Gyaru Slang & Terminology Glossary

The Japanese phonetic transliteration of "gal," used to describe fashion-forward women who reject traditional societal norms through expressive cosmetics, hairstyles, and street fashion.

The 1990s high school Gyaru substyle known for modified school uniforms, slouchy white loose socks, tanned skin, and chapatsu dyed hair.

Slouchy, extra-long white athletic socks (often 100cm–150cm) bunched in heavy gathers around the calves and ankles, held up with specialized sock glue.

An elaborate teased hairstyle featuring a towering crown bouffant backcombed over hair padding, layered with clearly defined, lacquered spiral hair streaks.

An extreme late-1990s substyle characterized by deep salon bronzed skin, bright white matte concealer across the eyelids and nose bridge, and bleached hair.

A nocturnal, glamorous substyle popularized by hostess models in Koakuma Ageha magazine, featuring satin corsets, black lace, cat-eye eyeliner, and sujimori hair.

The "Princess Gal" substyle emphasizing Rococo and Victorian aesthetics: pastel pink babydoll dresses, tiaras, lace, pearls, and massive bouffant curls.

Casual Princess gal style—a wearable, everyday romantic version of Hime Gyaru famous for soft floral prints, cardigans, and vintage English cottage charm.

Literally "tea hair." The practice of dyeing naturally black Japanese hair to light brown, caramel, copper, or honey shades, popularized as a school protest in the 1990s.

False eyelashes. In Gyaru makeup, tsukematsuge are essential, frequently layered with multiple pairs on both the upper and lower lash lines to dramatically enlarge the eye.

"Droop eyes." An eye makeup technique where eyeliner and lower lashes are drawn downward past the natural outer eye corner to create an innocent, round, doe-like gaze.

"Slanted eyes." An eye makeup technique utilizing sharp, upward-angled liquid eyeliner wings to create a fierce, seductive feline cat eye.

Cosmetic contact lenses featuring an enlarged, tinted outer limbal ring that creates the visual effect of an oversized iris and doll-like eyes.

A synchronized Japanese dance style characterized by precise hand and arm gestures performed to high-tempo Eurobeat music in Shibuya clubs and street circles.

Short for Gal Circle. Grassroots social clubs formed by teenage and young-adult Gyaru for mutual support, event organizing, fashion networking, and friendship.

The iconic cylindrical department store at Shibuya crossing in Tokyo that served as the commercial and cultural epicenter of the Gyaru fashion revolution.

The male counterpart to Gyaru fashion, characterized by tanned skin, styled and dyed hair, silver jewelry, and body-conscious streetwear or rock apparel.

An early-2000s evolution of Ganguro featuring deep dark skin, round white "panda eye" makeup circles, neon stickers, floral hair clips, and brightly colored clothes.

Japanese photo sticker booths. In the 1990s and 2000s, gals decorated and traded purikura photo stickers in specialized photo albums to commemorate friendships.

A mild, skin-safe roll-on adhesive used by high school Kogyaru to hold heavy, bunched loose socks in place on their calves during the school day.