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LIFESTYLE/GENERAL
TikTok has a TON of misinformation about Gyaru, so here's my cheat sheet for beginner gals!
A few things to note - one, kogal is NOT a substyle, its a term referring to gals in middle school/highschool who have uniforms and can only do their makeup, hair, and add accessories to their uniform.
Being gyaru is more about the fashion! Gals do purikura, which is using a Photo Booth that allows you to edit the photo. The goal is to over edit and customize the photo. Example:
Gals also do para para, a dance style popular in Japan in the 80s (same time gyaru culture started). Para para is typically danced to eurobeats and techno music, here's a playlist of videos with dances to learn. If you want to create your own para para to a techno dance or eurobeat song, watch these first to understand the basic movement styles:
I also have a playlist with songs that you could make a para para to!
FASHION
I have a lot below about how/where to shop, but brands aren't the most important thing. I would SERIOUSLY recommend finding gyaru magazines on eBay or finding uploads of pages on Pinterest to get style inspiration. A lot of brands that catered to gyaru fashion don't exist anymore, so thrifting is your best bet! Shopping 2000's, peplum tops, capris and skinny jeans, ect.
Visit the gyaru wiki for inspiration/if you're not sure of the difference between styles: https://gyaru-109.fandom.com/wiki/Gyaru
This is list categorized by sub style and is not only j-brands. Not all of these brands pander 100% to the sub style, but I wanted to provide alternatives to the brands that are usually mentioned!!! Enjoy, and happy shopping!
Hime brands
https://angelsize.jp/ (more jirai/lolita, but accessories & shoes are hime!)
https://missalphabet.com/cart (more spank kei, but the accessories are very hime!)
Liz Lisa & Ma*rs are more jirai and tenshi nowadays, but you can check regardless!
Amekaji brands
https://otakumode.com/shop/brand/galaxxxy (kind of Harajuku/spank kei, but still good!)
https://quitegarish.com/cart (small business!!)
CoCoLulu - no longer selling, but check Ebay or mercari
Onee/Ganguro brands
Some non-style specific brands! (for any gal!)
I would highly recommend searching 'gyaru brands' on reddit to find all kinds of brands that are inactive (for shopping seocond hand), but I wanted to highlight the ones that are newer/still selling. Searching 'y2k' on mercari and depop might also help! Pinterest is great for inspo/finding brands also!
ANSWERS TO COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Yes, you need to wear it outside outside of the house to be a gal (IN MY OPNION)
No, you don't have to wear XXL nails if you don't want to, just some gel or color can do! Find inspiration for shorter designs on Pinterest.
Depending on the substyle, makeup will be VERY different, so will dress and general aesthetic. You can switch up between which substyle you're wearing over the course of years andstill be gyaru!
No, you don't have to straighten your hair or use wigs.
No, it isn't cultural appropriation to wear gyaru and a non-japanese person.
NO, MANBA IS NOT INTENTIONALLY RACIST!!!! A huge part of ganguro and manga culture is skin darkening to go against beauty norms at the time. A slight tan is fine, using a slightly darker shade of makeup is okay, but blackface is not gyaru, that is ignorance and disrespectful. I acknowledge that a lot of gal magazines have examples over overly dark skin, so BE MINDFUL WITH TANNING/MAKEUP SHADES.
Comment for any questions, and I hoped this helped you!
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