Do-It-Yourself Geisha
June 1, 2021 12:53 PM Subscribe
Some geisha make their own makeup. Here's how. I'd read about a minority of such women, who mix and blend their own cosmetics. It took me this long to look up a few links on the subject. The above, plus.
Mod note: Cleaned up some funky post formatting, carry on!
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:02 PM on June 1, 2021
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:02 PM on June 1, 2021
Wiping off takes only 5-10 minutes.
...maybe if you have a lot of experience with it. We did maiko henshin (transformation/dressup experience) in Kyoto and we were washing the makeup from our backs for days, even the face took way longer than that to remove all traces. Oshiroi is designed to stick through a night of dancing and drinking in Kyoto humidity and heat, without staining the precious kimono, and wow it fulfills the brief. All the natural oils are wonderful for your skin though!
posted by I claim sanctuary at 2:33 AM on June 2, 2021 [5 favorites]
...maybe if you have a lot of experience with it. We did maiko henshin (transformation/dressup experience) in Kyoto and we were washing the makeup from our backs for days, even the face took way longer than that to remove all traces. Oshiroi is designed to stick through a night of dancing and drinking in Kyoto humidity and heat, without staining the precious kimono, and wow it fulfills the brief. All the natural oils are wonderful for your skin though!
posted by I claim sanctuary at 2:33 AM on June 2, 2021 [5 favorites]
I'm intrigued! What lead you to try that? Did you try anything else similar?
posted by dr. zoom at 3:58 PM on June 8, 2021
posted by dr. zoom at 3:58 PM on June 8, 2021
dr. zoom, if you mean me - it's actually one of the staple Kyoto tourist activities for Japanese tourists. 95% of the maiko you see in the streets are dressed up tourists being all old school glam for the day. (There are two ways you can tell. First, all the costumers make on-purpose mistakes - usually mixing junior maiko signs like a lot of dangling hair ornaments with senior maiko signs like less red in the makeup and a collar with a majority of white. Second, the real maiko will be moving at great speed because they're crazy busy with lessons and appointments. They'll be very graceful at it, but next thing you know, they're three blocks over.) I knew about it because I'm interested in Japanese theatre and traditional dance, and geisha are one of the pillars of traditional dance.
Next time I'm over, I want to try Salon de Takarazuka - dressing up as a more modern entertainer!
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:34 AM on June 9, 2021
Next time I'm over, I want to try Salon de Takarazuka - dressing up as a more modern entertainer!
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:34 AM on June 9, 2021
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For something more recent, 100 Years of Japanese Beauty and the corresponding research video
posted by sukeban at 1:16 PM on June 1, 2021 [2 favorites]