Why geisha white

This may explain the myths surrounding the thick and unnaturally white makeup used by Geisha women, both in the past and today.

One common theory is that Japanese people adored the naturally fair skin of many European cultures and that this Geisha makeup was supposed to try to achieve the same look. It is arguably very easy to reach this conclusion, since Japanese modern beauty products include many whitening powers designed to make Japanese skin appear paler. This preference for whitening of the skin actually took off after World War II, when western cosmetics were imported to Japan and set a beauty standard for Japanese women to follow.

This trend has, perhaps controversially, continued into the modern day, and the Japanese cosmetics market is saturated with whitening masks, pale foundation, and even pills you can take to appear paler. It may seem extreme and outdated to westerners, and also ironic seeing as in the West, people tend to strive for brown, tanned skin, and will spend huge amounts of time and money on sunbeds and tanning salons. Here is another interesting fact about Geishas. However, the nape of the neck is clearly visible in the traditional Geisha kimono.

Perhaps the most widely known place where Geisha appear frequently is an area in Kyoto called the Gion District. On Hanami-koji Street, you can spot Geishas and Maikos Geishas in training , in full dress, walking the streets to get to appointments and preparing for local Geisha performances.

There is also the option of going to a number of Kaiseki Restaurants, some of which provide traditional Japanese cuisine and Geisha performances. Although an evening with Geisha and Maiko entertainment is not going to be cheap, it is the only way to truly witness a Geisha performance and appreciate the immense training that goes into their music, dancing, and hospitality, and everything from their complex makeup and hairstyle to the elegant way in which they move.

Be prepared for your glass being continually filled, Geisha drinking games, beautiful performances, and lots of fun! There is a difference in makeup styles that varies between maiko an apprentice geisha , young geisha, and older geisha. Usually, geishas and maiko will under paint their lips using red lipstick. This is also known as beni. So, why do Geisha paint their face white? The reason Geisha paint their face white dates back to ancient times when there was no electricity.

As candlelight is not very bright geishas painted their face white to make themselves more visible and recognizable. This white foundation is known as oshiroi and is worn by geishas and their apprentices called maiko. However, it differs slightly for first-year apprentice geisha. Instead of painting the top lip and the bottom lip, only the bottom is done. It is also expected that a new maiko would wear less black around her eyes and eyebrows than compared to a senior maiko.

In order to give off a youthful appearance, young apprentices are known to sometimes paint their eyebrows a bit shorter or rounder. This helps to emphasize their youthfulness. Maiko wear a lot more blush than geisha do. Inexperienced maiko may have the help from their house mother, known as oka-san, or her older sister help with applying her makeup. Someone who guides them as they train to become a geisha. In some geisha districts, it is required that for a short period prior to becoming a geisha, the maiko must color their teeth black.

Another way to show inexperience in some regions is by having maiko only wear oshiroi and blusher. This typically occurs right at the beginning of an apprenticeship. Eventually adding on black and red eyeliner to maiko as they gain experiences. There are regional differences to be expected as well. With some geisha districts tending to favor a light application of oshiroi.

Whereas in other regions a thicker application will be applied. This is dictated by the style according to the district, but also the preferences of the house mother. Senior geishas can start to strip back on their makeup application.

They will stop wearing any blusher at all and how often they wear oshiroi will change as well. They will apply oshiroi for special occasions and stage performances. A woman who wants to train as a geisha can do so by securing an apprenticeship at an okiya.

This is the house that geisha can live in and is run by the house mother. The house mother is a senior geisha, or a retired one and they teach younger geisha. It used to be that geisha would start their training at a very young age, this would be around six years old. However, this practice changed in the twentieth century and now geishas start their journey as maiko around 17 or There was a change in labor laws that states apprentices cannot join an okiya until they are aged The rules differ slightly for geisha in Kyoto , where okiya can legally take on apprentices between the ages of 15 and Doing so when the time is right for them.

Girls must have graduated from middle school, but women can start their careers after college, or into adulthood. Even before debuting as a maiko, apprentices will live at the okiya as a shikomi. Which is basically a trainee, at this stage in the journey the young woman is there to learn. The shikomi are taught by their house mother and observe other geishas at okiya. They attend to the needs of the house and need to learn how to live with their geisha sisters.

This is where they have the opportunity to learn the skills required of a maiko. A girl will be a shikomi for up to a year at which point they can be taken on as an apprentice and become a maiko.

Traditionally this stage lasted a much longer time, particularly for children that were bonded to an okiya. As a girl becomes a maiko and is bonded to the house, that means she is under contract. Training is very expensive and there are different ways this can be covered. The okiya can loan everything to the maiko, food, a room, her kimono, the tools she needs. However, this all needs to be repaid, which means that her wages will go to the house until the debt is cleared.

There are also options to pay for it yourself or get it a loan. With the start of formal training, the maiko will begin as a minari at a geisha party known as ozashiki. The role of a minari is just to observe how other geishas interact with customers.

They are meant to participate in the party, but rather to sit quietly and learn. After about a month as a minari, the maiko will be ready to debut. The types and configurations of kanzashi will change according to the time of year and level of training. Just as their makeup is more ostentatious, the kimono worn by maiko are generally more colourful and vibrantly decorated than those worn by geisha.

The shape of the maiko attire is also more flamboyant, with wide, dangling sleeves and long sashes known as obi. Geisha, meanwhile, wear more subdued clothing with shorter obi.

And, while the rest of us may not be quite so meticulous when it comes to our daily appearance, Japanese know-how in the world of beauty is easily accessible thanks to the magic of the internet with leading Japanese brands selling hand-crafted beauty products online, making it possible for anyone to add a touch of Japanese rigour to their personal beauty regimen.

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