Like if I wanted, say, a wig that was like my own hair - red, an almost pixie/undercut hybrid with a longer top and razored sides, small side fringe, messy. There's probably an item out there that fits the bill. But how to find it? Here's where the trouble starts - guessing names on Subeta is like trying crack a safe.

Is it under red, crimson, berry, raspberry, strawberry, cinnamon, ruby, or maybe even sunset? Blood/bloodred? Fire, flame, or fiery?

How has the creator chosen to denote the hairiness and/or style of the item in question? Locks? Cut? Wig? Strands? Pixie? Choppy? Short? Side/undercut? Razored?

So adding this all together, I'm left wondering: is it called Crimson Tomboy Locks? Or is it Messy Ruby Strands? Maybe it's Sidecut of the Sunset Pixie? Half-Eaten Red Velvet Cupcake Strands? Strawberry Candy Undercut? Raspberry-Cherry Milkshake Locks? Cinnamon Locks of the Rebel Kitten Princess? Red Planet Wig?

Or if it's Subeta's Own TM item, the bit telling me it's a hair item is optional. So it could be called something random like Spilled Chili Sauce? Little Dropped Hairclip? Strangely Aromatic Leaf????? We just don't know.

I wish there was a tagging system where I could just put in a keyword such as red or undercut and all the items that matched would come up...

Have you tried SubetaLodge? You may still have to play around with keywords to find what you're looking for, but you at least have access to a large database of items and a relatively simple way to search.

Or use the "all Items on Subeta" Head Layer in the Wardrobe with "list only Custom Wearables"? Might still be A LOT to browse through, but hopefully you will find something you like. :o

Subetalodge is great, I'm just lazy and get distracted easily. :P

... Oh man, I know this feeling and I'm not even that much into avatars. :/

It's not just hair that "suffers" from this. Mind you, I get why it's done (multiple uses - as wearables, TC fodder, gallery collectables etc.), but it can be really annoying if you're looking for something specific that you absolutely know exists. You saw it with your own eyes, but you can't find it on-site for the life of you.

Subetalodge isn't going to do much here. Sorting the wardrobe by colour would be perfect, but that feature is a WIP in the new 3.5 wardrobe.

Oh I know this feeling all too well. And then you add in items like the coupon wigs that give you absolutely no clue what they might look like.

Or sometimes I'm trying to offer suggestions for TCs and I remember an item, but I'm remembering what the overlay looks like, and not the item itself.

For wearables, you can always ask in the HA forums. That can sometimes get you a more limited list of items to look through.