Free (or Cheap) Mesh Heads and Bodies
Starting out in Second Life can be a daunting task. You select an avatar to get you started, and you're like, "Hey, this girl with the chihuahua doesn't look half bad, with a few tweaks she'll be perfect!" So you choose her and plop down on Newb Island. Someone IMs you. You mess around with the camera, walk a few stumbling steps, and you finally find them. And they look soooooo much better than chihuahua-girl. And you're like, "what the actual fuck? How? Where was that option? What is going on here?"
Altamura
Clodet, Emanuelle, Estephania, Jenny, Kim, and Valentina
*Heads included
Price: Free
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: No
Restrictions: Cannot change the skin. Cannot detach or hide the head. Cannot hide or detach the body. Cannot change the head shape.
Other: Each body is at a different freebie location. Which body is where changes periodically. The current locations are listed in the gift room at the Altamura store. The heads were hide-able on older versions of some of these bodies, that is not the case with the versions available today.
Taxi: Altamura Store
Andrea
*Head included
Price: Group Gift, 100L Group Join
Omega: Available
Bento: No
BOM: Available: Purchase the Omega relay and Altamura's free BOM relay, follow instructions given with the BOM relay
Restrictions: Cannot detach or hide the head. Cannot hide or detach the body. Cannot change the head shape.
Taxi: Altamura Store
eBody
Classic or Curvy
Price: Free (Vendor needs 1L, which is immediately refunded)
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Available: Purchase eBody's BOM relay (Vendor needs 1L, which is immediately refunded)
Restrictions: Most of the HUD is locked out. Large alphas and feet positions are available.
Other: In addition to the eBody store, these are located at prominent freebie stores
Taxi: eBody Store
Dream
Naomi or Jennifer
Price: Normally full price, but they also show up on Dream's Midnight Madness board. A 50L group join fee is needed to slap the board.
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other:
Taxi: Dream Store
Kalhene
Aridana
Was recently available for free, but has been removed due to a DMCA complaint.
LucyBody
Atenea
Price: Free on Midnight Madness board, Free group needed to slap the board
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Available: Purchase LucyBody's BOM relay, 197L
Other: Maitreya clothes fit well. This won't be free forever (or maybe it will, it's still there).
Taxi: LucyBody Store
The Shops
Classic
Price: 1L with Free Group (the sign says Free, but takes 1L without a refund)
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Media needs to be enabled in your viewer in order to use all options in the HUD. Since it's an updated version of the old TMP body, those clothes fit this body.
Taxi: The Shops Classic Store
Ultra Vixen
Ultra Vixen II
*Optional head included
Price: Free
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: No
Restrictions: Only one skin, Unclear if the full version has alphas or not, this version doesn't have any
Other: The only clothes that will fit are Ultra Vixen II clothes, and those are not in wide supply. Only high feet. This is intended as a teaching body, at least that's what it feels like.
Taxi: Ultra Vixen Store
Viva
Viva
*Optional head included
Price: Free
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: No
Other: This is a new body with little creator support, demo clothes before purchase to check fits.
MP: Viva Level 3 Body
My Write-Up
Ruth 2.0
*Optional head included
This body is different than the others. It is a free and open-source full-perm body. Numerous creators make versions of the body available. Two of note are Heavy Industries (free) and Sweet's (2L for head and body) both are Bento & BOM. No Omega.
Taxi: Heavy Industries Store
MP: Sweet's Body
MP: Sweet's Head
Github
Altamura
Aaron, Max (2 versions), Robert, or Tommy
*Heads included
Price: Free
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: No
Restrictions: Cannot change the skin. Cannot detach or hide the head. Cannot hide or detach the body. Cannot change the head shape.
Other: Each body is at a different freebie location. Which body is where changes periodically. The current locations are listed in the gift room at the Altamura store. The heads were hide-able on older versions of some of these bodies, that is not the case with the versions available today.
Taxi: Altamura Store
Altamura
Maya
Price: Free
Omega: No
Bento: No
BOM: No
Restrictions: Cannot change the head shape. Parts of the HUD are disabled.
Other:
Taxi: Altamura Store
In addition, Altamura has given out heads as hunt and advent gifts in the past.
Dream
Ciara
Price: Free at The Free Dove (99L at the Dream Store or Marketplace)
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Only has a basic animation HUD, it pretty much requires BOM/system items if you want makeup, hairbases, tattoos, etc.
Taxi: The Free Dove
Genesis Labs
Eva
Price: 20L with 99L group join
Omega: Available
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other:
Taxi: Genesis Labs Store
Formerly Kenna, Lara, and Makena were group gifts, they aren't on the group wall anymore.
Genus
Safybelle
Jessy
Price: Requires you to play a game, once you acquire enough points in the game you can trade the points for the head, Free group required to play the game
Omega: Available
Bento: Yes
BOM: No
Other:
Taxi: Safybelle Store
Akeruka
Akeruka periodically gives out gift heads to group members. If you see a free group join get in on it.
Altamura
Akakor
Price: Group Gift, 100L Group Join
Omega: Available
Bento: Yes
BOM: Omega needed, and free BOM relay
Other:
Taxi: Altamura Store
Alantori
Marco
Price: Group Gift, 50L Group Join
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Only has a basic animation HUD, it pretty much requires BOM/system items if you want makeup, hairbases, tattoos, etc.
Taxi: Alantori Store
Catwa
Freya is no longer available for free.
===
Changes:
It's called: mesh. They've hidden chihuahua-girl and completely replaced her with a different body. For better and worse, these bodies are the SL standard now. Most people use them exclusively. There's still some folks that stay in a system body for whatever reasons, and that's fine, it's SL do what you want. But most of us have gravitated to the newer stuffs. This newer stuffs can cost a bit of Lindens though. Roughly 2500L for a body and 5000L for a head. Some places are more, some less. Shop around, demo everything, save your cash and buy what you like.
To buy some time, until you figure out what you like, or have the cash, or ready to buy something there's some free or cheap ways to get by. And do take your time. Don't buy the first thing you see, there's tons of options out there, do some research and try them all. Demo everything. DEMO DEMO DEMO. There's seriously no rush.
So, here goes. Here's a bunch of free or cheap options for heads and bodies. For males and females. I'll update this as things change, because they do. Pretty frequently.
First, though, we need to get some of the terminology down:
- System Avatar: The avatar you start out with, chihuahua-girl is one example. Everything about this is also called system. System clothes, system head, system body, system hair, etc.
- Mesh: 3D objects imported into Second Life. On an avatar they can serve as body parts, clothes, accessories. It's pretty much anything that doesn't come with SL by default.
- Bento: The most recent SL skeleton, all of your body parts will be attached to this, and will animate you. Thing is, the system avatar doesn't have access to the newer parts of the skeleton, like fingers. Those are only accessible by the mesh bodies and heads.
- Appliers: Used on mesh parts to change its texture, so things like skin, tattoos, makeup, etc. Necessary since these parts (originally, more on this further down the page) don't have access to the system layers. Your mesh product will usually have it's own unique applier system.
- Omega: Most popular universal applier, the product will apply to any mesh item so long as you have the relay (the thing that does the applying) for your mesh item. Always buy the relay from the in-world Omega store rather than the marketplace or affiliate vendor, 'cause the in-world store is cheaper.
- Bakes on Mesh (aka BOM): Mesh heads and bodies with this can use system layers instead of appliers. The advantage is less textures your viewer has to load, which should reduce lag (different creators have embraced this differently, so your mileage may vary). Also you don't have to fumble around with HUDs until the damn thing applies, just add from your inventory.
And now, the stuff:
Example Store
Example Body or Bodies
Price: How much
Omega: No: Omega is not available
Available: Once the relay is purchased Omega is usable
Included: No need to buy the relay, you can use Omega out of the box
Bento: No: Not bento
Yes: Is bento
BOM: No: Body does not have BOM
Available: You need to do something in order to use BOM, a description of what needs to be done will be given.
Yes: You can use BOM out of the box. Sometimes you may need to press a button in the HUD though.
Restrictions: If the item has a paid version important differences are listed here
Other: Info that may be useful
Taxi: Link to the store
Example Store
Example Body or Bodies
Price: How much
Omega: No: Omega is not available
Available: Once the relay is purchased Omega is usable
Included: No need to buy the relay, you can use Omega out of the box
Bento: No: Not bento
Yes: Is bento
BOM: No: Body does not have BOM
Available: You need to do something in order to use BOM, a description of what needs to be done will be given.
Yes: You can use BOM out of the box. Sometimes you may need to press a button in the HUD though.
Restrictions: If the item has a paid version important differences are listed here
Other: Info that may be useful
Taxi: Link to the store
Female Bodies
Altamura
Clodet, Emanuelle, Estephania, Jenny, Kim, and Valentina
*Heads included
Price: Free
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: No
Restrictions: Cannot change the skin. Cannot detach or hide the head. Cannot hide or detach the body. Cannot change the head shape.
Other: Each body is at a different freebie location. Which body is where changes periodically. The current locations are listed in the gift room at the Altamura store. The heads were hide-able on older versions of some of these bodies, that is not the case with the versions available today.
Taxi: Altamura Store
Andrea
*Head included
Price: Group Gift, 100L Group Join
Omega: Available
Bento: No
BOM: Available: Purchase the Omega relay and Altamura's free BOM relay, follow instructions given with the BOM relay
Restrictions: Cannot detach or hide the head. Cannot hide or detach the body. Cannot change the head shape.
Taxi: Altamura Store
eBody
Classic or Curvy
Price: Free (Vendor needs 1L, which is immediately refunded)
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Available: Purchase eBody's BOM relay (Vendor needs 1L, which is immediately refunded)
Restrictions: Most of the HUD is locked out. Large alphas and feet positions are available.
Other: In addition to the eBody store, these are located at prominent freebie stores
Taxi: eBody Store
Dream
Naomi or Jennifer
Price: Normally full price, but they also show up on Dream's Midnight Madness board. A 50L group join fee is needed to slap the board.
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other:
Taxi: Dream Store
Kalhene
Aridana
Was recently available for free, but has been removed due to a DMCA complaint.
LucyBody
Atenea
Price: Free on Midnight Madness board, Free group needed to slap the board
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Available: Purchase LucyBody's BOM relay, 197L
Other: Maitreya clothes fit well. This won't be free forever (or maybe it will, it's still there).
Taxi: LucyBody Store
The Shops
Classic
Price: 1L with Free Group (the sign says Free, but takes 1L without a refund)
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Media needs to be enabled in your viewer in order to use all options in the HUD. Since it's an updated version of the old TMP body, those clothes fit this body.
Taxi: The Shops Classic Store
Ultra Vixen
Ultra Vixen II
*Optional head included
Price: Free
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: No
Restrictions: Only one skin, Unclear if the full version has alphas or not, this version doesn't have any
Other: The only clothes that will fit are Ultra Vixen II clothes, and those are not in wide supply. Only high feet. This is intended as a teaching body, at least that's what it feels like.
Taxi: Ultra Vixen Store
Viva
Viva
*Optional head included
Price: Free
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: No
Other: This is a new body with little creator support, demo clothes before purchase to check fits.
MP: Viva Level 3 Body
My Write-Up
Ruth 2.0
*Optional head included
This body is different than the others. It is a free and open-source full-perm body. Numerous creators make versions of the body available. Two of note are Heavy Industries (free) and Sweet's (2L for head and body) both are Bento & BOM. No Omega.
Taxi: Heavy Industries Store
MP: Sweet's Body
MP: Sweet's Head
Github
Male Bodies
Altamura
Aaron, Max (2 versions), Robert, or Tommy
*Heads included
Price: Free
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: No
Restrictions: Cannot change the skin. Cannot detach or hide the head. Cannot hide or detach the body. Cannot change the head shape.
Other: Each body is at a different freebie location. Which body is where changes periodically. The current locations are listed in the gift room at the Altamura store. The heads were hide-able on older versions of some of these bodies, that is not the case with the versions available today.
Taxi: Altamura Store
Stay With Me, a recent Teleport Hub gift, is no longer available.
Alantori
David or Rick
Price: Normally full price (inexpensive to begin with), but they also show up on Alantori's Midnight Madness board. A 50L group join fee is needed to slap the board.
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other:
Taxi: Alantori Store
The Shops
Classic
Price: 1L with Free Group (the sign says Free, but takes 1L without a refund)
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Media needs to be enabled in your viewer in order to use all options in the HUD. Since it's an updated version of the old TMP body, those clothes fit this body.
Taxi: The Shops Classic Store
Roth 2.0
*Optional head included
This body is different than the others. It is a free and open-source full-perm body. Numerous creators make versions of the body available. Two of note are Heavy Industries (free) and Sweet's (1L for head and body) both are Bento & BOM. No Omega.
Taxi: Heavy Industries Store
MP: Sweet's Body
MP: Sweet's Head
Github
Alantori
David or Rick
Price: Normally full price (inexpensive to begin with), but they also show up on Alantori's Midnight Madness board. A 50L group join fee is needed to slap the board.
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other:
Taxi: Alantori Store
The Shops
Classic
Price: 1L with Free Group (the sign says Free, but takes 1L without a refund)
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Media needs to be enabled in your viewer in order to use all options in the HUD. Since it's an updated version of the old TMP body, those clothes fit this body.
Taxi: The Shops Classic Store
Roth 2.0
*Optional head included
This body is different than the others. It is a free and open-source full-perm body. Numerous creators make versions of the body available. Two of note are Heavy Industries (free) and Sweet's (1L for head and body) both are Bento & BOM. No Omega.
Taxi: Heavy Industries Store
MP: Sweet's Body
MP: Sweet's Head
Github
Female Heads
Akeruka
Advanced W08
Price: 1L with 150L group join
Omega: Available
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Available until Dec 27
Price: 1L with 150L group join
Omega: Available
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Available until Dec 27
Taxi: Akeruka Store
Altamura
Maya
Price: Free
Omega: No
Bento: No
BOM: No
Restrictions: Cannot change the head shape. Parts of the HUD are disabled.
Other:
Taxi: Altamura Store
In addition, Altamura has given out heads as hunt and advent gifts in the past.
Dream
Ciara
Price: Free at The Free Dove (99L at the Dream Store or Marketplace)
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Only has a basic animation HUD, it pretty much requires BOM/system items if you want makeup, hairbases, tattoos, etc.
Taxi: The Free Dove
Genesis Labs
Eva
Price: 20L with 99L group join
Omega: Available
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other:
Taxi: Genesis Labs Store
Formerly Kenna, Lara, and Makena were group gifts, they aren't on the group wall anymore.
Genus
Strong Face Gift 001
Price: Free with Free group join
Omega: Available
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other:
Price: Free with Free group join
Omega: Available
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other:
Taxi: Genus Store
Lelutka
Lilly
Price: 1L (auto-refunds) with Free group join
Omega: Available (Eyes only)
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Part of Evolution line, freebie ends Dec 26th.
Price: 1L (auto-refunds) with Free group join
Omega: Available (Eyes only)
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Part of Evolution line, freebie ends Dec 26th.
Taxi: Leltuka Store
Logo
Chelsea was recently free as part of Logo's anniversary. It is regular price now.
Safybelle
Jessy
Price: Requires you to play a game, once you acquire enough points in the game you can trade the points for the head, Free group required to play the game
Omega: Available
Bento: Yes
BOM: No
Other:
Taxi: Safybelle Store
Male Heads
Akeruka
Akeruka periodically gives out gift heads to group members. If you see a free group join get in on it.
Altamura
Akakor
Price: Group Gift, 100L Group Join
Omega: Available
Bento: Yes
BOM: Omega needed, and free BOM relay
Other:
Taxi: Altamura Store
Alantori
Marco
Price: Group Gift, 50L Group Join
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Only has a basic animation HUD, it pretty much requires BOM/system items if you want makeup, hairbases, tattoos, etc.
Taxi: Alantori Store
Ash Mesh
Davis
Price: Free on Midnight Madness board, 50L group needed to slap the board
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: The free version is no longer available
Taxi: Ash Mesh Store
Davis
Price: Free on Midnight Madness board, 50L group needed to slap the board
Omega: No
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: The free version is no longer available
Taxi: Ash Mesh Store
Lelutka
Alain
Price: 1L (auto-refunds) with Free group join
Omega: Available (Eyes only)
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Part of Evolution line, freebie ends Dec 26th.
Price: 1L (auto-refunds) with Free group join
Omega: Available (Eyes only)
Bento: Yes
BOM: Yes
Other: Part of Evolution line, freebie ends Dec 26th.
Taxi: Leltuka Store
Logo
Chase was recently free as part of Logo's anniversary. It is regular price now.
Unisex Heads
Catwa
Freya is no longer available for free.
===
Changes:
10 Dec: Akeruka Advanced W08 Added
8 Dec: Lelutka Alain & Lilly Added
27 Nov: Logo Chase & Chelsea Removed
19 Nov: Genesis group cost updated
12 Nov: Logo Chase & Chelsea Re-Added
10 Nov: Logo Chase & Chelsea Removed
23 Oct: Logo Chase & Chelsea Added
2 Oct: Ash Davis changed
17 Sep: Altmura Akakor Re-Added
4 Sep: Genesis group cost updated
3 Sep: Genus Strong Face Gift 001 added again
27 Aug: Altamura Stay with Me removed
9 Aug: Ash Davis added
1 Aug: Dream Ciara updated
23 July: Akeruka Limited Edition removed
21 July: Altamura Stay with Me added
10 July: Genus Strong Face Gift 001 removed
3 July: Genus Strong Face Gift 001 added
25 June: Kalhene Ariadna removed
23 June: Genesis Cat Calm removed, Genesis group cost updated
8 June: Kalhene Ariadna added
29 May: Genesis Cat Calm added
Genesis Teen removed
Genesis Kenna, Lara, and Makena removed
25 May: Catwa Freya removed
9 May: Viva added
3 May: Catwa Freya added
27 April: Altamura Akakor removed
Ultra Vixen II added
26 April: Genesis Teen added, Genesis group cost updated
1 Aug: Dream Ciara updated
23 July: Akeruka Limited Edition removed
21 July: Altamura Stay with Me added
10 July: Genus Strong Face Gift 001 removed
3 July: Genus Strong Face Gift 001 added
25 June: Kalhene Ariadna removed
23 June: Genesis Cat Calm removed, Genesis group cost updated
8 June: Kalhene Ariadna added
29 May: Genesis Cat Calm added
Genesis Teen removed
Genesis Kenna, Lara, and Makena removed
25 May: Catwa Freya removed
9 May: Viva added
3 May: Catwa Freya added
27 April: Altamura Akakor removed
Ultra Vixen II added
26 April: Genesis Teen added, Genesis group cost updated
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