Each individual fashion style is influenced by different people. It could be from a supermodel, an actress, a fashion designer and could be even from your mom. There’s no telling whose fashion sense we could be inspired to wear on day to day. And this is especially to teenagers.
Being a teenager means that you are at that age and phase where you are easily swayed and that includes your fashion sense. And I understand that, I’ve been through there and I can no longer count how many batches of clothes I need to give away because of my indecisiveness. But that’s okay because being a teenager also gives you a free pass to do and wear what you love.
That’s why it is no surprise to us that you are out there, searching the web on how to be a Ganguro girl. And we are more than willing to guide you on your journey to becoming one.
Here is a 10-step guide on how to become a Ganguro girl.
1. Passion
Being a Ganguro girl is no easy feat. If you’ve read our blog post on Ganguro fashion, you’d know that these girls went through tough and hard times. A short recap, ganguro girls are often named as “bad girls who are unhygienic, promiscuous, and crazy.” They are shunned away due to their uncanny fashion style and have to thrive to be accepted into society.
Other than that, You must be committed to the lifestyle, to the full transformation, to the expenses and must accept that not all will see you eye to eye.
If you really wanted to be a full-pledged ganguro girl, the very first step is having the will and passion to be one. You must be enthusiastic about the said fashion and its adjoining lifestyle.
2.Do your research
Congratulations! You have decided to proceed to the next step and have decided to dedicate yourself to the Ganguro lifestyle. Now, it’s time to do some research. In recent years following the dying trend of Ganguro, most Ganguro-centered establishments have also gone out of business. Tanning salons are rare to find, hairdressers might charge more than usual because of the intensive bleaching and styling and Ganguro-centered brands are also a needle in a haystack.
Scour your city for tanning salons and hairdressers that can offer you service at a reasonable price. Even though most ganguro have already accepted the fact their lifestyle is a bit on the expensive side, it wouldn’t try to hurt and bargain a bit.
For clothes, look into Ganguro blogs and forums. Because the trend has since died down, former Ganguro girls will sell their pre-loved clothes to those who are still in the Ganguro trend. They are hand-me-downs but they will serve their purpose.
3. Tan the skin
Tanning the skin is the basic of all basics in being a Ganguro. Erimokkori, a true-spirited ganguro said that there are those that will go through the whole process of bleaching their hair and decorating their nails but still maintain a light-colored skin. She named them as “pa-gyaru” meaning “gal in a half-hearted attitude.”
So if you are to be a full-pledged Ganguro, get ready to go tan. Nowadays, you have two options for this. First is going to the traditional tanning salons and getting your skin done. As I’ve mentioned, you can also always scour your city for tanning salons that will offer you their service at a reasonable price. Second, because of recent beauty influencers with their tanned and glowing skin is making their rounds on social media, brands have come up with DIY tanning kits. This can be purchased basically everywhere like online, drug stores and specialty stores.
4. Bleach the hair
Ganguro bleaches their hair as a form of defying the Japanese standard that says we like our women with black natural hair. And, we all know the consequences that come with bleaching the hair so get your scalp and those strands ready to be stripped off their natural color.
Other than thoroughly bleaching the hair to achieve a very light color, you will also have the option to dye and apply highlights to your hair in equally bright colors such as reds, pinks, purples and oranges.
Erimokkori said that the bleaching and styling process of the hair is time-consuming. She further stated that normal girls would get their hair done in 2-4 hours but for Ganguro hair, she’d come into the salon at 10 in the morning and will leave at around 9 in the evening. That is a close 12-hour process. Other than that, the intensive hair-do is also financially-challenging as well, costing her approximately $260-$350 per month.
5. Learn the make-up
Ganguro makeup is a very eccentric makeup. You really can’t find anything else like it in the make-up realm. It is not the typical makeup routine you’d see in Instagram. It’s really bizarre so before delving into the whole Ganguro fashion style, look up a few photos online of authentic Ganguro girls and study their makeup.
It is also highly recommended to know the makeup products used. The past few years we’ve seen backlash against cosmetic companies on their lack of release for products made for people of color. Usually they would include a dark tone or two but not a whole line of cosmetics made solely for darker skins so it is a bit of a challenge to look for specific darker colors.
To save time, blogs and forums are great platforms to start. Rather than huge and brand name companies, it is also good to look at small businesses, preferably POC-owned as they more considerate to their kind more than anyone
6. Purchase the make-up product
Once you are done with research, it is now high time to purchase these specific makeup products. The most notable products that need to be purchased or used are dark/black eyeliners and pigmented white concealer or white pencil liners.
Of course, there is also the need to consider your tanned shade for foundation and powder you have to use but for the most part, ganguro eye look and contour takes the spotlight. If you want to learn the Ganguro makeup step-by-step, Tofululu from YouTube has a video on Ganguro Makeup Tutorial.
7. Facial Gems and Long Decorated Nails
To take the eccentric makeup a notch higher, Ganguro opts in for facial gems that would complete the whole look. Facial gems could either be rhinestones and jewels that has an adhesive in the back and is safe to use and stick into the skin. This particular face decoration really brings out the whole “gyaru” look.
For nails, well let's just say. Go crazy long. Ganguro are famous for exaggeratedly long and decorated nails. It really makes you wonder how will they be able to do stuff with nails like those? But it's the Ganguro philosophy and they can do whatever they want.
If you have the talent and skills for it, you can totally do your nails yourself. Just a head-ups though. It's easier if you're still doing one nail but once, you're doing the other one with your other nail all done and decorated, it may prove to be c challenge.
Of course, you have the option for nail salons. Take note that like bleaching and styling the hair, getting your nails in the Ganguro way can also be time and financially consuming.
8. Scour for Ganguro clothes
Ever since the trend died down in the mid-2000s, I am pretty sure girls who decided to quit the lifestyle have clothes strewn around. These are the clothes that they spend money and effort on and it would be a waste to just pile and hide them away. If the clothes can be worn on a normal day, that would be great news for them. But if it’s pretty obvious that it’s a Ganguro-centric outfit, those who have left or graduated from the lifestyle might be a bit hesitant to wear them outside.
What better way though is to sell them as pre-loved outfits or just give them away. And if you are one who is starting out, this is your free window. First, scout blogs and forums that center in Ganguro fashion, you might be in luck and find fashionable pieces at a reasonable price.
9. … or customize your own
If you have no luck with blogs, forums and pre-loved outfits, you can always customize your clothes. If you are good with your hands or have a skill for sewing, look at the brighter side! First, you’ll be able to save some money. Second, clothes that are self-repaired can be customized into whichever way you like. You have a say on how a certain piece will look and fit you.
10. Love what you do
Being a Ganguro girl, we always have to go back to the beginning and that is to be passionate about the lifestyle. It is not an easy fashion to make do and most importantly, the Ganguro fashion is something sacred for the Ganguro girls. They have a whole community dedicated to this after all.
These girls were shunned and ridiculed for loving the Ganguro fashion but they stood tall and continued doing what they love. And after some time, it’s relieving to know they were accepted into the society. The trend has died down since then, with Ganguro girls considered extinct, maybe due to newer trends or the former Ganguro girls of the 2000s have grown and matured and with that, their fashion styles as well. But I think it is undeniable that for these girls, their Ganguro days are something they could never forget. Being a part of a community for months or years would surely grow on you and it would be nice if the former Ganguro girls all had good memories that they could bring with them as they grow.
For someone who is just striving to enter the Ganguro fashion, I hope that you will be able to continue the legacy left by the OG Ganguro girls and wholeheartedly live by the gal philosophy:
Do what you want to do
