Kanzashi are hair ornaments used in traditional Japanese hairstyles. Kanzashi first appeared when women abandoned the tradional taregami hairstyle where the hair was kept straight and long, and adopted coiffured nihongami hairstyles. Kanzashi came into wide use during the Edo period when artisans began to produce more finely crafted products. Some believe they may also have been used for defence in an emergency. Nowadays kanzashi are most often worn by brides and professional kimono wearers such as geisha, tayu and yujo or adepts in Japanese tea ceremony and ikebana. However, there is currently a revival among young Japanese women who wish to add an elegant touch to their business suit.
Kanzashi are fabricated from a wide range of materials such as lacquered wood, gold and silver plated metal, tortoiseshell and silk, and recently plastic also. In fact, early bakelite kanzashi are extremely collectible.
There are many varieties of kanzashi and many styles of wearing them. The way in which a geisha wears her kanzashi indicates her status immediately to an informed audience; according to the type and location of the kanzashi. Apprentice maiko usually wear more numerous and elaborate kanzashi than older geisha and progress through several hairstyles where the kanzashi must be worn in a fixed pattern. Types of kanzashi include: Bira bira flutter kanzashi, Ougi princess kanzashi, Kushi kanzashi, Kogai kanzashi, Obi dome kanzashi and Hana flower kanzashi. See also seasonal kanzashi.
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Geisha hairstyles featuring kanzashi:
