The Geisha Experience

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I've just returned from the Geisha photoshoot and thought I'd share a little about the whole experience for the curious.  First off, many thanks must be made to BazookaBaby who made this entire photoshoot possible.  She provided the makeup, the lovely kimono, the many beautiful accouterments, as well as a wealth of knowledge in Japanese culture, particularly with kimono.  If you ever have any questions about kimono, she would be your go-to girl.

It all began with cleansing and facial makeup, a solid white which is brushed on in layers and set with powder.  The object of paling the face is to make your features seem as if they were a beautiful mask, for a Geisha is an inhabitant of another world.  A world of entrancing masks and demure beauty.  The eyebrows are flattened with wax and then painted on with a brush.  The lips are painted red as are the corners of the eyes in a traditional fashion.  The neck is painted with an arch design (or a W design for formal occasions) to accentuate the neck, which the collar is pulled down to reveal as it is one of the most sensual areas of a woman's appearance in Japan.

After about 2 and a half hours of makeup, you're ready for the donning of the kimono, which is an outfit of about 3 or 4 layers.  It has a slimming effect on your figure, as a cylindrical shape is the most desirable for a Geisha.  Like the Samurai and his sword, the kimono of a Geisha is as one with her soul.  To lose or stain it would be great dishonor.  Geisha kimono are some of the most expensive because of their intricacy.

The final effect is the wig made of real hair and smoothed down with wax.  The entire wig is backed with an aluminum frame on the inside and weighs just about 2 pounds.

So, to imagine yourself in a Geisha's kimono, your back would be completely straightened out by layers of obi belts which constantly straighten your spine.  For shoes, you would wear flat wooden sandals.  They are made so your heels hang off the end, which means if you put your weight on your heels, you slide out of your shoes(which happened to me at least 3 times).  You must also take very small demure steps, or risk messing up the layering of your kimono, or showing an obscene amount of flesh (omg an ankle!).  It took me about 10 minutes to walk somewhere which would normally only take me 5, whilst leaving little Geisha shuffle marks in the sand along the way.  Very small tasks are very grueling in a kimono if you are untrained.  

So just think of how Geisha had to serve tea, dance, and move about in this entire ensemble.  Granted, they go to school for years to learn how to do this.

Much of this info was given by BazookaBaby herself, so if you need more detailed info, contact her and I'm sure she would be happy to provide you with information.

If you'd like to learn more, here're a few great resources!
Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art by John Gallagher
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (though bare in mind there are some dramatized inaccuracies)
Immortal Geisha