Gyaru Guides: Tips on Being Gyaru in a Strict Environment

A few days ago, I received a secret share message with what is perhaps the question I get asked most frequently. It said:

"Any tips on being a gyaru as a teen? I have strict parents and an even more strict school(uniform, no makeup, no nails, no weird hairstyles etc) so I was wondering how I can have the gal vibe everywhere"

I posted this as a bulletin, but of course, not all of my readers can/have seen it, so I decided to post the tips I shared on my blog! Since this is one of the questions I get asked all the time, I wanted to take a moment to go really in depth with the information. Everyone deserves to be gal, no matter what environment they might be living in, and I hope some of this information can be helpful!

Now, let's get down to business... (To defeat the huns...)

So, to answer this question, I must first pose a question to you: Are you serious about Gyaru?

This is a question and answer that a lot of people are not going to like, but it is a necessary one.

The basis of being a gal, and especially a Kogal (for those who don't know, teenage/high school-aged gals are classified as Kogyaru), all depends on how much you're willing to break the rules! As I'm sure we're all aware, the original gals also had to deal with strict dress codes. Therefore, if you're serious about being a gal, I think you have to make peace with being seen as a bit of a delinquent or a rule breaker. Lots of baby (beginner) gals are afraid to be fully gal because of rules imposed on them by their school and/or parents, so if you're not prepared to break some rules, I think you should find a style to engage in that isn't gal. The core of our identity as gals is that we are eccentric, and we have to look the part as well. All this to say, my first piece of advice is: Commit to being a gal or move on. Don't be a Pagal (half-assed gal)! It's going to be very difficult to be a gal in a strict environment, so it's important to be realistic.

Now, if you are serious and up to the challenge, here's how I would start: The way I began my Gyaru journey was very similar to that of acclimating a goldfish... You can't rush it! Thankfully, my mom isn't very strict, nor did I have a dress code to worry about when I was a Kogal, but I still had to be thoughtful in my approach. Let's face it, Gyaru looks a bit insane to those on the outside, and I wanted to avoid an extreme negative reaction based on how shocking I looked. Typing this out makes me laugh, since these days, I almost revel in the dirty looks I get from people, but I think this goes to show how far one can come in their Gyaru journey.

My recommendation is to very gradually implement aspects of gal into your appearance and behavior. If your parents are strict, do it so slowly at first that they hardly notice it. Warm them up to it so by the time you're getting more extreme, they won't push back as much or have an over-the-top reaction. The same goes for school! Gradually do things like customizing/modifying your uniform to fit the gal style you like (if applicable), and put the dress code to the test. School will likely never ease up on the rules, so this is where being content with breaking the rules comes into play! This is what I call Phase 1: Acclimation.

Here's a list of steps I would take for Phase 1:

1. Decorate your school bag and cellphone. Add cute keychains, pins/buttons, stickers, and phone straps.

2. Start wearing a few accessories. Bracelets, scrunchies, hair clips, earrings, necklaces. Tailor these to whatever style you like.

3. Try out a few hairstyles. This video will most likely help the most.

4. Paint your nails or wear short press-ons. It may be a good idea to start wearing them at home and wear them at school for as long as you can.

5. Remember, take things slow! Do these things for a few weeks or a few months, or whatever your pace may be. Acclimation is the key!

Certain substyles are easier to wear day-to-day and are more casual, but others require a bit of creative thinking and patience. Styles like Manba and Yamanba can definitely be done, but not during phase 1. No matter your style, however, I would look at this Pinterest board I made specifically for baby gals. The makeup looks are simpler and more toned down, and don't require a heavy tareme/droop, contact lenses, or lashes. The looks that do include them can easily be replicated without them, and I included a few blogs with helpful tips. Each look can also be customized depending on which style you like best. Check out my substyles blog for more information on the substyles if you're still discovering your style. I've also included some hair tutorials!

Practice at home to get yourself comfortable with hair and makeup, and once you feel ready, try implementing parts of them into your school/everyday outfits. Hair, nails, and accessories will be the easiest and least noticeable way to begin, and will get you as close to Gyaru as possible without makeup. The board has a few easy nail tutorials that can be done with regular polish and items you probably have lying around. Short press-on nails are also available, but they might be a bit too noticeable for school. If tanning is possible for you, or if a tan goes with your style, start slowly. Although I love a dark, Snooki orange tan, I don't recommend it for someone tanning for the first time, or for a baby gal. Instead, start with something like a tanning/bronzing gel. It won't pack a heavy punch, but it will provide some very slight color that will be easy to get away with, and they are widely available. For my American friends, there's a good one at Dollar Tree that I recommend. This is how you get to the second and final phase, Phase 2: Implementation.

Here's a list of steps for Phase 2:

1. Afterwards, start modifying your uniform (if applicable). Coupled with the accessories, hair, and nails, this should get you as close to being a gal as possible without makeup. Here's a visual representation:

This is based on a Japanese uniform, but it could be helpful on the off chance it is similar to yours! This is just an example of ways to change up a school uniform, as well as some examples of accessories.

2. Start implementing makeup into your look. Start small with mascara, eyebrows, lip gloss, or whatever is most comfortable for you. You can also start tanning slowly at this point.

3. Keep evolving your style! Whether you prefer a more casual style like Roma or a flashier style like Kuro, always push the limits! Challenge yourself!

You may decide to keep your gal make/coord on the simpler side for school, and that's fine! This way, you're at least wearing Gyaru most days out of the week, which is more than most baby gals are able to achieve. I think being Kogal is a great way to get used to wearing Gyaru, since its a lifestyle that requires a lot of commitment. It will make the transition from Kogal to Gyaru easier if you intend to be a gal long-term.

Now, keep in mind that this is not a one-size-fits-all guide. For some, this might be a piece of cake, and for others, this might still be too difficult. However, if you're truly serious about Gyaru, then dont let anything or anyone stop you! I have faith in all my baby gal friends~!

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, or feel free to shoot me an IM! I'm always happy to answer questions~! If you're a veteran gal reading this, feel free to leave some tips and tricks of your own in the comments! In other news, I'll be posting the next round of blog topping voting sometime today, so please look out for that! Thank you all so much for reading, and I hope to see you again soon~

Remember, Antama loves you~!

Kiss kiss~ ☆⌒ヽ(*'､^*)chu