My Favourite Dumbass Padawan Headcanon: a la Obi-Wan Kenobi
I'm so sorry but I firmly headcanon that padawan hairstyles and such are at the discretion of the master (aside from the braid ofc).
I also headcanon that Dooku inflicted that hairstyle on Qui Gon to "teach him a lesson in humility" (and also to tame his mOP SWEET FORCE) and Qui Gon HATED it, which is why he grew his hair out as long as possible and developed an allergy to hairbrushes once he was knighted.
Fully intended to phase it out for his own padawan(s). However;
1. Feemor didn't care or lowkey already styled his hair similarly bc *poor teenage life choices* and Qui Gon kind of cringed but let it happen bc "well, why not".
2. Xanatos took one look at the style, at his beautiful hair, and blatantly refused. He throws it up in a regular ponytail/nerftail/whatever the fuck the alternative is. Qui Gon was indulgent enough to go "yeah, it sucks" and let it go. (You cannot convince me that goddamn Xanatos du Crion allowed Qui Gon to cut his hair like that. You cannot.)
3. He grudgingly takes on Obi-Wan goddamn Kenobi. And, after finally taking a good long look at the kid post-Bandomeer (in temple, clean, all the trauma tucked away where it can jump out and fuck him up later, like a Proper Jedi) and goes oh no bc the kid is cute and charming and polite right up until he shoves a lightsaber up your ass or offers to, you know, die nobly for the Greater Good and all that jazz.
And he promptly adopts that stupid padawan cut out of pure self defense and claims it's tradition for the poor little bastard because he can already forsee the teenage years and he's horrified and praying that the stupid hair cut will ward off the hormones wtf I didn't have to worry about this with karking XANATOS sweet Force I have ever been your humble servant, do me a solid.
(The Force, watching Qui Gon do what he wants for 30+ years with no end in sight: ✨No✨)
Qui Gon, an idiot Dad, panicking bc his son is Growing Into His Cheekbones and this is a cODE RED HELP ME HOW DO I STOP THIS: Tahl, Tahl help what do I do puberty and the Force are working against me
Tahl, margarita in one hand and a contraband holo of the yearly officially unofficial "hottest padawan" rankings that she stole from Bant (who is def her padawan don't @ me) in the other: Obi's winning again this year. Good for him. *loud, obnoxious sip* Get Karked, Qui.
Qui Gon: *wheezing whenever Obi-Wan flirts with the enemy, circa his fifteenth year of life* Padawan sO HELP ME
Obi-Wan, genuinely baffled, hair brushing his cheeks like he's a hero in a holonovel bc he hasn't had time to give af about Stupid Hair Upkeep while on mission: It's a valid strategy!
(Satine, watching him flirt and destroy Death Watch while arguing complex political ideologies with her and promptly deciding that Arguing Was Foreplay: 😘☺️😏)
Qui Gon, about to have a space stroke: GET ME THE CLIPPERS
Qui Gon, mid battle: SCISSORS
Obi-Wan, stumbling: But Master, I-
Qui Gon, cursing the Force as it Laughs At Him: A RUSTY RAZOR AND A PRAYER.
So Obi-Wan gets the stupid padawan cut. Mostly for Qui Gon's blood pressure and illusionary peace of mind.
(Spoiler: it does nothing).
(He cuts Anakin's hair the same after Qui Gon dies bc "it's tradition" even as he grows his own hair/beard back out. It works on everyone Except Padme. Qui Gon weeps in the afterlife).
