Geishas y Maikos - de http://www.freewebs.com/mayuri-san/apaintedface.

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Maiko
Maiko - (mai = dance, ko = child or girl)
While beautiful maiko are still young girls, the social mastery they are expected to attain as accomplished geisha is still not fully formed. Maiko are usually
expected to dance, and be seen, and though performing tasks such as filling drinks, they are not intended to entertain guests to the same degree as a geisha.
At eighteen, maiko may become a full-fledged geisha; although they must continue to attend classes every morning in dance, shamisen, singing, and other
arts, such as social graces and yoto dialect, before becoming a geiko.
Maiko are easily recogni!ed by their attire. "n the #apanese $ay, as young girls before they become $omen, the dress of the maiko is more outlandish than
that of the mature geisha. %he kimono is of the furisode style &more specifically of the oburisode type kimono) $ith long, flapping sleeves that fall to the floor.
%he obi of a maiko is also much longer, and tied in an ornate style. "t is tied much higher on a maiko, coming high into the arm pit, $ith the knot reaching
almost to the collar and the ends falling to the floor.
A maiko kimono is colorful and elaborate as $ell as expensive, and is called a hizikuri. %he obi and kimono of a maiko is brightly colored and ornately
decorated. %he collar of the underrobe $orn by the maiko is usually of a red, patterned material, and sho$s vividly against the $hite neck of the maiko. %his
marks the 'changing of the collar' &from patterned to plain $hite) at the coming of age ceremony $hen a maiko becomes a geiko.
Maiko also $ear distinctive okobo, large platformed $ooden shoes, $hich taper to a smaller point on the sole, these are often lac(uered and ornate. Okobo
usually force a young maiko to take very small steps, $hich is considered attractive by #apanese tradition.

Geisha

Geisha - &gei = art, sha = person)
)eisha must train themselves in various traditional arts such as classical dancing, playing the *hamisen, and several styles of singing in the hanamachi.
)eisha $ork by entertaining guests at expensive tea houses. %hey $ill serve drinks, talk $ith the guests, and perform. )eisha also entertain at business
ban(uets or parties for a considerable amount of money. %here they engage in conversation, and perform for the guests. )eisha $ill either perform
%achikata, $hich mainly does traditional #apanese dance, or #ikata, $hich mainly sings or plays an instrument. %achikata are usually the maiko girls $hile
#ikata are older geisha $omen. %hey also pay greater attention to the guest of honor. )eisha also do not discuss anything that $as said at a party or
business meeting outside.
)eisha compared to maiko are less flamboyant. A geiko $ears kimono, called a hikizuri, that is far less elaborate than that of a younger maiko. %he refined
hikizuri kimono has a shorter sleeve length or homongi, and is generally one solid colour $ith a subtle pattern to$ards the bottom. %he kimono of the )eisha
is usually of a subtle single colour $ith a design s$eeping up from the hem, based on scenes of nature or traditional #apanese themes, in accordance $ith
the seasons. %he most formal attire of the geisha is full $hite makeup $ith a '+ crest' &kuro tomesode) kimono, $hich is a black kimono $ith crests &kamon of
the o$ners family or okiya) on the front and back of each sleeve and one in the centre of the back belo$ the collar.
*imilarly the obi of the )eisha is more subtle and often a single colour brocade $ith minimalist obi belts and brooches. )eisha $ear a narro$er obi of a more
subtle pattern and generally tie it in the refined Taiko box bo$. %he obi is folded and tied into a smaller knot kno$n as a 'box-knot'.
)eisha $ear $hite collars on their under kimono $hich is a sign of maturity.
A )eisha $ears a $ide, yet simple $hite collar as a sho$ of seniority.
)eisha $ear either !ori or geta, depending on the occasion.


Hair
Maiko
%he hairstyles of maiko, along $ith their kanzashi, are reminiscent of young girls from an age long gone and (uite unlike those of the older, more mature
geiko. A maiko must have gro$n her hair long during her shikomi-san and minarai-san stages so that her o$n natural hair can be dressed up. ,ach hairstyle
indicates the period of a maiko-s apprenticeship that she has currently reached. %hrough the duration of her training, a maiko $ill $ear up to five different
hairstyles. wareshinobu, ofuku, sakkou, katsuyama and yakko-shimada. %he latter t$o are hairstyles $orn on special occasions by senior maiko and the
sakkou style is $orn on her graduation from being a maiko to becoming a geiko. "t is a sign of a productive and hard apprenticeships to have a small, bald
patch from the ornate hair styles.
/ishidashi
0or her mishidashi &debut), the young minarai-san has her hair dressed in $hat is easily one of the most elaborate hairstyles she $ill $ear through the entire
time as a maiko. %his particular hairstyle is decorated $ith a large and interesting assortment of kanzashi. 0irstly, her hair is dressed up in the traditional
wareshinobu style, $hich is said to accentuate the 'loveliness' of the maiko. %his particular hairstyle is easily recogni!able due to the t$o strips of red silk
ribbon, $ith $hite spotted pattern, called kanoko, that has been $oven through the mage &the mass of hair, or 'bun' on the cro$n), and visible through the
hair on the top and bottom section. After, $hen she is a full-fledged maiko, she continues to $ear the wareshinobu hairstyle for the next three years. %hrough
this period of time, she $ill $ear her kanzashi in accordance to the strict monthly seasonal calendar.

Wareshinobu
%he maiden hairstyle of a maiko, called wareshinobu, is characteri!ed by a bagel-shaped, rolled knot $orn high on her head, decorated $ith ribbons,
ornaments, and silk flo$ers. %he wareshinobu is decorated $ith kanzashi relevant to the month and the season. 0or the event of misidashi, the ne$ /aiko
$ill $ear t$o fan shaped bira-bira-kan &fluttering kan!ashi), tortoiseshell kan!ashi $orn on both sides at the front and one at the back &$ith symbols
representing the current season), tortoiseshell kushi &comb), tama kan!ashi &coral), kanoko-dome and miokuri &t$o sets of three rectangular decorations of
red silver and gold, located at the bottom of the mage).

1fuku
When an apprentice geisha has lost her virginity, her hairstyle $ill change. A less decorated style $ith the knot lo$er do$n, called ofuku, means the maiko
has had her first sexual experience. A young maiko $ill change to the ofuku hairstyle of the senior maiko after her mizuage, or $hen she gets her first danna.
%his change $ill take place bet$een the ages of thirteen and fifteen, and is a mark of change in the maturity and advancement of the maiko. 2isually, from
the front, the hairstyle looks very similar to the wareshinobu except for the kanoko sho$ing at the top of the mage in the wareshinobu style. At the back
though, it is distinctly different $ith the kanoko being replaced by a chirimen tegarami. %he tegarami, $hich is triangular in shape, is pinned to the bottom of
the mage, rather than being $oven through the mage as in the previous style. %he maiko $ill $ear the ofuku hairstyle for the duration of her training up until
t$o $eeks to a month before her eri-kae &turning of collar) $here she $ill don the elaborate sakkou hairstyle. 3eing a senior maiko, she is also no$ able to
$ear both the katsuyama and yakko-shimada hairstyles for special events and festivals.
4akko-shimada atsuyama
0or the 5e$ 4ear-s period, senior maiko $ill $ear the yakko-shimada style $ith kanzashi that has an eyeless pigeon and dried ears of rice. %he second event
that the yakko-shimada is $orn is for *etsubun, the eve of spring $hich occurs on the third of 0ebruary. Whilst it is dressed similarly at the back $ith thick
shibori ribbon, the kanzashi $orn for this event is hana-kanzashi, and sometimes a blue and pink shibori $indmill. %he third event for the year is Hassaku &the
)iving of %hanks), $hich happens annually on the first of August. %he full formal black crested kimono ensemble is re(uired and is $orn along $ith
tortoiseshell kanzashi and the appropriate hana-kanzashi for August. ,ach #uly for the )ion /atsuri, senior /aiko $ear the atsyuama hairstyle &also
sometimes referred to as marumage despite a noticeable difference bet$een the t$o styles) $ith special kan!ashi to represent the summer.
*akkou
Around the age of t$enty-one &or earlier, if the oka-san feels the maiko is mature enough), preparations are put into place for the maiko-s eri-kae ceremony,
her debut as a geiko. %$o $eeks before this ceremony, the maiko $ill have her hair done up in the sakkou hairstyle. #ust as the hairstyle for the beginning of
her apprenticeship, her hairstyle signifying the end of her apprentice is e(ually elaborate and striking. %he sakkou is easily recogni!able by the hair being
piled up and t$isted into loops, $ith one pony tail of hair hanging over the back, cut at the end &'hashi no ke' hashi = bridge ke = hair). %he cutting of the hair
is performed by the oka-san and $hilst the hair cut is not the maiko-s real hair, the significance of this gesture remains the same. to indicate that the maiko is
expressing her $illingness and resolution to devote her life to the arts of geiko.
%he hair ornaments for a maiko are plentiful and extravagant and are matched to the current season, usually displaying a fall of seasonal flo$ers constructed
from beads. Maiko $ear a $ide variety of kanzashi such as tsumami kanzashi made from habutae silk. %hey also $ear kushi or tenkazari $ith silk. %hese
ornaments generally correspond $ith the relevant season and month. *he $ill $ear several different kinds of hairpins. %he silver dangling hairpin is called a
bira kanzashi, after the tinkling noise it makes $hen the $earer moves. %he maiko also favor the hana kanzashi hairpins , kanoko, kanoko-dome, and the
miokuri &the latter three are rectangles of gold, red and silver). *he has a different hairstyle for each stage in her career. A maiko-s hair is her o$n and is
styled by a professional once a $eek. *ometimes is must be filled $ith paper or hair extensions called ketobo.

Wareshinobu
Ofuku
Sakkou
Katsuyama
Yakko-Shimada

Geisha
6ay to day the hairstyle of the )eisha is a relatively simple bun, ho$ever intricate $igs are $orn for formal occasions and dance recitals. A geiko also $ears
a $ig instead of styling her o$n hair, $hich allo$s her to blend more easily $hen off duty. A geiko $ig is extremely expensive and must be sent to a
professional to be cleaned and restyled every fe$ $eeks. ,ach geiko o$ns around at least three $igs, and they $ould never be seen $ith even one hair out
of place. %he mae-ware is only $orn $hen a geiko is playing a male role in her dance.
Shimada
Mae-ware
Tsubushi-shimada
Makeup
7nder the influence of %-ang 8hina, early geisha and other $omen of the period $ould dye their bro$s a golden yello$. 3eginning in the *ixteenth century,
the geisha began using a $hite foundation made from rice po$der that has since been replaced by a $hite cream. )eisha $ear bright red lipstick, made from
safflo$er extract and often $orn only in the center of the lips to emphasi!e delicacy, femininity and the desired miniature effect. 9ight red rouge made from
crimson flo$er petals $as also $orn.

%he application of the make-up is a time consuming process and must appear (uite daunting for the ne$ maiko to try and perfect. %he make-up is applied
prior to dressing to avoid the risk of getting make-up on their kimono. 0irst, the geisha or maiko often applies nightingale droppings as part of her beauty
regimen to give her skin a pearl-like luminosity. %he nightingale droppings come in little packets $ith the smell removed. %hen, they apply a $ax:oil substance
&$hich is melted in their hand) called bintsuke-abura to their skin. %his is applied to the face, neck, chest and nape area and helps for the $hite paste
&foundation) to adhere. A thin layer of po$der is dusted on carefully. 5ext, $hite po$der is mixed together $ith $ater into a paste and applied $ith a brush to
the face, neck, chest and nape. When applying the foundation, they leave a line of bare skin around their hairline - this gives the illusion of $earing a mask.
After the foundation has been applied, a large sponge is used and patted all over the face, throat, chest and nape of neck. %his serves to soak up the excess
moisture from the $ater - and blend the entire foundation into a fla$less mask.
%he next step is painting in their eyes and eyebro$s. When applying the eye make-up, they have to be very careful and have a steady hand. 1ne mistake in
the application and they might very $ell have to restart the $hole make-up process right from the beginning. %he eyebro$s are dra$n in black $ith a touch of
red. 8harcoal is used to darken them. *he $ill then outline the edges of her eyes $ith red and black as $ell. %he amount of red in the eye make-up starts to
decrease $ith time from $hen a maiko becomes a geisha. ,ventually the red eye colour $ill be minimal or may even be excluded all together.
9ast but not least are her lips. %hey are outlined first and then filled $ith color. %he lips are filled in using a small brush. %he colour comes in a small stick
&traditionally sallflo$er), $hich is melted in $ater. 8rystalli!ed sugar is then added to give it-s luster. 0or their first year, /aiko paint only a little bit of colour on
her center lo$er lip. %his appears to originally originate from the fact that in #apanese history very small lips $here once considered sensual and attractive.

%he bit of skin at the back of the neck is painted into the shape of a serpents tongue and is thought to be highly sensual in #apanese society. 1n the nape of
the neck they leave t$o ;2< shape lines unpainted. 0or special occasions, &$hen a maiko debuts, $hen maiko becomes a geisha and $hen formal kimono is
$orn) they leave three lines unpainted.
Maiko
Maiko paint their faces $hite, but leave a line of bare skin around their natural hairline. %here is also a greater amount of cherry blossom pink blush on the
cheek and eye area, and her eyes are outlined in deep crimson and black, and the eyebro$s are defined $ith a noticeable amount of red or pink under the
black. *he $ill also only partially paint her lip, a small proportion of the lo$er lip in crimson.
Geisha
When geisha $ear the $hite makeup, they leave no bare hair line, due to them $earing katsura. %hey have minimal amount of crimson and black outlining
the eyes, and their eyebro$s are faintly defined $ith red or pink under the black. %he pink blush is subtle hint, and used for contouring. A geiko $ill
sometimes leave out the red on her eyes and eyebro$s completely. *he $ill paint her lips almost in full $ith crimson. A geisha not $earing $hite makeup $ill
$ear a subtle, often natural shade of make-up and her hair pulled back in a simple bun. A full-fledged geiko may $ear simpler, $estern-style makeup once
she has been $orking for three years.

Kimono
A kimono is 'one si!e fits all.' %he length and $idth are ad=usted by the $earer; $hen it-s $ashed, it-s taken apart and re-se$n &the parallel seams are basted
and hand-se$n). %he kimono is al$ays $orn in three layers &the outer kimono and t$o layers of undergarments), regardless of season.
Geiko and maiko al$ays carry a bag $ith a basket $eave bottom topped by a silk dra$string pouch called an ozashiki-kago. "n it she carries makeup for
touchups, a fan, and a fe$ other items.
Maiko
Apprentice geisha $ear highly colorful kimono $ith extravagant obi. Al$ays, the obi is brighter than the kimono she is $earing to give a certain exotic
balance. *he-s $earing furisode, long sleeves, characteristic of young unmarried $omen. %here are different sleeve styles &the longer the sleeves, the
younger the $earer), and colors for different seasons in a $oman-s life.
A maiko $ears a tall platform sandal called an okobo to keep her kimono from dragging.
Geisha
%he geiko kimono is different than that of a normal one. "t hangs lo$er in the back to reveal the neck and the top of the back. 1lder geisha $ear more
subdued patterns and styles.
%he geiko $ear a flat, flip flop looking, sandal called zori. 6uring the summer a sandal is $orn called a geta , named for the sound it makes on the pavement.
Style
'+ crest' &kuro tomesode) kimono, $hich is a black kimono $ith crests &kamon of the o$ners family or okiya) on the front and back of each sleeve and one in
the centre of the back belo$ the collar.
desho, a geisha formal black kimono $ith family crests &kamon) on the sleeves and back.
Season
%he color, pattern, and style of kimono is dependent on the season and the event the geisha is attending. "n the spring, the $aistband &obi) that geisha $ear
become very important. 6uring the springtime, the $aistband $as often more expensive than the kimono and ornately decorated. %he spring kimono also had
a crimson lining. 8ome summer, the lining $as removed, and the kimonos $ere typically of brighter colors and different designs. 6uring the summer months
a thinner kimono made of cotton, called a yukata, is $orn, but the dressing continues to be elaborate $hen she attends ban(uets. "n autumn, the crimson
lining $ould reappear as $ell as ne$ colors and designs. "n the $inter, geisha could be seen $earing a three-(uarter length 'overcoat' lined $ith hand
painted silk over their kimono.

binds the haughty geisha tightly with an obi-=ime, cord.
kimono under$ear, nagauban;
%he back of the neck is considered to be a $oman-s most erotic feature and geisha $ear their collars very lo$ in the back
%he obi, sash, can be styled in the back in many different shapes, including taiko, drum.
)eiko and maiko $ear different shoes along $ith their tabi socks.