Geisha hairstyles are an ancient art. Girls were recognized by them, and every self-respecting geisha was obliged to be able to create such masterpieces. But times are changing, and geisha hairstyles are becoming history. They were replaced by wigs, which modern geisha now use.
From history
Geisha until the seventeenth century did not combine hair and clothing. Only in the Edo period (1600-1868), under the influence of the culture of Korea and China, did traditional hairstyles develop. They survived almost unchanged to this day. Regulations were defined for the appearance of geisha and their occupation. This was done so that they would not be confused with corrupt women.
The higher the status of a geisha, the more difficult her hairstyle was. The latter was called shimada. The students decorated their heads with satin ribbons and hairpins, although their hairstyles were simple. As a student's status rose, so did her hairstyle. It was customary to decorate these structures with kanzashi flowers and various accessories.
Once a student reached the status of a geisha, she could wear a wig. Moreover, forbeauty wigs were only at first.
How did you do it
The geisha hairstyle was created once every two weeks. But before you start styling, you had to rub your hair with camellia oil. This was done to make them shine. With melted wax and hair pomade, the hairstyle was shaped, and at the same time it was fixed. Remarkably, the wax was scented with floral fragrances, with each scent corresponding to its season.
How to save
If geisha hair was so rare, how did they manage to keep it? Geishas didn't sleep on regular pillows. They were given a takamakura (wooden pillow under the neck) and they slept on it. In order to get used to sleeping like this, the students poured rice around their heads. It was a way to find out if the girl was spinning in her sleep. If there were grains of rice in the hairstyle, then it was redone.
How to make hair for students
How to make a geisha hairstyle? Before you start experimenting with hair, you need to decide what hairstyle you want to do. For example, female students wore misedashi waresinobu. This hairstyle had to be worn for three years.
The bangs were caught in front with a long ribbon and twisted into a bundle. Such a tourniquet should rise above the entire hairstyle.
How to make a geisha hairstyle? You need to collect the hair in a bun at the back of the head and weave a ribbon in the middle. She will separate the bundle. This tape must be secured with a special pin holding it. Silk flowers and kanzashi are usually added to the hairstyle.
How to make a hairstyle olderstudents
In a year or two, the student becomes the eldest. She goes through a certain ceremony and from that moment begins to wear a different hairstyle. It's called a split peach. The hairstyle of a novice geisha is done as follows:
- Hair must be tied up in a knot.
- The bangs are also removed. Thus, the face and neck are completely exposed.
- Wrap a red ribbon around the bun and tie it under the hair.
- The top of the bun is decorated with a hairpin called kanokomode.
- The next step is to wrap the bundle again with red ribbon. But now the knot is tied over the forehead.
How to do the hairstyle that students wear before they become geishas
Hairstyles became more and more elaborate and adorned with many different accessories.
You can make a geisha hairstyle with your own hands, but it is very difficult. European women cannot always repeat what Asians do with ease. Consider ofuku hairstyle. It is notable only for the triangular decoration, which is pierced behind the flattened bun. It is made of fabric in the shape of a triangle with tegars. We can say that a red ribbon is wrapped around the bundle, but with a white pattern, so a triangle is formed below.
How to make a sakko hairstyle
This Japanese geisha hairstyle was created when a student practically became a geisha. First, a hair cutting ceremony is performed. After that, loose hair is carefully combed and laid out in a certain way under the wig. This very wig will be worn by a geisha instead of constructing a hairstyle.
Sakko is different from others. And it lies in the fact that at the back of the head the beam is divided into strands. Decorate it with a comb, ribbon and a special hairpin that will hold the ribbon. If desired, a woman can add a few more decorations. Traditionally, they should be made of tortoise shell, but in the modern world, it is not necessary to follow the traditions. Especially since you are not a geisha.
More detailed instructions
We remember a photo of a geisha's hairstyle with a split peach from school days. She was portrayed in the history books. Above, it was described in general terms how hairstyles look. But so that you can repeat the styling yourself, you need more detailed instructions:
- Before styling your hair, you need to wash your hair well. After all, the geisha's hair always shone and smelled good.
- In the original version, the hair is smeared with badger fat. But since the world has successfully survived the geisha era, you can use wax for styling hair. The hair is lubricated so that the hairstyle keeps its shape better, and is clean and the curls do not crumble.
- When the hair is prepared, you should choose the golden dot. This is where the hairstyle originates from. Geisha traditionally choose this point on the back of the head.
- But it is important to know that the location of the point directly depends on age. The younger the woman, the higher this point will be.
- The hair below the back of the head is combed in such a way that a rounded shape is obtained. It's allcomb up and fix with a hairpin.
- The strands from the temples are also combed up and laid so that they are a continuation of the occipital roundness.
- The bangs are temporarily fixed with a bunch that hangs slightly forward.
- Photos of geisha hairstyles can be viewed endlessly. But even there it is not clear how to do it. This is not visible in the photo, but only the side hairs are fixed in a rounded shape.
- The bulk of the hair is collected in a ponytail, from which a bun is subsequently formed.
- The shape of the bun depends on the style chosen by the woman.
- The beam is divided into two parts and wrapped with a red ribbon.
- The finished hairstyle is decorated with sticks, tortoiseshell combs, flowers.
It is important to know that most often the flowers in the hair are set alive, in extreme cases, silk. Very rarely, but sometimes a small fan is used to decorate the hairstyle.
To keep the flowers well, they are fixed with invisibility. The traditional hairstyle does not accept an abundance of jewelry, so it is important to observe the measure.
Before you make a geisha hairstyle split peach or some other, you need to understand how they differ from each other.
Wareshinobu
This hairstyle is done by beginning students. She is different:
- A strip of red silk tied under the hair around the base of the bun Mostly the youngest students wear this hairstyle.
- Kanokodome hairpin-brooch, which decorates the top bun.
- Another strip of red silk tied aroundthe base of the maemage (bun, collected from the hair directly above the forehead).
- Stud with kanzashi embellishments.
- A wide likeness of a comb, it is decorated with flowers.
Ofuku
After a few performances as a beginner student, the status is upgraded to a senior student.
Accordingly, her hairstyle changes. Now the red silk strip has a white pattern, it is tied around the bundle so that a triangle forms below. The hairstyle has a red silk bow and a kanzashi hairpin, but there are no flowers on it anymore. The tortoiseshell comb is worn only on special occasions, on ordinary days it is replaced with a plastic one.
The older student can remain in her status for several years, which means she will wear the same hairstyle.
Katsuyama
This geisha peach hairstyle is not very similar, but it is not everyday either. They make it on special occasions and wear it for a month. It differs from the rest in that the red silk ribbon is tied with a roller at the back at the base of the bundle. In addition, the comb is attached under the tape, not above it. Another red ribbon is located above the forehead. The kanzashi hairpin is located on the left side above the forehead. Since tortoiseshell combs are worn on special occasions, here it is.
Yakkoshimada
The hairstyle is made only for celebrations and is worn with a strict kimono. It is worn during the New Year, before an apprentice becomes a geisha.
Character styling details: tortoiseshell comb and barrettekanzashi from it. In addition to them, a bun of hair is decorated with coral beads. Red silk ribbons are still present in the hairstyle - above the forehead and around the bun.
Sacco
The hair is done before the initiation ceremony and is worn for two weeks. In historical times, women who just got married also wore this hairstyle.
It is decorated with a tortoise shell comb and tortoiseshell hairpins. Hair for hairstyles was lengthened with special overlays that resemble a modern chignon. Unlike the relatively simple design of previous hairstyles, this bun has a complex shape.
In the modern world, geisha prefer wigs and only on very serious occasions can put their hair in their hair.
Geiko shimada
This styling is usually done at tea ceremonies. It is decorated only with tortoise shell decor.
Miyako-odori yo Chuushimada
This hairstyle is universal, it is worn by both students and already geishas. But this happens only during the dance festival in the Gion Kobu quarter. By the way, hair is being done to perform a common dance of students and geishas.
Hair ornaments are considered to be accessories with flowers and they are not repeated. Each year a different set is made for a new festival.
Look like a geisha
Surely you decided to make a geisha hairstyle in connection with some event. Most likely, this is some kind of performance or carnival. But one hairstyle is not enough. In order for the image to be reliable, you need to know all its subtleties. This will come in handy forreincarnation.
First, you need to do your hair like a geisha. You can go the easy way and buy a wig. But it will be much more interesting to try to reproduce the hairstyle yourself.
Secondly, makeup should also match the image of a geisha. If you do not know how to paint, then use the help of a professional makeup artist. But you can try to apply makeup yourself. It is important to remember that a geisha must look perfect.
First make the base. To do this, mix white powder with water to a paste-like state. The mixture is applied to the neck and face with a wide brush. After application, lightly go over with a sponge to remove excess water. Draw eyebrows with a black pencil, they should be soft, without refractions and bends. Geisha can see a red tint on the eyebrows, so you draw them with a red pencil.
Liquid red eyeliner draw a small arrow from the outside of the eye. Next, over the red eyeliner, draw a black arrow. A black arrow should be drawn all over the eyelid. Inside the eye, paint the mucous membrane with a black pencil. Geisha lips are bright red, so you need to stock up on red lipstick. You can circle your shape, or you can do it the way the geisha did - draw small lips, and mask the remaining space with a white base.
If you repeat everything exactly, then your festive look will be remembered for a long time and everyone will be delighted with it.
Conclusion
You have learned how to make a Japanese geisha hairstyle for a girl or woman. Age notplays a big role, since the hairstyle is done in the same way.
To complete the look, try to buy real or stylized Japanese jewelry. They will give the image completeness and the necessary color. Finding them, of course, is not easy, but you can search in virtual stores.
The image will not be complete if you do not make a geisha makeup. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a child or an adult, but makeup is an indispensable part of the intended image. The more accurately it is made, the more reliable your appearance will be. After all, geisha did everything flawlessly, which was appreciated in them.
Hairstyle is, of course, good, but do not forget about appropriate clothing and behavior. Study this question, and then you can outshine everyone at a party or event. Geishas are a very interesting part of the history of Japan, it is not for nothing that they have remained popular for so many centuries. Who knows, maybe you will get so carried away that then you won’t be able to live without the East. Be curious and learn new things.
