{{Short description|Hairstyle}} {{more citations needed|date=May 2018}} right|thumb|A {{transliteration|ja|hime}} cut wig
The {{nihongo|'''{{transliteration|ja|hime}} cut'''|姫カット||{{IPA|ja|çime̞ ka̠t̚to̞|IPA}}, {{respell|HEE|meh}}; {{literally|princess cut}}|lead=yes}} is a hairstyle consisting of straight, usually cheek-length sidelocks and frontal fringe. The rest of the hair is usually worn long and straightened. The style is thought to have originated, or at least become common, in the Imperial court during 794–1185 CE, when noble women would sometimes grow out their hair for their entire lives.<ref name="yamano"/>
== History == According to Professor Tomita of Yamano College of Aesthetics, the {{transliteration|ja|hime}} cut originated from the hairstyles of noblewomen in the Heian period in Japan.<ref name ="yamano">{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2c9bd3af1c5258653bd7920960fd9e8e39d53e89|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524091946/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2c9bd3af1c5258653bd7920960fd9e8e39d53e89|script-title=ja:日本古来「姫カット」が海外で一大ブームに…「Kawaii」文化が影響? ルーツは平安時代か|language=ja-JP |publisher=Yahoo News Japan|date=2022-05-24 |archive-date=2022-05-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://tokyogirlsupdate.com/hime-cut-hairstyles-20150853123.html |title=What Is the Cuteness of it? Be a True Japanese Princess with Legendary Hime-Cut! |author=YKMK |date=2015-08-08 |website=Tokyo Girls Update |publisher=ALL BLUE inc. |access-date=2017-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904112255/https://tokyogirlsupdate.com/hime-cut-hairstyles-20150853123.html |archive-date=2017-09-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Noblewomen in the Heian period had their hair styled in the {{nihongo||垂髪|subekarashi}} and {{transliteration|ja|amasogi}} styles.{{explain|reason=An explanation, preferably with diagram, of what these looked like would be great.|date=May 2022}} When a woman reached the age of 16, the hair around her ears would be cut shorter than the rest of her hair in a ceremony called {{nihongo||鬢削ぎ|binsogi}}, resulting in short forelocks at the front and long hair at the back. In the Edo period, this ceremony was held on June 16 at the age of 16, and a woman's fiancé or her father or brother cut her hair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%AC%A2%E9%99%A4%E3%83%BB%E9%AC%A2%E6%9E%87%E3%83%BB%E9%AC%A2%E6%9B%BE%E6%9C%A8-2078989|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524095833/https://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%AC%A2%E9%99%A4%E3%83%BB%E9%AC%A2%E6%9E%87%E3%83%BB%E9%AC%A2%E6%9B%BE%E6%9C%A8-2078989|script-title=ja:鬢除・鬢枇・鬢曾木|language=ja|publisher=@DIGITALIO, Inc.|archive-date=2022-05-24 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Garofolo |first=Leann |title=The Centuries-Old Hime Cut Is Now Trending: Here's How To Make It Work For You |url=https://www.hair.com/hime-cut.html |website=Hair.com |date=2022-08-24 }}</ref>
Although not known as the {{transliteration|ja|hime}} cut at the time, the name "{{transliteration|ja|hime}} cut" seems to have been{{when|date=April 2026}} retroactively applied in association with princesses of the Heian aristocracy, due to their depiction in media with the hairstyle.{{fact|date=April 2026}}
Megumi Asaoka, a 1970s idol, is known in Japan for having popularized the {{transliteration|ja|hime}} cut, which became her trademark.<ref name="SANSPO">{{cite web |url=https://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/20180408/geo18040811000002-n1.html |title=【セピア色の輝き】長い黒髪と清楚なルックス、麻丘めぐみ |work=Sanspo |date=2018-04-08 |access-date=2019-03-25 |language=ja-JP }}</ref><ref name="SPONICHI">{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/yomimono/music/anokoro/08/kiji/K20110822001463560.html |title=【1973年８月】わたしの彼は左きき／本人は右利きも麻丘めぐみの“代名詞” |quote=Sponichi article on Megumi Asaoka|access-date=2019-03-25 |date=2011-08-22 |lang=ja-JP}}</ref>
==Styling== thumb|200px|A cosplayer with a {{transliteration|ja|hime}} cut wig (2018) The {{transliteration|ja|hime}} cut is high maintenance for those without naturally straight hair, and requires frequent touch-ups on the sidelocks and front bangs in order to maintain its shape. Hair straightening is sometimes used to achieve the hairstyle's straight appearance, as well as straightening irons and specially formulated shampoos for straight hair. Humidity is also cited as a problem with certain hair types, as the curling caused by excess humidity can change the shape of the hair. Occasionally, hair extensions are used for the side locks in order to prevent this.{{fact|date=April 2026}}
The hairstyle is frequently seen in Lolita fashion, especially the classification of Gothic Lolita. Within the Lolita community, the {{transliteration|ja|hime}} cut is considered a more elegant alternative to other styles that may require frequent curling and crimping that can permanently damage the hair.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
==See also== * Hairstyles of Japanese women * Hikimayu (''hime'' eyebrows) * List of hairstyles * Pageboy * Pixie cut
==References== {{reflist|1}}
==Bibliography==
==External links== *{{Wiktionary-inline}}
{{Human hair}}
{{Italic title|string=Hime}}
Category:Hairstyles Category:2010s fashion Category:Japanese fashion