Wild and loony japanese hair trendiness

Evi Mariani The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

This year, there has been a new hair trend that suits many kinds of people. It is called the "swing hair style", which has a free movement and textured cut, but the final result still has an air of elegance.

The style is not bound by hair length, but inspired by the beautiful shape and sway movement of models sashaying down the catwalk.

The cool thing is, the swing hair style provides freedom for each individual to create their personal finishing touch by straightening it, coloring it or getting a perm.

The style has become a new trend in major fashion cities like Milan, New York and Tokyo, and recently in large cities across Indonesia.

"The style has spread to Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya," Daniel Amarta, Jakarta's hair and beauty stylist, told The Jakarta Post.

Daniel, who has 19 salons in four cities, said the swing was now hip among urban teenagers and 20-somethings.

Sometimes, he said, the style is also called the "unconjunction style" or the "deconstructive style".

"The swing usually has a long feathered cut, which is easy to manage. All you need is to put on some styling spray, hair mousse or crystal wax and arrange it with fingers," Daniel said.

The result is often a unique style with a slightly disheveled look that fits the image of young people around the world.

Game fashion buffs may combine this style with brave hair dye like pink or rust colors a many Japanese youths are wont to do.

Apparently, experimentation seems to be in the blood of the Japanese trendy people, many of whom often change their hair color and style as many as three times a year.

The Japanese history of hair styling shows how much they value their hair styles and how the hair affair was also a state affair.

Hair history in Japanese culture dates back to the fourth century when Japanese men wore their hair in the mizura style, parted in the middle and pulled together in loops over the ears.

Meanwhile, the women pulled their hair up into a loose loop resting on top of the head and fastened in the middle. This style is now called shimadamage, after the 18th century style, which it resembles.

Japanese culture later developed other traditional hair styles both for men and women, sometimes in compliance with the respective ruler's order.

For example, during the Sui dynasty from 589 to 618, an order was issued for all courtiers in Japan to wear a formal dress called kammuri. To suit the dress, the mizura style was replaced with kanka no ikkei for men and kokei or hokei style for women.

During the Taisho period (1912-1926), the hair iron was introduced from France and waving of hair became popular. In this period, most young women wore their hair in European styles while middle-aged women tended to favor the traditional style.

Throughout World War II, the European styles were prohibited by the military leaders, but after the war, hair styles once again were patterned after international trends.

Due to U.S. military occupation of Japan after World War II, Japan had many influences in fashion from the Americans.

The simplified looks with permanent waves had changed traditional ways, which are now used only for special occasions such as New Year's celebrations, traditional marriage and cultural festivals.

This year, the swing hair style is also hot in Japan, particularly in Tokyo.

In accordance with this trend, Makarizo Indonesia, hair treatment and styling manufacturer from Germany, has invited Japan's top hairstylist Seiichi Honda to demonstrate his finesse in this year's Salon Tour 2005, which will have the "Swing Hair Style" as the topic.

This annual tour is comprised of three events; one hair show each in Surabaya, Medan and Jakarta and seminars and workshops held in 52 cities and towns.

Besides Seiichi, who will attend the workshop in Jakarta, Makarizo invited top hairdressers from New York and Milan to do workshops in Medan and Surabaya respectively.

In Jakarta the hair show is scheduled for June 23 at the Jakarta Convention Center. Professional hairstylists throughout Jakarta are invited to participate.