GTA Online Character Appearance: What You Can Edit

This guide explains exactly what you can and cannot change about your GTA Online character’s appearance after you’ve created them, and how the game’s editing system works. You can change your character’s hairstyle, facial hair, makeup, and some facial features, but you cannot change their gender, body type, or race after the initial creation.

Background: How Character Creation Works

When you first start GTA Online, you create a character using a detailed editor that lets you adjust facial structure, skin tone, hair, and other features. This creation process is the only time you have full control over your character’s core identity. After that, the game locks certain fundamental attributes and only allows you to modify appearance through specific in-game services.

What You Can Change (The Edit Options)

Once your character is in the game, you can visit a barber shop or a clothing store to change the following:

• Hairstyle & Hair Color – Available at any barber shop. You can choose from dozens of styles and colors.
• Facial Hair – Also at the barber shop. Options include beards, mustaches, and stubble, with color matching your chosen hair color.
• Makeup & Face Paint – Available at barber shops for female characters. Includes lipstick, eye shadow, and other cosmetic options.
• Clothing & Accessories – Available at clothing stores. This includes outfits, glasses, hats, masks, and shoes.
• Tattoos – Applied at tattoo parlors. You can add or remove tattoos on different body parts.
• Limited Facial Feature Adjustments – In the “Styleâ€� section of the interaction menu (under “Appearanceâ€�), you can make small tweaks to your character’s facial structure using a slider-based system. This is not the full editor from character creation; it only allows minor adjustments to a limited set of features like eye shape, nose width, and jawline.

What You Cannot Change (Locked Features)

These are permanently fixed after the initial character creation:

• Gender – You cannot change your character’s gender. The only way to have a different gender is to delete your character and start over.
• Body Type & Physique – The overall body shape (muscular, slim, etc.) is locked. You cannot make your character taller, shorter, or change their build.
• Skin Tone & Ethnicity – Your character’s base skin color and facial structure tied to ethnicity cannot be altered after creation.
• Age & General Facial Structure – The fundamental shape of the face, including cheekbones, brow, and chin, is largely fixed. The minor sliders in the interaction menu do not allow a full re-edit.

How to Access the Appearance Menu

To make the limited changes that are allowed, follow these steps:

1. Open the Interaction Menu (hold the “M� key on PC, or the touchpad/back button on consoles).
2. Scroll to “Style� and then to “Appearance.�
3. From here, you can select “Hair� to change your hairstyle, or “Face� to adjust the limited facial sliders.
4. For clothing, visit any clothing store icon on the map (a shirt icon).
5. For tattoos, visit a tattoo parlor (a needle icon).

Note that the “Appearance� menu in the interaction menu only works in free roam, not during missions or heists.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

A frequent misconception is that you can fully re-edit your character’s face at any time. This is false. The “Face� sliders in the interaction menu are a very limited subset of the original creation tools. Many players also expect to change gender, which the game does not allow. Another common problem is that the appearance menu can be glitchy, sometimes not saving changes or displaying the wrong hairstyle. If this happens, exiting the menu and re-entering it, or switching sessions, usually resolves the issue.

Costs and Alternatives

Changing your hairstyle, makeup, or facial hair costs a small amount of in-game money (GTA$). Clothing and tattoos also cost money, with prices varying by item. There is no free way to change your appearance beyond the initial creation. The only alternative to get a completely different character is to delete your current one and create a new character from scratch. This will reset your rank, money, and properties, though you will keep your banked cash if it is in the Maze Bank account. This is a drastic step and should only be done if you are truly unhappy with your character’s core appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my character’s gender in GTA Online?

No. Gender is locked at character creation. You cannot change it later without deleting your character and starting over.

How do I change my character’s hairstyle?

Go to any barber shop (haircut icon on the map) or open the Interaction Menu > Style > Appearance > Hair. You can pick a new style and color for a small fee.

Why can’t I change my character’s face completely?

The game only offers a limited set of facial sliders in the Interaction Menu. The full creation editor is only available when you first make the character. Rockstar has not provided a full re-edit option.

Does changing my appearance cost real money?

No, all appearance changes are paid for with in-game GTA$ currency, which you earn by playing the game. You do not need to spend real money.

If I delete my character, do I lose everything?

Yes, you lose your rank, properties, vehicles, and any money you are carrying. However, money in your bank account is shared across characters and will remain.

Related

• Is Ocarina of Time Still Worth Playing?
• 7z Password Recovery Online: Does It Work?
• How to Root Sony Xperia T3: Full Guide