hair and facial hair you want, but you usually can't modify them (some will let you lighten or darken the skin shade, but typically not the hair. Because of the way skins have to be made, it's not really easy to do that.)

You want to look either for a skin that is what you want to use most of the time, or else a set of skins ... for example, most designers will sell you package of skins with a variety of facial hair options so you can keep the skin tone you like but change the beard style at any time by just switching from one skin to another.

You should consider head hair options too. Many people prefer bald skins so they can wear prim hair and change the style at any time. Skins that already have head hair limit the prim hair styles you can wear, although hair that blends into or completely covers the head hair will still work fine.

If you want the skin to really look good, plan to spend some money on it. It is possible to get free or cheap skins, but most of them look cheap. A skin designer who is skilled at shading can make a very realistic looking skin, with muscle tone, shoulder blades and spinal ridges and ears that don't look like a boxer's... but they won't be cheap. $500 to $1,000 for a single skin and $3,000 to $5,000 for a variety pack is not unreasonable for high quality work. Think of it as an investment ... choose it well and you can wear it for as long as you like it.

GET DEMOS. This is the most important step. All designers will let you get a demo of a skin you're interested in for $0 or $1. It will look just like the skin you could buy except it will have "DEMO" or "SAMPLE" or something similar stamped on it. Look at it in different light conditions and from different angles to see if it gives you the look you want.

Also, put some thought into your body shape. The newbie shapes are just as basic and simple as the skins, and you should consider spending a little money to get a better one. (Shapes usually are modifiable, by the way, so you can adjust things like height, nose shape, shoulder width, etc. with the sliders.)

Search under Places or All for 'male skins' and you'll come up with a long list of possibilities. Rather than me trying to recommend any, you should think about what you want and then just go shop.

Good luck!

head to Devilfish mall, the guys there had me looking cool and different in no time and talked me through it all too. I'm a free account holder and managed to do it on a small budget

I've found that many skins you can't edit much of but some will let you - it's always worth asking the vendor, sometimes they'll put on/take off facial hair for just a little extra

I would think a nice detailed skin and losing that look that screams newbie would be worth a little change personally. I think a little more respect comes along when you lose the newbie look.

Whether or not that's a good thing, it does tend to be the reality.

Anyone still wearing Linden skin (and hair) will be assumed to be a noob. it's one of those at-a-glance assessments that may be wrong, but is still hard to avoid making.

But a good quality skin really is going to make a world of difference in your appearance. It may not be as editable, but the results are far better than anything you could ever achieve with skin sliders.

And a crazy sort of truth is you could take two people with the exact same skins and have them stand next to each other, and it'd be damn hard to know it was the same skin at a glance. Shapes really change how you look, drastically.

Very much so.

I've been making shapes for half a year now, so I'm pretty good at recognizing skins, but I'm still amazed at how different they can look depending on the underlying shape structure.

There are skins I simply can't wear -- they look dreadful on me. But they may look fabulous on someone else.

*sigh* don't give in to peer pressure. one of the most irritating things about Second Life when you first arrive is the number of people pulling rank because something isn't right. If it's not your skin it's your shape, if it's not your shape it's your shoes, if it's not your shoes it's your clothes. If you're confused about skins (or anything else for that matter) don't make any expensive impulse purchases until you better understand what they're all about.

If you feel you'd understand skins better if you had more to try on, go and visit the Gnubie store where you can get some 'better than newbie' skins for just L$1 (they have permanent underwear but that's rarely a problem unless you need to get naked).

Kudos to you for getting more advice here instead of spending a few thousand $L and regretting it.

Matt go to SL exchange and look at the male skins there look at permissions and you can see if they are mod/copy if you see one you like that is mod copy look that person up under search and go to the store and see if there is a demo that you can try before you buy skins are not cheep so make sure you have one that you are going to like .
have a great day
sincerly Cheri

Can't argue with that.

One thing to weigh is what exactly your goals are in SL. If you're here to build and explore, but are not much interested in the social scene, then skin is a lower priority. Stick with what pleases you, even if that's the default skin

But, on the other hand, if you want to dance, go clubbing, ask SL girls out on dates, then spending some thought (and Lindens) on your appearance will be noticed and appreciated. It's one of the ways you disassociate yourself from the noobs who arrive wanting to cybersex on their first day and wander around propositioning female avatars at random.

Is this right? I thought all skins were bald. You can then add either your own default SL hair, or prim hair (or even a combination of the two). Hair isn't on the same layer as skin.

At least that's how it is for us ladies.

Love Suzi

A lot of male skins come with a 'cropped hair' option (ie. tattooed on the head). A common haircut for guys, but one that's very difficult (nay, impossible) to achieve with appearance sliders or prim hair.

Lost's male skins for guys (surely the most common in SL?) come with both bald and cropped hair versions in the same box. You don't have to buy them separately.

Oh I see. You learn something every day.

Absolutely. After six months making my human avatar as realistic and impressive as possible, I developed a new found appreciation of newbie skins and appearance sliders. I've noticed some oldbies (2003/2004 signups) who have done amazing things with them - maybe due to the limited options available when they first arrived - and who look far more unique than the photorealistic clones you see around.