Edited: fixed the problem with hairs not showing up in proper color bins. You'd be surprised how forgetting to click one button causes so many headaches. Hopefully, these work for everyone...

I finally did it...

It's been a while, but since I finally found some free time, I remade this mesh so that it has a polycount much much lower than 30,000.

The hair is shorter than the unreleased original to eliminate the issue of hair impaling the neck and chest. Each individual braid swings with any movement of the head. I put the beads on a separate alpha level from the braids in case anyone wants to remove them and have bead-less hair.

This hair is for all ages and has the 4 basic color groups: red, black, brown and blond. The hair is color binned and linked to t's proper eyebrow color (Thanks, Wardrobe Wrangler!)

Child and toddler versions have an additional red bow - also on an alpha layer for those who want to remove it in bodyshop.

And now for the technical information...

Poly Count Info:

Child Braids
Faces: 4319
Vertices 2549

Toddler Braids
Faces: 4301
Vertices: 2534

Teen Braids
Faces: 4055
Vertices: 2421

Adult Braids
Faces: 4055
Vertices: 2421

I consider these to be a bit high, but significantly lower than the original prototype from 2 years ago. Still, if you don't like using things with a high polycount, or have a slower system, you may not want to use this hair mesh, or just use it sparingly. You may not want to host a sim wedding with 20 guests, all with this hairstyle.

Policy:

1. Feel free to upload in sim packages, just provide some credit: a link back to the original, include the readme, or just a shoutout. Whatever works.

2. Feel free to recolor, just give me credit for the mesh.

3. Don't claim credit for my work.

4a. Have any problems with the mesh? Drop me a pm at MTS2 or S2C (under MireilleContesse) and I'll see if I can fix it, time willing. It will be harder to reach me in the fall and spring since I'll be busy with school.

4b. I cannot fix problems with the downloading of these files. That is likely an MTS2 issue - unless they work for no one. Sometimes, the site goes bonkers and you have to wait a while to download a non-corrupted copy of the files. It's happened to me before too. Unfortunately, I cannot personally send a file set to everyone this happens to. It's way too time consuming for someone as lazy as I am

4c. I also won't take requests to re-upload in a number of different file compression formats for the same reason given above. It's just gonna be zip format, folks. That's the one that works for pretty much everyone.

Free. It's a very important word. Do not upload this mesh or these recolors to any pay site in any form. Sites that take 100% voluntary donations (meaning you can still download objects without being required to pay anything) are ok. Seriously. Free only.

Polygon Counts:
MESH_MContesse_cfBraids_2008.package: Faces: 4319 Vertices 2549
MESH_MContesse_puBraids_2008.package: Faces: 4301 Vertices: 2534
MESH_MContesse_tfBraids_2008.package: Faces: 4055 Vertices: 2421
MESH_MContesse_afBraids_2008.package: Faces: 4055 Vertices: 2421

Additional Credits:
Special thanks to the makers of SimPE and all of its wonderful plugins that make the process go so much faster. Additional thanks to the maker of the Wardrobe Wrangler. I wish I knew it existed sooner. More thanks to Wes H for the Milkshape plugins.