If anything is certain about the world of anime, it's that there's no shortage of fan-favorite female characters. From the bounty-hunting underground of Cowboy Bebop to the revenge-driven action of Demon Slayer, the women of anime often prove to be the easiest to root for. However, in a medium populated by characters of all different varieties of hair color, it's surprising that black-haired women are few and far between.
For anime fans, hair color is a defining aspect of how people personally relate to their favorite characters. Furthermore, prospective cosplayers definitely look to character who share physical traits with them to plan their next outfits. It could be worthwhile to take a look at the most iconic black-haired girls in anime, which hopefully will inspire some exciting fanart and cosplay. Spoilers ahead!
10 Asada Shino (Sword Art Online)
Masquerading in-game as the blue-haired sniper Sinon, Asada makes her first appearance in the second season of Sword Art Online. Asada crossing paths with Kirito in the post-apocalyptic video game world of Gun Gale Online, where the two compete against each other in the Bullet of Bullets tournament. Later, the two work together to defeat the mysterious player Death Gun.
In the real world, Asada sports black hair and escapes into her blue-haired persona as a coping mechanism for PTSD following a gun-related incident. After Kirito rescues her from her friend that tries to assault her, she joins him and the other characters in ALfiem Online, taking up the mantle of an archer.
9 Ruby Rose (RWBY)
Ruby is the titular character of the American web series RWBY, known for its Japanese anime-influenced art style. Wielding the Crescent Rose, a hybrid between a scythe and sniper rifle, she is a selfless albeit naive girl who has always dreamed of being a Huntress. As such, she has always remained the moral compass of the show.
Ruby is often seen sporting short black hair, usually paired with a Little Red Riding Rood-inspired outfit. While she has proved herself as a skilled fighter time and time again, her best quality is her consistent ability to inspire hope in others. A character like Ruby was made to be cosplayed as, given her various looks and outfits throughout the years.
8 Nico Robin (One Piece)
When Nico first encounters Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, it's as the vice president of Baroque Works, where she serves under former One Piece antagonist Crocodile. She eventually abandons the Baroque Works and joins the Straw Hat Pirates, serving as their archaeologist.
Often seen sporting a pair of sunglasses or cowboy hat with her iconic black hair, Nico mostly keeps to herself and is the most adult of her crewmates. Her goal is to find the Rio Poneglyph, an artifact which allegedly tells the true history of the world. This ability to read Poneglyphs, however, puts a pretty large bounty on her head.
7 Nezuko Kamado (Demon Slayer)
Nezuko is the younger sister of Tanjiro, the main protagonist of both the manga and anime adaptation of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Originally a human, Nezuko was transformed into a demon following an attack that saw her and her brother as the sole survivors of their family. As a demon, she wears a bamboo muzzle around her neck to keep her controlled.
While she retains most of her appearance, including her black hair, from her human form, the transition to a demon has cost her most of her memories, as well as her ability to speak. All that's left is her instinct to protect Tanjiro, making her a valuable ally for their demon-hunting journey.
6 Hinata Hyuga (Naruto)
Along with her iconic white eyes, the black-haired Hinata grew up as the heiress of the Hyuga clan. However, her failure to succeed in combat against her younger sister Hanabi caused her father to reconsider her promised role. Nevertheless, she encounters Naruto during their training at Konoha's Academy and is inspired by him to become a stronger person.
Hinata and Naruto's relationship becomes a prominent dynamic in The Last: Naruto the Movie. In the film, Naruto rescues Hinata from the capture of Toneri Otsutsuki, who plans to force Hinata to be his wife. Eventually, Naruto and Hinata marry and start a family together.
5 Akame (Akame ga Kill!)
As the titular character of Akame ga Kill!, Akame initially appears as an antagonist to Tatsumi before he joins her clan of assassins, the Night Raid. Akame herself joined the Night Raid to overthrow the Empire, who captured her and her sister Kurome and trained them to become assassins. This betrayal of the Empire by Akame also leads her to become estranged from Kurome.
While her ruthlessness in combat makes her come off as cold, she displays the characteristics of a great teammate. She often cares for the well-being of her fellow Night Raid members, particularly Tatsumi. Her red eyes and black hair are often matching her choice of outfit colors.
4 Momo Yaoyorozu (My Hero Academia)
Momo first appears in the fifth episode of the My Hero Academia anime, coming in first place during an examination in a Quirk Apprehension Test. With the Creation Quirk, Momo is able to create any non-living material out of thin air from her skin. Because this requires her to burn her own fat cells, she consumes large amounts of food.
Sporting her signature spiky black hair, Momo's hero look consists of a red leotard that exposes a lot of skin. This allows for her to be able to summon as many objects as possible from different places on her body. Momo also displays a lot of qualities of a good hero and leader, often acting selflessly and inspiring her classmates.
3 Ryuko Matoi (Kill la Kill)
Ryuko is the main protagonist of Kill la Kill, often seen black-haired with a red stripe. In the series, Ryuko embarks on a quest to find her father's killer, as well as find the other half of her iconic red Scissor Blade, which was her father's murder weapon. Fittingly, Ryuko is often stubborn and determined in her vengeance.
Her search leads Ryuko to Honnoji Academy, a school consisting of students wearing outfits that bestow superpowers onto them, which she enrolls in. The series and particularly Ryuko's character have received widespread critical acclaim, and its fashion-focused narrative are prime inspiration for countless fanart and cosplay.
2 Chi-Chi (Dragon Ball)
Chi-Chi is one of the main female characters of the iconic Dragon Ball franchise. When she first encounters Goku as children, she forces Goku to promise that he will marry her. They later reunite during a martial arts tournament, where Chi-Chi makes him hold up his end of the bargain.
While her initial appearances portrayed her as a tough fighter, their marriage causes her to fulfill the role of a stereotypical housewife. As such, Chi-Chi has become a divisive character to the Dragon Ball fanbase. However, it cannot be denied that her love for Goku has held strong throughout many iterations of the series.
1 Mikasa Ackerman (Attack on Titan)
Initially the quiet childhood friend of Eren Yeager, Mikasa proves herself to anime audiences in the first season of Attack on Titan. Following the supposed death of Eren, Mikasa quickly becomes the true heart-and-soul of the show, donning her iconic red scarf and short, black hair to become a brutal Titan slayer.
Following her family's murder, Mikasa has remained a closed-off and emotionally stunted person. Mikasa is often overly protective of Eren, but she's always able to back that up with her impressive ability on the battlefield, making her not only one of the most iconic black-haired females in all anime, but one of the most iconic anime characters, period.