Geisha hairstyles

[Loviatar]

I've been re-reading some of my favourite books - Mineko Iwasaki's Geisha of Gion, Liza Dalby's Geisha, Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha - and I was wondering if there was a way to manage geisha/geiko hairstyles without resorting to the method used in the books.

In the books they use camellia oil all over the hair and a bar of wax which was melted into/onto the hair (eek) with a hot iron (double eek). Obviously I dont want to do this. In Liza's book (she is the only American woman to have become a geisha) also they use wigs and rats instead of using her real hair. I'm not talking about Chinese buns as done on LHC, I mean real momoware (split-peach) hairstyles and the like.

I just love the huge pompadours filled with blossoms and ornaments that you see in pictures of geisha and I was wondering if anyone had any tips for making those styles. I guess it might not be possible for a non-Asian-haired finey like me, but I can hope :)

[Pegasus Marsters]

If you google you can find pages about the geisha hair styles.

But be warned, those gorgeous ornaments they wear in their hair can be insanely expensive.

[Loviatar]

I've done a bit of googling Pegs, but I cant seem to find useful 'non-damaging' advice, IYSWIM. I dont want to coat my hair in icky spray and wax, but I dont think aloe gel alone would hold that kind of style.

(I dont know why I'm fussing, my hair isnt even long enough for a chinese bun yet.) :lol:

[mira-chan]

I've done somewhat similar styles for fun but then my hair is coarse. With finer hair you'd need to use rats/forms to have any semblance of the momoware style. To keep the hairs together, just oil the hair well. The wax was used to keep the style for a week and I don't think you'd want yours to last that long.

[Isilme]

hat about doing a good old sock bun with a bright red sock and then separate the hair so you can see the red? You can then add ornaments, and you could even do a little puff on the top of your head to add some height.

[Akiko]

You would like to do it yourself? That is difficult. I think your hair type is fine. But we need a trained hairdresser specialized in traditional Japanese hairstyles.

This is how OFUKU (http://www6.ocn.ne.jp/~yamato93/yuikata/index.html) (hairstyle worn by Maiko after 2-3 yrs of apperentice) is done.

It is extremely complex and actually needs 4 hands to complete the updo.

All the women in my family (except myself:nono:) wore Takashimada (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Traditional_japanese_wedding_hairstyle.jpg) for wedding. That's a nice picture from the back on Wiki. You can really see how it's sectioned and held by hair sticks.

I did lots of google search on how to do Japanese traditional styles myself before. This is the site (http://star.ap.teacup.com/danceandwa/144.html) I found. It's not authentic, but has a look to it. It's all in Japanese, though. Maybe I can help...

[mira-chan]

A lady in my dance group does the hairstyles herself with lots of hairspray. So it can be done but takes lots of practice.

[kwaniesiam]

Nothing constructive to add but those styles are gorgeous! I think I'd need about 10x more hair to even THINK about pulling that off :bigeyes:

[Celticfreefall]

Here's my tutorial (http://celticfreefall.livejournal.com/151634.html) of my version of faking a momoware on my blog. Complete with pictures, descriptions, and the tutorial that I cannibalized for my cosplay. I don't use the wax, personally, but it can be purchased here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=260245562638) through the e-bay seller Hannari-Ya. There is also a ton of information available through the forum Immortal Geisha (http://www.immortalgeisha.com/ig_bb/index.php); for maiko, kimono and geisha enthusiasts.

[Akiko]

O! It does look like momoware! Great job, celticfreefall.

[Alia]

Don't forget the part in Memoirs where Mineko and some geisha friends went to get the bald spots on the tops of their heads removed, because the constant pulling of those ornate styles had pulled out their hair over the years. :eek:

[Celticfreefall]

Back in the day the white shiro-nuri makeup they used also contained lead, so the skin on their face would turn a sallow yellow color. Eurgh.


O! It does look like momoware! Great job, celticfreefall.

Thanks! It would look better if I had longer hair (less pulling and more to poof and work with), but I'm working on it, lol.

[Akiko]

I think it would be a little easier when hair about shoulder length.
One of my grandmas used to wear Maru Mage a lot. I just saw this YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxUY5g7fkZo&feature=related) video. A professional hairstylist (TOKOYAMA) does updos on a wig. Amazing! Steaming iron.... arrr.. Marumage is shown around 6:30 in the video.

[RetroKitten]

It's always interesting to see how many people here share my interests. I have been addicted to the flower and willow world for some years now, it's hard for me though to gain all the expertise that is related to it. A source you might want to check out is http://www.immortalgeisha.com - especially their forum!

*loves this thread*

[sahiba]

Celticfreefall, your tutorial is so impressive. Really cool :bowtome:

[Celticfreefall]

I think it would be a little easier when hair about shoulder length.
One of my grandmas used to wear Maru Mage a lot. I just saw this YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxUY5g7fkZo&feature=related) video. A professional hairstylist (TOKOYAMA) does updos on a wig. Amazing! Steaming iron.... arrr.. Marumage is shown around 6:30 in the video.

At shoulder length the side lengths are just barely long enough to reach to the bun section in order to be tied in, so, a little longer than shoulder length would probably make it easier to tie down without messing up or collapsing the sides. Your grandmother must have been a pro! I wish they had more tutorials on how to do more styles like marumage yourself, since, I'd love to learn how to do some different styles to wear with my kimono. Most people just go to a stylist and have the stylist do it for them nowadays, though, a lot of women had their hair done by stylists in the old days as well.


Celticfreefall, your tutorial is so impressive. Really cool

Thanks!

[Akiko]

Your grandmother must have been a pro!

Oh, my grandma just went to a salon. Sorry, I was not clear. I do not know anyone who does nihongami herself. Those are something we just go to a stylist. I don't know whether it is possible to make BIN (sides) in perfect shape without help from a professional. It's so delicate.

[Linda K]

Here's my tutorial (http://celticfreefall.livejournal.com/151634.html) of my version of faking a momoware on my blog. Complete with pictures, descriptions, and the tutorial that I cannibalized for my cosplay. I don't use the wax, personally, but it can be purchased here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=260245562638) through the e-bay seller Hannari-Ya. There is also a ton of information available through the forum Immortal Geisha (http://www.immortalgeisha.com/ig_bb/index.php); for maiko, kimono and geisha enthusiasts.

OMGosh! That's incredible! I think my arms would fall off before I got half way thru! I've always like the Geisha hair styles (remind me a little of the Gibson - Day Dreamer). I had no clue they were so intricate! Thank you for sharing! :bowtome:
The shoes! I'd break another ankle with those!:D

[Buddaphlyy]

Here's my tutorial (http://celticfreefall.livejournal.com/151634.html) of my version of faking a momoware on my blog. Complete with pictures, descriptions, and the tutorial that I cannibalized for my cosplay. I don't use the wax, personally, but it can be purchased here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=260245562638) through the e-bay seller Hannari-Ya. There is also a ton of information available through the forum Immortal Geisha (http://www.immortalgeisha.com/ig_bb/index.php); for maiko, kimono and geisha enthusiasts.


Your tutorial was great. I think I will just settle for collecting some of the hair ornaments though. My hairs would be dead after trying that styke with my hair.

I also like the IG site.