The Maiko wears a red collar and a long swinging obi that falls far below that of a more mature Geisha. A Maiko kimono is colorful and elaborate as well as expensive and is called a Hizikuri. On the night of her Omisedashi a Maiko paints only her bottom lip red, but eventually the top as well. A Maiko's hair is her own and is styled by a professional once a week. Sometimes is must be filled with paper or hair extensions called ketobo for volume. She must sleep with her head elevated on an omaku (pillow) to keep her elaborate hair intact.
She will wear several different kinds of hairpins. The silver dangling hairpin is called a bira kanzashi , After the tinkling noise it makes when the wearer moves. The maiko also favor the hana kanzashi hairpins , kanoko, kanoko-dome, and the miokuri (the latter three are rectangles of gold, red and silver). She has a different hairstyle for each stage in her career.
1- Wareshinobu
2 - Ofuku
3 - Katsuyama
4 - Yakko-Shimada
5 - Sakko
© Sofia Patterson Karyukai