diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index bd66a96879..ae490c05e7 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -3976,7 +3976,7 @@ void Application::updateMyAvatarLookAtPosition() {
             if (faceAngle < MAXIMUM_FACE_ANGLE) {
                 // Randomly look back and forth between look targets
                 eyeContactTarget target = Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::FixGaze) ?
-                LEFT_EYE : myAvatar->getEyeContactTarget();
+                    LEFT_EYE : myAvatar->getEyeContactTarget();
                 switch (target) {
                     case LEFT_EYE:
                         lookAtSpot = lookingAtHead->getLeftEyePosition();
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyHead.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyHead.cpp
index 793fbb79c4..f02aefec5b 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyHead.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyHead.cpp
@@ -44,17 +44,14 @@ glm::quat MyHead::getCameraOrientation() const {
 void MyHead::simulate(float deltaTime) {
     auto player = DependencyManager::get<recording::Deck>();
     // Only use face trackers when not playing back a recording.
-    if (player->isPlaying()) {
-        Parent::simulate(deltaTime);
-    } else {
-        computeAudioLoudness(deltaTime);
-
+    if (!player->isPlaying()) {
         FaceTracker* faceTracker = qApp->getActiveFaceTracker();
-        _isFaceTrackerConnected = faceTracker && !faceTracker->isMuted();
+        _isFaceTrackerConnected = faceTracker != nullptr && !faceTracker->isMuted();
         if (_isFaceTrackerConnected) {
             _transientBlendshapeCoefficients = faceTracker->getBlendshapeCoefficients();
 
             if (typeid(*faceTracker) == typeid(DdeFaceTracker)) {
+
                 if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::UseAudioForMouth)) {
                     calculateMouthShapes(deltaTime);
 
@@ -71,19 +68,9 @@ void MyHead::simulate(float deltaTime) {
                 }
                 applyEyelidOffset(getFinalOrientationInWorldFrame());
             }
-        } else {
-            computeFaceMovement(deltaTime);
-		}
-
-        auto eyeTracker = DependencyManager::get<EyeTracker>();
-        _isEyeTrackerConnected = eyeTracker && eyeTracker->isTracking();
-        if (_isEyeTrackerConnected) {
-            // TODO? figure out where EyeTracker data harvested. Move it here?
-            _saccade = glm::vec3();
-        } else {
-            computeEyeMovement(deltaTime);
         }
-
+        auto eyeTracker = DependencyManager::get<EyeTracker>();
+        _isEyeTrackerConnected = eyeTracker->isTracking();
     }
-    computeEyePosition();
+    Parent::simulate(deltaTime);
 }
diff --git a/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Head.cpp b/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Head.cpp
index b4b0929c0c..96ecd86ff4 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Head.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Head.cpp
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@
 
 #include "Avatar.h"
 
-const float NORMAL_HZ = 60.0f; // the update rate the constant values were tuned for
-
 using namespace std;
 
 static bool disableEyelidAdjustment { false };
@@ -43,7 +41,9 @@ void Head::reset() {
     _baseYaw = _basePitch = _baseRoll = 0.0f;
 }
 
-void Head::computeAudioLoudness(float deltaTime) {
+void Head::simulate(float deltaTime) {
+    const float NORMAL_HZ = 60.0f; // the update rate the constant values were tuned for
+
     // grab the audio loudness from the owning avatar, if we have one
     float audioLoudness = _owningAvatar ? _owningAvatar->getAudioLoudness() : 0.0f;
 
@@ -58,99 +58,102 @@ void Head::computeAudioLoudness(float deltaTime) {
         _longTermAverageLoudness = glm::mix(_longTermAverageLoudness, _averageLoudness, glm::min(deltaTime / AUDIO_LONG_TERM_AVERAGING_SECS, 1.0f));
     }
 
-    float audioAttackAveragingRate = (10.0f - deltaTime * NORMAL_HZ) / 10.0f; // --> 0.9 at 60 Hz
-    _audioAttack = audioAttackAveragingRate * _audioAttack +
-        (1.0f - audioAttackAveragingRate) * fabs((audioLoudness - _longTermAverageLoudness) - _lastLoudness);
-    _lastLoudness = (audioLoudness - _longTermAverageLoudness);
-}
+    if (!_isFaceTrackerConnected) {
+        if (!_isEyeTrackerConnected) {
+            // Update eye saccades
+            const float AVERAGE_MICROSACCADE_INTERVAL = 1.0f;
+            const float AVERAGE_SACCADE_INTERVAL = 6.0f;
+            const float MICROSACCADE_MAGNITUDE = 0.002f;
+            const float SACCADE_MAGNITUDE = 0.04f;
+            const float NOMINAL_FRAME_RATE = 60.0f;
 
-void Head::computeEyeMovement(float deltaTime) {
-    // Update eye saccades
-    const float AVERAGE_MICROSACCADE_INTERVAL = 1.0f;
-    const float AVERAGE_SACCADE_INTERVAL = 6.0f;
-    const float MICROSACCADE_MAGNITUDE = 0.002f;
-    const float SACCADE_MAGNITUDE = 0.04f;
-    const float NOMINAL_FRAME_RATE = 60.0f;
+            if (randFloat() < deltaTime / AVERAGE_MICROSACCADE_INTERVAL) {
+                _saccadeTarget = MICROSACCADE_MAGNITUDE * randVector();
+            } else if (randFloat() < deltaTime / AVERAGE_SACCADE_INTERVAL) {
+                _saccadeTarget = SACCADE_MAGNITUDE * randVector();
+            }
+            _saccade += (_saccadeTarget - _saccade) * pow(0.5f, NOMINAL_FRAME_RATE * deltaTime);
+        } else {
+            _saccade = glm::vec3();
+        }
 
-    if (randFloat() < deltaTime / AVERAGE_MICROSACCADE_INTERVAL) {
-        _saccadeTarget = MICROSACCADE_MAGNITUDE * randVector();
-    } else if (randFloat() < deltaTime / AVERAGE_SACCADE_INTERVAL) {
-        _saccadeTarget = SACCADE_MAGNITUDE * randVector();
-    }
-    _saccade += (_saccadeTarget - _saccade) * pow(0.5f, NOMINAL_FRAME_RATE * deltaTime);
+        // Detect transition from talking to not; force blink after that and a delay
+        bool forceBlink = false;
+        const float TALKING_LOUDNESS = 100.0f;
+        const float BLINK_AFTER_TALKING = 0.25f;
+        _timeWithoutTalking += deltaTime;
+        if ((_averageLoudness - _longTermAverageLoudness) > TALKING_LOUDNESS) {
+            _timeWithoutTalking = 0.0f;
+        } else if (_timeWithoutTalking - deltaTime < BLINK_AFTER_TALKING && _timeWithoutTalking >= BLINK_AFTER_TALKING) {
+            forceBlink = true;
+        }
 
-    // Detect transition from talking to not; force blink after that and a delay
-    bool forceBlink = false;
-    const float TALKING_LOUDNESS = 100.0f;
-    const float BLINK_AFTER_TALKING = 0.25f;
-    _timeWithoutTalking += deltaTime;
-    if ((_averageLoudness - _longTermAverageLoudness) > TALKING_LOUDNESS) {
-        _timeWithoutTalking = 0.0f;
-    } else if (_timeWithoutTalking - deltaTime < BLINK_AFTER_TALKING && _timeWithoutTalking >= BLINK_AFTER_TALKING) {
-        forceBlink = true;
-    }
+        // Update audio attack data for facial animation (eyebrows and mouth)
+        float audioAttackAveragingRate = (10.0f - deltaTime * NORMAL_HZ) / 10.0f; // --> 0.9 at 60 Hz
+        _audioAttack = audioAttackAveragingRate * _audioAttack +
+            (1.0f - audioAttackAveragingRate) * fabs((audioLoudness - _longTermAverageLoudness) - _lastLoudness);
+        _lastLoudness = (audioLoudness - _longTermAverageLoudness);
 
-    const float BLINK_SPEED = 10.0f;
-    const float BLINK_SPEED_VARIABILITY = 1.0f;
-    const float BLINK_START_VARIABILITY = 0.25f;
-    const float FULLY_OPEN = 0.0f;
-    const float FULLY_CLOSED = 1.0f;
-    if (_leftEyeBlinkVelocity == 0.0f && _rightEyeBlinkVelocity == 0.0f) {
-        // no blinking when brows are raised; blink less with increasing loudness
-        const float BASE_BLINK_RATE = 15.0f / 60.0f;
-        const float ROOT_LOUDNESS_TO_BLINK_INTERVAL = 0.25f;
-        if (forceBlink || (_browAudioLift < EPSILON && shouldDo(glm::max(1.0f, sqrt(fabs(_averageLoudness - _longTermAverageLoudness)) *
-                ROOT_LOUDNESS_TO_BLINK_INTERVAL) / BASE_BLINK_RATE, deltaTime))) {
-            _leftEyeBlinkVelocity = BLINK_SPEED + randFloat() * BLINK_SPEED_VARIABILITY;
-            _rightEyeBlinkVelocity = BLINK_SPEED + randFloat() * BLINK_SPEED_VARIABILITY;
-            if (randFloat() < 0.5f) {
-                _leftEyeBlink = BLINK_START_VARIABILITY;
-            } else {
-                _rightEyeBlink = BLINK_START_VARIABILITY;
+        const float BROW_LIFT_THRESHOLD = 100.0f;
+        if (_audioAttack > BROW_LIFT_THRESHOLD) {
+            _browAudioLift += sqrtf(_audioAttack) * 0.01f;
+        }
+        _browAudioLift = glm::clamp(_browAudioLift *= 0.7f, 0.0f, 1.0f);
+
+        const float BLINK_SPEED = 10.0f;
+        const float BLINK_SPEED_VARIABILITY = 1.0f;
+        const float BLINK_START_VARIABILITY = 0.25f;
+        const float FULLY_OPEN = 0.0f;
+        const float FULLY_CLOSED = 1.0f;
+        if (_leftEyeBlinkVelocity == 0.0f && _rightEyeBlinkVelocity == 0.0f) {
+            // no blinking when brows are raised; blink less with increasing loudness
+            const float BASE_BLINK_RATE = 15.0f / 60.0f;
+            const float ROOT_LOUDNESS_TO_BLINK_INTERVAL = 0.25f;
+            if (forceBlink || (_browAudioLift < EPSILON && shouldDo(glm::max(1.0f, sqrt(fabs(_averageLoudness - _longTermAverageLoudness)) *
+                    ROOT_LOUDNESS_TO_BLINK_INTERVAL) / BASE_BLINK_RATE, deltaTime))) {
+                _leftEyeBlinkVelocity = BLINK_SPEED + randFloat() * BLINK_SPEED_VARIABILITY;
+                _rightEyeBlinkVelocity = BLINK_SPEED + randFloat() * BLINK_SPEED_VARIABILITY;
+                if (randFloat() < 0.5f) {
+                    _leftEyeBlink = BLINK_START_VARIABILITY;
+                } else {
+                    _rightEyeBlink = BLINK_START_VARIABILITY;
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            _leftEyeBlink = glm::clamp(_leftEyeBlink + _leftEyeBlinkVelocity * deltaTime, FULLY_OPEN, FULLY_CLOSED);
+            _rightEyeBlink = glm::clamp(_rightEyeBlink + _rightEyeBlinkVelocity * deltaTime, FULLY_OPEN, FULLY_CLOSED);
+
+            if (_leftEyeBlink == FULLY_CLOSED) {
+                _leftEyeBlinkVelocity = -BLINK_SPEED;
+
+            } else if (_leftEyeBlink == FULLY_OPEN) {
+                _leftEyeBlinkVelocity = 0.0f;
+            }
+            if (_rightEyeBlink == FULLY_CLOSED) {
+                _rightEyeBlinkVelocity = -BLINK_SPEED;
+
+            } else if (_rightEyeBlink == FULLY_OPEN) {
+                _rightEyeBlinkVelocity = 0.0f;
             }
         }
+
+        // use data to update fake Faceshift blendshape coefficients
+        calculateMouthShapes(deltaTime);
+        FaceTracker::updateFakeCoefficients(_leftEyeBlink,
+                                            _rightEyeBlink,
+                                            _browAudioLift,
+                                            _audioJawOpen,
+                                            _mouth2,
+                                            _mouth3,
+                                            _mouth4,
+                                            _transientBlendshapeCoefficients);
+
+        applyEyelidOffset(getOrientation());
+
     } else {
-        _leftEyeBlink = glm::clamp(_leftEyeBlink + _leftEyeBlinkVelocity * deltaTime, FULLY_OPEN, FULLY_CLOSED);
-        _rightEyeBlink = glm::clamp(_rightEyeBlink + _rightEyeBlinkVelocity * deltaTime, FULLY_OPEN, FULLY_CLOSED);
-
-        if (_leftEyeBlink == FULLY_CLOSED) {
-            _leftEyeBlinkVelocity = -BLINK_SPEED;
-
-        } else if (_leftEyeBlink == FULLY_OPEN) {
-            _leftEyeBlinkVelocity = 0.0f;
-        }
-        if (_rightEyeBlink == FULLY_CLOSED) {
-            _rightEyeBlinkVelocity = -BLINK_SPEED;
-
-        } else if (_rightEyeBlink == FULLY_OPEN) {
-            _rightEyeBlinkVelocity = 0.0f;
-        }
+        _saccade = glm::vec3();
     }
 
-    applyEyelidOffset(getOrientation());
-}
-
-void Head::computeFaceMovement(float deltaTime) {
-    // Update audio attack data for facial animation (eyebrows and mouth)
-    const float BROW_LIFT_THRESHOLD = 100.0f;
-    if (_audioAttack > BROW_LIFT_THRESHOLD) {
-        _browAudioLift += sqrtf(_audioAttack) * 0.01f;
-    }
-    _browAudioLift = glm::clamp(_browAudioLift *= 0.7f, 0.0f, 1.0f);
-
-    // use data to update fake Faceshift blendshape coefficients
-    calculateMouthShapes(deltaTime);
-    FaceTracker::updateFakeCoefficients(_leftEyeBlink,
-                                        _rightEyeBlink,
-                                        _browAudioLift,
-                                        _audioJawOpen,
-                                        _mouth2,
-                                        _mouth3,
-                                        _mouth4,
-                                        _transientBlendshapeCoefficients);
-}
-
-void Head::computeEyePosition() {
     _leftEyePosition = _rightEyePosition = getPosition();
     if (_owningAvatar) {
         auto skeletonModel = static_cast<Avatar*>(_owningAvatar)->getSkeletonModel();
@@ -161,13 +164,6 @@ void Head::computeEyePosition() {
     _eyePosition = 0.5f * (_leftEyePosition + _rightEyePosition);
 }
 
-void Head::simulate(float deltaTime) {
-    computeAudioLoudness(deltaTime);
-    computeFaceMovement(deltaTime);
-    computeEyeMovement(deltaTime);
-    computeEyePosition();
-}
-
 void Head::calculateMouthShapes(float deltaTime) {
     const float JAW_OPEN_SCALE = 0.015f;
     const float JAW_OPEN_RATE = 0.9f;
diff --git a/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Head.h b/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Head.h
index 39331500b5..c5902285b9 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Head.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Head.h
@@ -83,11 +83,6 @@ public:
     float getTimeWithoutTalking() const { return _timeWithoutTalking; }
 
 protected:
-    void computeAudioLoudness(float deltaTime);
-    void computeEyeMovement(float deltaTime);
-    void computeFaceMovement(float deltaTime);
-    void computeEyePosition();
-
     // disallow copies of the Head, copy of owning Avatar is disallowed too
     Head(const Head&);
     Head& operator= (const Head&);
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
index 3aa5ab69fa..d82068b8ac 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
@@ -2030,17 +2030,6 @@ void AvatarData::fromJson(const QJsonObject& json, bool useFrameSkeleton) {
         version = JSON_AVATAR_JOINT_ROTATIONS_IN_RELATIVE_FRAME_VERSION;
     }
 
-    // The head setOrientation likes to overwrite the avatar orientation,
-    // so lets do the head first
-    // Most head data is relative to the avatar, and needs no basis correction,
-    // but the lookat vector does need correction
-    if (json.contains(JSON_AVATAR_HEAD)) {
-        if (!_headData) {
-            _headData = new HeadData(this);
-        }
-        _headData->fromJson(json[JSON_AVATAR_HEAD].toObject());
-    }
-
     if (json.contains(JSON_AVATAR_BODY_MODEL)) {
         auto bodyModelURL = json[JSON_AVATAR_BODY_MODEL].toString();
         if (useFrameSkeleton && bodyModelURL != getSkeletonModelURL().toString()) {
@@ -2079,6 +2068,14 @@ void AvatarData::fromJson(const QJsonObject& json, bool useFrameSkeleton) {
         setOrientation(currentBasis->getRotation());
     }
 
+    // Do after avatar orientation because head look-at needs avatar orientation.
+    if (json.contains(JSON_AVATAR_HEAD)) {
+        if (!_headData) {
+            _headData = new HeadData(this);
+        }
+        _headData->fromJson(json[JSON_AVATAR_HEAD].toObject());
+    }
+
     if (json.contains(JSON_AVATAR_SCALE)) {
         setTargetScale((float)json[JSON_AVATAR_SCALE].toDouble());
     }
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/HeadData.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/HeadData.cpp
index 2704b6539c..8ae33a1b4f 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/HeadData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/HeadData.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,13 @@ glm::quat HeadData::getOrientation() const {
     return _owningAvatar->getOrientation() * getRawOrientation();
 }
 
+void HeadData::setHeadOrientation(const glm::quat& orientation) {
+    glm::quat bodyOrientation = _owningAvatar->getOrientation();
+    glm::vec3 eulers = glm::degrees(safeEulerAngles(glm::inverse(bodyOrientation) * orientation));
+    _basePitch = eulers.x;
+    _baseYaw = eulers.y;
+    _baseRoll = eulers.z;
+}
 
 void HeadData::setOrientation(const glm::quat& orientation) {
     // rotate body about vertical axis
@@ -61,10 +68,7 @@ void HeadData::setOrientation(const glm::quat& orientation) {
     _owningAvatar->setOrientation(bodyOrientation);
 
     // the rest goes to the head
-    glm::vec3 eulers = glm::degrees(safeEulerAngles(glm::inverse(bodyOrientation) * orientation));
-    _basePitch = eulers.x;
-    _baseYaw = eulers.y;
-    _baseRoll = eulers.z;
+    setHeadOrientation(orientation);
 }
 
 //Lazily construct a lookup map from the blendshapes
@@ -173,14 +177,14 @@ void HeadData::fromJson(const QJsonObject& json) {
         }
     }
 
-    if (json.contains(JSON_AVATAR_HEAD_ROTATION)) {
-        setOrientation(quatFromJsonValue(json[JSON_AVATAR_HEAD_ROTATION]));
-    }
-
     if (json.contains(JSON_AVATAR_HEAD_LOOKAT)) {
         auto relativeLookAt = vec3FromJsonValue(json[JSON_AVATAR_HEAD_LOOKAT]);
         if (glm::length2(relativeLookAt) > 0.01f) {
             setLookAtPosition((_owningAvatar->getOrientation() * relativeLookAt) + _owningAvatar->getPosition());
         }
     }
+
+    if (json.contains(JSON_AVATAR_HEAD_ROTATION)) {
+        setHeadOrientation(quatFromJsonValue(json[JSON_AVATAR_HEAD_ROTATION]));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/HeadData.h b/libraries/avatars/src/HeadData.h
index be9d54e93e..0bb38c1dad 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/HeadData.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/HeadData.h
@@ -101,6 +101,8 @@ private:
     // privatize copy ctor and assignment operator so copies of this object cannot be made
     HeadData(const HeadData&);
     HeadData& operator= (const HeadData&);
+
+    void setHeadOrientation(const glm::quat& orientation);
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_HeadData_h