the different substyles of gyaru!

behold! the long awaited substyles blog!

if you thought my history of gyaru blog was long, then this one is going to be actually insane. theres so many ways to be a gyaru, and it can be difficult to find one that you feel really represents you! youre in luck, though, because this blog is going to give in depth descriptions of each substyle!

before we begin, a few things of note: there are a few substyles are are simply too derivative or too short-lived to have that much information on them, so i wont be including those. however, i will be including styles that are considered "dead" because they had such a big impact on gyaru as a whole. i am also going to include some more controversial styles, not to promote them, but to share why its better for them to be less popular or retired altogether. also, some styles place an emphasis on lighter skin, but i want to make it clear that anyone of any skin tone can participate in any style they please. gyaru is for all!

one last thing: one of the most popular gyaru styles, Kogyaru/Kogal, is not actually a substyle. it is just an age range for gals who are in high school, so non-high school aged gals cannot technically be Kogal. im going to include a description of it anyway, though, since many beginner/baby gals are high school aged and will find it useful!

now, onto the yapathon!

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KOGYARU/KOGAL

this style describes a high school aged gyaru. it is one of the oldest gyaru styles, as its where the term gyaru comes from. it is characterized by the use of the school uniform: shortened skirts to show off their legs, and cardigans (most often oversized) in colors like beige, pink, or navy. they can be worn in place of a blazer, or tied around the waist. by far the most iconic aspect of the style is the socks, which are worn loose and oversized to create a slouchy appearance. many Kogals use sock glue to keep their socks in place. just like any gyaru style, accessories are a huge part of Kogyaru. keychains on school bags and cell phones (decoden cell phones are also very popular) are very important, and can help show a gals personality in the strict japanese school system. speaking of school bags, many Kogals choose to carry shopping bags (shoppers) from gyaru brands, usually used as a from of status symbol, as a secondary bag, or even their main school bag. many Kogals tan, but it is not required. decorated nails and piercings are also popular accessories, similar to most gyaru styles. the make can be a spectrum, some choosing to keep it more toned down and others choosing to be extreme. basically, the extremeness of the look is all based on how much the gal can get away with, or how much the gal is willing to break the rules.

GANGURO

this style is most often called "old school", as like Kogyaru, it is one of the oldest styles. it is considered a dying style, but a lot of people continue to wear it and it is the origin point of other styles. a big part of this style is the tan, anywhere from medium to extra dark, as well as bleached blonde hair. clothing wise, Ganguro gals favor tropical floral prints and neon colors. hibiscus and plumeria prints are a staple, as well as wearing leis and flower accessories. other popular accessories include beaded jewelry, or anything that would be considered "tacky". platform sandals with wooden soles or cut outs, wedge heels, or just any kind of sandal are popular footwear amongst Ganguro gals, and they should be equally as colorful as the rest of the outfit. for the make, it must be bright white for a lot of contrast against the tanned skin. a lot of the focus is placed around the eyes (coupled with huge lashes), nose (think of the iconic gyaru nose stripe), and lips. a lot of Ganguro gals also liked to put stickers on their faces, and i see a lot of modern gals using face paint or colorful eyeliners to achieve the same effect. Ganguro gals also tend to have decorated nails. the goal of the style is to be very vivid, loud, and tropical and to ignore all coventional japanese beauty standards. popular brands are ALBA ROSA, ROXY, and ESPERANZA, among others.

YAMANBA/MANBA

the name Yamanba comes from japanese folklore, meaning "mountain witch". it shares many similarities with Ganguro, but it is even more extreme. in general, the clothing, make, and accessories are incredibly similar. however, it is common to see Yamanba gals with hair dyed bright colors or with colorful streaks in their blonde hair, and with lots of volume. their tans tend to be even heavier than Ganguro tans, making the white make stand out even more. their nails can be insanely long, and decked out to the max with deco. the same goes for their cell phones. besides platform sandals, Yamanba gals also like to wear platform boots. like Ganguro, many call Yamanba a "dead" style, but plenty of gals continue to wear it. some gals in the gyarusa Black Diamond wear versions of Yamanba. Manba is considered to be somehow more extreme than Yamanba, but based on the extremeness of Yamanba as is, i find the term derivative. many just use Manba as a shortened version of Yamanba, but if the distinction matters to you, then thats great!

AGEJO

the name of style is short for "Ageha lady", inspired by the gyaru publication Ageha magazine and the styles shown in it. the style is very mature and glamorous, and is popular amongst hostesses. the clothing focuses on being sexy, with lingerie elements being very popular: corsets, lace, and bras, garters, and stockings are key elements. the goal is to be revealing while still being classy. the skirts and dresses are worn very short and tight. big, intricate hairstyles is another key element, most of the time being long or curly. the hair is normally kept darker, unlike other gyaru styles. tanning is not a requirement, but Agejo gals that do tan tend to keep it on the light-medium side. the make is very dolly, with dolly circle contact lenses being a popular choice. the lashes are very thick and gyaru-like, but the make tends to be less extreme than other styles and leans more towards sexy. rest assured, it is still very gyaru. long, deco'd nails are a popular accessory, but natural nails or a french manicure are acceptable as well. bows, brand-name bags, and jewelry also make for good Agejo accessories, as it is more mature. stilettos and pumps are preferred to platforms, as are high heeled knee-high boots. a popular agejo brand is MA*RS, known for their iconic prints.

HIME GYARU

Hime means "princess", so Hime gyaru is quite literally "princess gal". hair is arguably the biggest part of the look, with hairstyles being huge, beehive styles with curls. Hime gals hair colors can vary, with light brown being popular. blonde is seen, but it is different from a Ganguro blonde. lately, some hime gals choose to have dark brown or black hair. hair accessories are a must, with large bows, flowers, and strings of pearls being popular choices. accessorizing is crucial for hime gals. nails are heavily deco'd, as are shoes, bags, cell phones, and themselves with jewelry. lace, ruffles, and bows are key elements. clothes are often pink or white, or in cutesy prints. the clothes are very soft, while still remaining over the top. the make is very dolly like Agejo, featuring circle lenses to make the eyes appear larger. white accents are seen for this effect as well, as well as pink blush, light pink lips, and thick yet cutesy eyelashes. tanning is not essential. popular Hime brands are LIZ LISA and JESUS DIAMANTE.

HIMEKAJI

this style is the step below Hime, as denoted by kaji, meaning casual. in general, it requires less upkeep than the hime style whilst holding onto the cutesy flair. think of it as princess off-duty. the hair is less intricate, being either long or short in lighter colors, curled, and mostly worn down. accessories are fewer, including for nails and clothing. Himekaji prioritizes comfort whilst still being cute and princess-like. pink is an important element for Himekaji clothing, but it also features more natural, earth tones like browns. hearts, florals, pom poms, and fur lining are very popular, as are lace, ruffles, and bows, but on a smaller scale. the make is mostly similar to hime, just toned down. tanning is also not essential. LIZ LISA is also extremely popular for Himekaji gals, as well as Ank Rouge.

AMEKAJI

the name of this style translates to "american casual", and is characterized by a stereotypically 90s american/western aesthetic. the style is very bold, comfortable, and casual. baggy clothing is the key element, with baggy jeans, sweatpants/joggers, and dungarees/overalls. shorts and skirts are also popular options, but dresses are a rare sight for Amekaji. the tops can be either loose or tight, but its important that they have some sort of cute or busy print/pattern or slogan, and are brightly colored. baseball caps, beanies, chunky belts, and fun jewelry are key accessories. its common to see Amekaji gals wearing sneakers (high tops or basketball style), ballet flats, and sometimes boots. hair is kept light, either blonde or light brown, and is often worn in simple styles like ponytails, half up-half down styles, or down. it can be either long or short. the tans range from light to medium. the make is very simple but still gyaru, with bold lashes and eyeliner, and pops of color from the lips. the brand JSG is good for Amekaji gals.

ROKKU

this style incorporates elements of rock (as you can tell by the name) and visual kei, or vkei. unlike other gyaru styles, Rokku prioritizes dark colors over bright colors and prints. crosses, studs, leather, and ripped clothing are key elements, as well as tattoos and piercings. the hair can be dyed any color (unnatural colors are common), and having a take on the classic vkei silhouette is a popular styling choice. hair can be worn however, though, as many Rokku gals like big, intricate styles with long curls and short hair is also common, but no matter the style, bangs or fringe are very common. Rokku accessories favor chokers, fishnet tights or stockings in general, cuff bracelets or bracelet stacks, cross necklaces, fingerless gloves, buckles and chains, and belts. footwear can range from boots, platforms, heels, or sneakers. most Rokku gals choose not to tan, and if they do, it is very light. the make is very dramatic, focusing on dark smoky eyes and dark lips.

GOSHIKKU

this style is similar to Rokku, but incorporates more gothic elements. while Rokku implements all dark colors, Goshikku tends to stick to black and grey, with minimal pops of white or color. the style is also more toned down when compared to Rokku, especially in terms of accessories and clothing. stockings/tights and garters are popular accessories. dresses and skirts are popular, as well as oversized t-shirts and blouses. the style is surprisingly cute and dolly, with lace and ruffles being popular elements, whilst still being edgy with rips and cut outs. pendants, chokers, cross necklaces, chains, and bracelets are popular jewelry options. footwear can range from boots, platforms/flatforms, high heels, or dolly shoes. like Rokku, hair can be worn in any style, but the colors are commonly black, blonde, white, or grey. the make is less dramatic than Rokku, but is still dark and bold. nude or dark lips are commonly seen in Goshikku make. tanning is not very popular or essential for the style.

KURO GYARU

the name of this style translates to "black-skinned gal", as evidenced by the heavy tans that this style is known for. there is some controversy about the tanning habits of Kuro gals, as they can be incredibly dark, verging on offensive, and the tanning habits can be downright dangerous. for example, the Kuro gyarusa Angeleek required its members to tan at least 4 times a week. however, only a small percentage of Kuro gals take it to this extreme. most Kuro gals follow an intensive, consistent yet reasonable tanning routine, as the tan is the most important element. like i mentioned earlier, many gyarusa are made up of Kuro gals, including the incredibly popular gyarusa Black Diamond and making it one of the most prominent gyaru styles. Kuro shares many similarities with Yamanba (many Yamanba gals consider themselves Kuro gals as well), with white make, circle lenses, big hair, also known as sujimori, either bleached or colorful, and heavy deco and accessories. piercings are also seen amongst Kuro gals. nails are incredibly long with huge deco. clothing ranges from primarily black to colorful, but animal prints (specifically cheetah and leopard) and fur are staples. short denim shorts in a variety of colors and washes are also staple pieces, as well as furry leg warmers. the iconic D.I.A belt was extremely popular amongst Kuro gals, with big belt buckles and gold chains. gold is very key to the Kuro gal style. shoes can range from knee-high boots, heels, platforms, and even crocs with characters on them. popular Kuro brands are D.I.A and GALEO (which was founded by the founding member of Black Diamond, Harutamu).

BANBA

this style is derived from Yamanba, and is more toned down. it is considered a more old school and a dying style, with the Tsuyome style surpassing it. Banba also shares some similarities with Kuro, but as a whole is more understated. hair can be big, but not quite as big as a proper sujimori, and is either bleached blonde or light brown. it is usually worn long and curled or wavy. animal prints are a staple, but the colors stray away from neon and leans into more natural or subdued tones if color is present (black, grey, white, browns, and lighter shades of colors). clothing is described as general club wear, but can look like more casual versions of Kuro gal coords. tank tops, lace camis, and strapless tops are common tops, and denim shorts or bootcut jeans are common bottoms. heels and platform sandals are popular footwear. gold and silver are popular for accessories and piercings, and bangles, hoops, and necklaces are popular options. cowboy hats and chunky belts are also popular among Banba gals. the nails are often long and deco'd. the tanning varies from medium to dark. the make is a more toned down version of Yamanba and Kuro make. the brand D.I.A is also popular with Banba gals.

TSUYOME

Tsyuome is the more modern counterpart to Banba. the two styles are often used interchangeably by some, but there is distinction between the styles. i like to think of it as the little sister to Banba. many gals prefer Tsuyome to Banba because it is a more modern style, with the outward goal of being flashy, cool, and way more extreme. the make and clothing have the similar base structure to Banba, with key differences. animal prints are still a staple, with specific focus on leopard print, as are browns, black, and white. but in general, there is more color with Tsuyome, and you are more likely to see bright, neon colors in a Tsuyome gals coord. accessories like bangles can also be in bright colors, as opposed to just metals, but gold and silver are still very present in the Tsuyome style. nails are long and deco'd. denim shorts are still common, but is seen in different colors/washes and there is the addition of miniskirts. leg warmers, tail keychains, and D.I.A belts are popular. common footwear is heels and sandals. the hair is often bleached blonde with dark roots, but light brown and streaks of color isnt uncommon. it is kept long, and worn curled, crimped, or wavy. the make is characterized by large, bold eyelashes, dramatic eye makeup with plenty of white highlights, circle lenses, and light colored lipstick. however, the lipstick should never be white. tanning is on the light-medium side, but is not required for Tsuyome. 

ONEE-GYARU

translating to "older sister gal", this style is more mature and sophisticated. unlike Agejo, which is considered more mature as well, its focus is not quite on sex appeal. Onee-gyaru can be described as sexier, yes, but it lacks things like lingerie elements that Agejo has. as its key audience is older gals, one of the most important aspects is brand-names and labels. basically, the main draw is that older gals have more disposable income for high-end and designer brands. the entire style is very put together and elegant: perfectly styled hair, classic gyaru make, well thought-out coords, and always keeping up with trends. the hair often worn in natural colors (blonde, brown, red, or black), long, and crimped or curled. the make can vary from a more natural look to a bold look, it depends on personal preference, but it is still a very developed, elevated gyaru make. nails can be deco'd, but they tend to be more subtle. animal prints are popular, as are prints in general, and leather. popular pieces in an Onee-gyaru coord are blouses, miniskirts, mini-dresses, overcoats/blazers, cardigans, furs, and tweed-style outfits. the pieces should be tight, to emphasize the body and be slightly revealing. stilettos, pumps, and thigh-high high-heeled boots are common footwear choices. popular accessories are sunglasses, belts, high-end jewelry, and designer handbags. designer labels like channel, louis vuitton, and gucci are popular amongst Onee-gals, and CECIL McBEE, LIP SERVICE, RESEXXY, DURAS, DaTuRa, and Delyle NOIR are popular gyaru brands.

ORA ORA

also known as Ora Ora kei, this style focuses on a tough, delinquent-type style. it creates a mix of gyaru and yankii style, and it was a very popular style in the magzines Soul Sister. the style can vary between sexier and more relaxed or tomboy-ish, depending on the gal. but the styles core focus is on being rebellious. tracksuits, t-shirts, wife beaters, sweatshirts and sweatsuits, bandeau tops, and tokkofuku (embroidered jumpsuits and trenchcoats worn by gang members) are popular clothing options. clothes will often be black/dark colors, and things like tracksuits and sweatshirts will have slogans and symbols on them. shoes can range from sneakers, boots, and stilettos. key accessories are baseball/snapback caps, bandanas, gold chains, hoop earrings, and other piercings. hairstyles are more relaxed, and can be worn long, or some gals will opt for buzzcuts, in a variety of colors. yakuza-style tattoos are common. the make places a lot of focus on the eyes, and Ora Ora gals like to keep them dark, smokey, and dramatic. lips are often nude, and Ora Ora gals prefer orange/brown blush to pink.

SHIRO GYARU

this style is the exact opposite of Kuro gyaro, translating to "white-skinned gal" and is also known as Ganjiro. unlike Kuro gyaru, Shiro gyaru is not its own dedicated substyle. any gal participating in any substyle that does not require a tan can identify as Shiro gal. the only requirement is to be as untanned as possible.

ROMA

Roma, short for romantic, shares some similarities with Himekaji but is even more casual and relaxed. it is a style that doesnt require complete dedication, so it is very wearable for the day-to-day and very approachable for people who like the general cutesy, girly aesthetic. there is special emphasis on comfort and cuteness for the clothing. prints like gingham, polka dots, plaid, florals, and knit fabrics are staples. pieces like dresses, sweaters, blouses, skirts, and anything off the shoulder are common. ruffles and lace are popular elements, but on a more understated level when compared to Himekaji. beanies, berets, headbands, bows, and lockets/pendants are popular accessories. footwear ranges from any sort of boot, knee-highs to heels to boots with fringe, to heels, flats, and any casual yet cute style of shoe. hair is kept to natural colors, and can be worn down or in a casual up-do like a messy bun. the make is very simple and sweet, and the nails are kept plain or have a french manicure. LIZ LISA and Ank Rouge have many options for Roma gals.

HAADY

also spelled as Haaady, the name of this style is derived from the japanese word hade, meaning flashy. it was created by egg model Kaoru Watanabe, and is largely associated with her brand JSG (mentioned in the Amekaji section). it was a relatively short-lived style, but you can find a few gals today that participate in the style. as a whole, though, we dont see Haady on a very large scale, which is a real shame! it took inspiration from american/british styles, the 80s, and shares some similarities with Amekaji. the hair is often bleached blonde with colorful extensions or highlights, or can be dyed colorfully all over, and is worn straight or crimped. the clothing is very similar to Amekaji in terms of bright, neon, or rainbow colors and prints (leopard, skulls, stripes, etc), but it is not as baggy. the clothing is pretty tight, and the 80s inspiration can be seen in the popularity of pieces like tights and leggings, sweatshirts, and more. hoodies, zippies, dresses, tank tops, t-shirts, shorts, and ruffled blouses are also seen. footwear ranges anywhere from heels to sneakers. common accessories are fun bracelets, necklaces, glasses, scarves, and caps. the make is classically gyaru, with a focus on neon colors. the tan is on the light-medium side.

B-GAL

also known as B-kei, this is one of the very controversial styles i mentioned earlier, as it appropriates african-american culture. it was never very popular, but it was amplified by the brand Baby Shoop. gals who participated in the style often wore braids and cornrows, took major inspiration from hip hop and r&b for fashion, and tanned heavily. as i am not black myself, i will end this section here as i feel unqualified to speak on the greater cultural implications as i lack the necessary context needed to have a full discussion, besides what i have shared here. if you have something to add, please feel free to write it in the comments!

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okay, i told you the length of this blog would be ridiculous. if youve made it to the end, i salute you! the next few blogs will be considerably shorter and less overwhelming, i promise. im sure your brain is as numb as mine after reading this, but if you have any brain power left, feel free to leave a comment with any questions or additional information! apologies for any misinformation or mistakes, i tried to research each substyle as in depth as i possibly could, but alas, i am but a mere human... also, i noticed i used a lot of gyaru specific language, so i think my next blog will be all about gyaru terms and vocab! one late thing: please check out my gyaru discord inquiry if youre interested in chatting with other gals and j-fashion enthusiasts! anyway, my brain has been sufficiently turned to mush so this is where i will leave you!

remember, shido-chan loves you~!

kiss kiss~ ☆⌒ヽ(*'､^*)chu