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AN ANALYSIS OF AZULA’S HAIR, A THREAD:
so, in the majority of azula’s appearances, she has her hair up in an elegant topknot- a fire nation style that usually signifies someone of higher class, especially royalty.
even as a kyoshi warrior, azula still keeps her signature topknot.
in addition to representing a high status in the fire nation, the topknot also represents someone’s personal honor. in most of azula’s appearances, she is doing remarkably well- rather that being conquering ba sing se or just kicking ass in general
the first time we see azula with a different style is on ember island where she was, in a way, undercover. she wants to see what her life would be like if she didn’t have her honor
however, azula is azula, so she still has part of her hair up to show her higher status (featuring ty lee having a massive gay moment)
but then ... things start going downhill for azula. she realizes that she was nothing more to her father than a soldier, a pawn. she realizes that the fire nation is losing the war. her honor is damaged unlike never before.
with her honor damaged, she puts down her hair. her father does not love her. she is not going to rule the world.
her hair only gets in the way now, and she does what she knows best: she destroys it. she cuts her hair, damaging her honor even further.
to anyone in the fire nation, azula’s journey towards her downfall is noticeable- which is how zuko noticed that something was up with her so quickly.
think about it this way: zuko’s hair starts off mostly gone after he lost the agni kai (a way to signify humiliation). at the end of the show, his hair has grown back. he has his honor again, he found it. but for his sister? the exact opposite. azula’s pride and honor are gone.
