Is Blackpink member Lisa’s ‘hime cut’ the next big hairstyle trend? She wore it the How You Like That music video and Twice’s Momo is a fan, but where did the Japanese anime look come from?
- The ‘hime cut’ has been making its way through K-pop girl bands and Instagram, but it was originally worn by noblewomen in Heian Japan
- Japanese actress, singer and model Megumi Asaoka popularised the look in the 70s, it crops up in countless classic manga series and even Cher gave it a go
If you’ve been paying attention to Instagram lately, you may have noticed an unusual hairstyle trend hitting your feeds – no, not mullets. We’re talking about the hime haircut – where long, straight tresses are juxtaposed with blunt chunks of hair that frame the face (fringe optional).
Though it’s one of the more out-there hair trends we’ve seen, its appeal is clear – the face-framing ledge of hair works to slim the jawline and the face while adding an element of versatility to everyday styling.
The heritage of the cut probably has something to do with its allure too. Meaning “princess” in Japanese, the hime cut is named after the noblewomen who are widely thought to have popularised the style during Japan’s Heian period (AD794-1185).
The cut as we know it is thought to be a hybrid of two hairstyles from the era. The first, amasogi, is described to be shoulder-length hair; think of it as an ancient lob, or long bob. Secondly, some noblewomen would grow their hair out for their entire lives, only cutting the sections around their ears during a coming-of-age ceremony (when a lady turned 20) called binsogi. The two practises together resulted in the hime cut.
