Welcome to the wild west, boys and girls. In case you’ve never visited before, you may be surprised to know that Red Dead Redemption 2 is a filthy place, with plenty of opportunities to get your nice shirts turning all kinds of unfortunate colors. Here’s how you can get down and dirty, and also how to wash up, shave, and bathe so you’re not a gross beast.
Taking a Bath and Shaving in Red Dead Redemption 2
In Red Dead Redemption 2, you’ll get dirty through general rough and tumble as you slog through the muck. Getting shot? That’ll get you dirty. Carrying dead animals or bodies? Hope you like bloodstains, because you’re about to get dirty.
Getting run over by a carriage that sends you slamming to the ground? You best believe that’ll get you dirty. It’ll probably also ruin your day, to be honest.
What Happens When You’re Dirty
Funnily enough, being covered in blood and sand tends to attract attention. The more you begin to resemble a transient, the more people will comment on your displeasing appearance, and you’ll even look dirty during cutscenes.
You won’t exactly be winning any influence in this state – your best bet is to clean up your act, literally.
Eventually, your friends AKA family (depending on how you view Miss Grimshaw), will literally pull you over and make you wash up because they will not be able to stand the sight of you, and your stench.
How to Take a Bath in Red Dead Redemption 2
Once the shame has become great enough, you can pay for a bath at hotels. While you’re in the bath, you can choose what to scrub, or you can even opt for a “deluxe” bath where a woman will help you scrub. You can’t beat that kind of service.
Also, running through water will help clean you up a bit, as will washing up in barrels.
How to Shave in Red Dead Redemption 2
Now that you’re squeaky clean, you may want to do something about that mountain of manhair growing atop your chinny chin chin. Head on over to the barber to shave, or access the shaving kit in your camp next to your bed.
The barber has different options on offer, or you can create your own aesthetic by choosing to trim at different lengths. Tame that beard, snazz up that mustache, and rock those mutton chops. Your hair will grow longer over time, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to try a new style.
Keep in mind, you cannot grow hair magically at the barber shop. He can only remove hair, not add it on. So you’re limited to what length your hair is currently at, or could be shaved down to, for styling.
To grow your hair quicker in Red Dead Redemption 2 than what nature allows. you can buy hair tonic from your local general store. This will slightly speed up your hair growth, or so the bottle says… You can never be too sure with those snake oil salesmen.
It’s the turn of the century. The spirit of the 1890s is alive and well. Rock something you could never get away with in 2018.
By now, you’re probably looking like a rugged version of Bradley Cooper (or at worst, Val Kilmer). Complete the ensemble by checking out our guides on how to change your hair and how to change your clothes. Were people capable of becoming Insta-famous in the early 1900s? Because you’ll look so good, you won’t even need a filter.
If you’re hunting for more guides that don’t have to do with your appearance – you heathen, you – odds are, you’ll find it in our extensive Red Dead Redemption 2 wiki. It’s got all of the gunslinging, rootin’ tootin’ shootin’ knowledge you’ll need to avoid ending up another corpse rotting in the sun. Just don’t forget who taught you to look pretty along the way.