🇯🇵 Hairstyles of Japan
14 hairstyles from Japan, best known first.
Nihongami refers to traditional Japanese hairstyles distinguished by their complex construction and social significance. Historically worn by women across various classes, these styles now persist primarily within the geisha, maiko, and sumo communities. The craft relies on specific techniques, wax, and handmade combs to maintain elaborate shapes.
- Nihongami uses wax and handmade combs to create distinctive winged topknots.
- Maiko change their hairstyle five times throughout their apprenticeship.
- Geisha wear pre-styled wigs to avoid weekly restyling of natural hair.
- Historical styles varied by age, class, and occupation in Edo period Japan.
- Only five traditional hairstylists serviced Kyoto's geisha community in 2004.
Hair in Japan
Nihongami describes a collection of traditional Japanese hairstyles noted for their intricate structure and role in society. Most designs feature two side wings curving upward to form a topknot, with a long hair loop hanging below. These looks were shaped using wax and specialized combs, often requiring special pillows for sleep. Styles varied significantly based on gender, age, occupation, and social rank. While once common among all women, today they are mostly seen on maiko, geisha, and sumo wrestlers. Some styles are also recreated in kabuki theatre or by historical re-enactors. The craft involves dividing hair into five sections, styling them with boxwood or bamboo tools, and securing them with extensions and wire cords.
History
Early seventh-century noblewomen adopted Chinese-inspired high, boxy styles called keppatsu. By the Heian period, around 794, Japan shifted toward long, loose hair known as suberakashi. During the Edo period, fashion moved toward elaborate upswept styles originating from courtesans and actors. These trends spread to merchants' wives and became widespread. Many distinct styles developed during this era, reflecting social class and age. Traditional hairstylists, almost exclusively women until the 1970s, maintained these practices. Post-World War II changes led to the adoption of wigs by geisha, altering maintenance routines and stylistic details for both geisha and maiko.
Styles
Most nihongami follow a standard construction method involving five hair sections: fringe, side wings, topknot, nape loop, and back volume. Stylists use heated tongs, bamboo or boxwood combs, and wax to shape the hair. Extensions made from yak hair add support, secured by wire cords. Accessories like kanzashi decorate the final look. Specific styles include the shimada, worn by teenagers and brides, and the wareshinobu, used by junior maiko. Senior maiko wear variations like ofuku and sakkō before graduation. Geisha typically wear shimada-style wigs, while oiran historically wore highly elaborate versions. Each style conveys specific information about the wearer's status, age, and occasion through subtle differences in shape and accessories.
Faith and meaning
Hairstyles served as clear markers of social standing, age, and profession in historical Japan. Women used specific looks to signal their marital status, class, and role within the community. For instance, newly married women wore sakkō, while young girls wore momoware. In the entertainment world, maiko changed their hairstyle five times during apprenticeship to mark progress. The complexity and cost of accessories reflected wealth and position. Today, these styles retain cultural weight within the geisha and maiko traditions, preserving historical identity. Sumo wrestlers also adopt specific nihongami styles, linking them to traditional rituals and hierarchy. The careful maintenance required underscores the discipline and dedication expected of those who wear them.
Today
Traditional nihongami are rarely worn outside specific professional contexts. Maiko, geisha, and sumo wrestlers remain the primary bearers of these styles. Re-enactors and kabuki performers also reproduce historical looks faithfully. Very few traditional hairstylists practice the craft today, with only a handful serving Kyoto's geisha district. Craftsmen still make the necessary bamboo and boxwood combs by hand, though numbers have dwindled significantly since the mid-nineteenth century. Wigs allow geisha to reduce restyling frequency compared to historical norms. Some styles have fallen into obscurity due to lack of documentation. Modern practitioners work to preserve techniques that might otherwise be lost.
The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Nihongami", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. EveryHairstyle rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
Hair places in Japan
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