❶ Beauty Secrets Of A Geisha Or Maiko

White complexion, eyebrows and eyes covered with black and dark red paint, crimson lips. All of these are characteristic cosmetics - the most recognizable element of the maiko or geisha. However, this was not always the case. Many believe that the geisha's face began to be whitened when Japanese travelers returning from Europe talked about "beautiful white faces." Others argue that the birthplace of this makeup is China, where all the royals painted their faces in this way. Location: Location:

Ladies of the Heian era and women of the time closest to us used one of two means to obtain white skin: rice flour or lead whitewash, which were previously diluted with water. The eyebrows were removed with tweezers, and then broad, false and straight eyebrows were drawn in their place, located high on the forehead. They painted their lips with safflower juice or beniban.

If we compare a geisha with a courtesan in the Hayan era, then they are distinguished by some elements: a geisha's kimono in restrained colors, and a courtesan wore bright clothes. Geisha did simple hairstyles for themselves with minimal use of various decorations, and also applied light makeup. However, the instructions restricting geisha only worked in their favor. Geisha was the epitome of iki - calm chic. At the same time, courtesans using very bright makeup began to assert themselves as unfashionable.

After that, over the years, there have been many changes and geisha, who once looked down on the courtesans, began to do almost the same makeup as theirs. Today it is a distinctive feature of a geisha in a kimono with a special hairstyle.

Maiko hairstyles made with kanzashi (hair ornaments made of silk or light metal, usually decorated with seasonal motifs) are reminiscent of a young age. Kanzashi appeared when many Japanese women instead of straight long hair (taregami) began to do hairstyles (nihongami). Maikos change such jewelry every month. Waving flowers in the wind are the symbol of maiko.

The ofuku hairstyle is used quite often by geisha and maiko, it looks like a split peach and is held together with a triangular silk ribbon. This hairstyle is considered very sexy, although at one time the change in hairstyle occurred after losing virginity.