Most male Goliaths are bald, while female Goliaths typically have dark hair that they braid to great lengths. This distinction has been consistent across multiple editions of Dungeons & Dragons, though the level of detail in official sourcebooks has shifted over time.
Male vs. Female Goliath Hair
The clearest description of Goliath hair comes from the 3.5 edition sourcebook Races of Stone, published in 2004. It states that female Goliaths have dark hair on their heads, grown to great length and always kept braided, while male Goliaths generally have hair only on their limbs. This means males aren’t completely hairless, but they are bald on top. The Forgotten Realms Wiki reflects this same split, listing female hair color as “dark” and male hairstyle simply as “bald.”
This carries forward into 4th edition, where the description is nearly identical: male Goliaths are bald, females grow long hair (usually brown) and braid it extensively. So if you’re building a male Goliath character, the traditional look is a smooth, hairless head. A female Goliath, on the other hand, would typically sport elaborate braids.
What 5th Edition Actually Says
Here’s where things get a bit ambiguous. The 5th edition sources, including the Elemental Evil Player’s Companion and Volo’s Guide to Monsters, don’t specify eye color, hair color, or skin color for Goliaths at all. The physical description is intentionally sparse. This has led to some confusion in the community, since older lore gave very specific details while the current rules leave it open.
The 2024 revised Player’s Handbook doesn’t add much either. It describes Goliaths as Medium-sized creatures standing about 7 to 8 feet tall and focuses on their Giant Ancestry traits rather than their appearance. The lack of explicit hair guidance in modern rules means you’re free to interpret your Goliath’s look however you want, though the older lore (bald males, braided females) remains the most commonly referenced baseline at most tables.
Why Goliaths Don’t Need Much Hair
Goliaths evolved in high mountain environments where temperatures drop well below freezing. Rather than relying on body hair or fur for insulation, they developed thick, tough skin inherited from their giant ancestors. This skin tends toward gray and blue tones and provides natural cold resistance, making a coat of hair unnecessary. Their lack of hair also helps with heat regulation during the physical exertion of mountain life, since heavy hair would trap heat during climbing and hunting.
Their skin also features lithoderms, which are hard, bony growths that appear across the body, particularly on the brow, shoulders, and forearms. These growths resemble small patches of stone and add another layer of protection. Combined with their thick skin, lithoderms give Goliaths a rugged, almost mineral appearance that sets them apart from other humanoid races.
The Grog Strongjaw Exception
If you’ve watched Critical Role, you might remember Grog Strongjaw, a Goliath barbarian, sporting a beard. This wasn’t a lore contradiction. Grog wore the Belt of Dwarvenkind, a magical item that gives its wearer a 50% chance each day at dawn of growing a full beard. The party bought it from Gilmore’s Glorious Goods specifically because Grog wanted one. It’s a fun example of how magic can override a species’ natural traits, but it’s the exception that proves the rule: without magical intervention, male Goliaths don’t grow facial hair.
Building Your Goliath’s Look
If you’re creating a Goliath character and want to stick with established lore, a bald male with body hair limited to the limbs is the standard. For a female Goliath, long dark braids are the tradition. But since 5th edition deliberately leaves physical details open, your DM and table may be perfectly fine with a Goliath who breaks the mold. A male Goliath with a shaved-down mohawk or a female Goliath who keeps her head bare could both work as personal style choices within the flexibility the current rules allow.
Skin tone is similarly flexible in 5e, though older lore and most official artwork lean toward gray, with some variation toward blue or brown depending on the Goliath’s particular giant ancestry. Dark markings on the skin, which Goliaths believe are tied to fate and destiny, are a more defining visual feature than hair for this species.