Back when the internet didn’t exist yet, tutorials were often given in schools, found in magazines, books, or passed through example or word of mouth. Many people would opt to wing it every now and then, seeing where they go from there. Well, gone are those times. People now have detailed explanations on how to get things done at their fingertips. The reason for this sudden spread and availability of information online is because of the boom in personal blogs and video logs (otherwise known as vlogs) that the public is free to upload and share with everyone. Nowadays, you can access both written and video tutorials of almost anything – be it building an object from scratch, or learning how to style yourself a certain way.
Tutorials and Hobbies: Try Them the Japanese Way
Because you have so much freedom to choose what to do and create, it can be a little intimidating to choose the right guide, or which tutorials to go for. So many people from different cultures and walks of life have their advice to share. What’s currently trending in terms of tutorials are those that pertain to many practices in Japanese culture. Be it recreating their makeup looks, hair styles, nail art, food, or even language, it’s fun to learn more about their ways of life. Here are some tips and tricks gathered from those tutorials that will hopefully give you more insight to these looks and hobbies, as well as answer the questions you’ve been wanting to ask.
Kawaii Style: What Makes A Japanese Makeup Tutorial Special
For sure, you’d wonder what makes Japanese makeup tutorials different from the rest. Why not just type in “makeup tutorial” and click on any video on YouTube or highly endorsed blog on Google? The answer is their kawaii culture. The word “kawaii” is Japanese for cute, and pertains to a certain lifestyle, as well as look, that Japanese girls have created and styled themselves with since the 70’s. You’ll notice that the Japanese kawaii makeup look aims for more drama around the eyes; the bigger they are, the better. This goes for pupils too – they can be accentuated with black contact lenses. Large eyes are typically associated with the trait of innocence, which the idea of kawaii embodies. Aside from that, the Japanese prefer a generally softer look; light colored lipstick as well as a cheek tint, and supple, matte-textured skin. This can be very different from western makeup tutorials, which don’t focus on the “cuteness” aspect of makeup as much as the Japanese do. Western makeup tutorials, though they come in many forms and styles, differ very much with the final look than kawaii makeup portrays.
There are many different subtypes of kawaii styles that you can try on. Firstly, there’s “Lolita”. This is one of the most popular looks and is paired with fashion that mimics pieces from the Victorian era, particularly in old Europe. The makeup used here makes the subject look very doll-like. Subsets of Lolita include Gothic Lolita and Sweet Lolita. Gothic Lolita tends to use darker, bolder colors on both lips and eyes, with a sheet-white layer of makeup on their face. They dye their hair green/blue, and their dresses tend to be on the darker side as well. The sweet Lolita style subscribes to a more delicate, girlish look. The palette of colors they choose from for both outfit and makeup are predominantly white and pastel. Lipstick hues used are mostly nude to light pink. To complete their look, they carry around dolls that look almost like them. As for a more modern spin on Lolita, there’s fairy-kei, which also uses pastels but incorporates some 80’s themed clothing as well. This is a step behind the kind of kawaii that is used casually, which is “Shibu Kawaii”. While the other kinds of kawaii use thicker, more contrasting shades of makeup, Shibu Kawaii takes on a very neutral-colored, low-key approach. They also dress in normal clothes with a hint of cuteness to them; particularly careful not to overdo it to seem like they’re cosplaying, as the Lolita style does.
How To Apply Kawaii Makeup
Though you’ll notice that many bloggers endorse Japanese beauty brands, you do not necessarily need them (or a stylist) to achieve the kawaii look. You can actually make do with the basic makeup you already have (with a few add-ons, perhaps when it comes to fake eyelashes, certain cheek/lip colors, and contact lenses.)
The first step of a typical kawaii makeup tutorial would be to start with a clean and fresh face, with done eyebrows. Foam with your facial wash, and rinse. Next, moisturize with any moisturizer that suits your skin. Great skincare is optimal in achieving a good kawaii look, as no amount of makeup can make up for a damaged or pimply skin. Next, primer, followed by foundation. Spread the foundation around your face by initially adding them in evenly spaced dots. Add a little bit more to the areas under your eyes to hide dark spots. Pat this out using a makeup sponge from your cheek going outwards; make sure it looks smooth and not cakey. Next, eyeliner; start with your eyeliner pencil from the ends of your eyelid working to the middle of your eyelid. Then, apply eyeliner to the upper and lower waterlines of your eyes as you usually would; from the inner eye corner to the outer eye corner. Look for your lightest, pastel shade of eyeshadow, and cover your lower lash eyeliner with it. Get a darker eyeshadow (brown works well) and add it to the upper layer of your eyelid. After that, add more eyeliner! If you want, you can use liquid eyeliner so it’s a one-step process, and you don’t have to reapply to make it pop out more. Curl your eyelashes, then add mascara (a whole lot of it), and stick on a some of your favorite falsies with some eyelash glue. Curl again with your eyelash curler, and add some more mascara to make it pop out more. Make sure to also use a shiny, light-colored eyeshadow on the inner corners and edges of your eye to give more emphasis on the darker colored drama. Finish off with a few light swipes of pink blush, and a lightly pigmented lipstick/gloss. Bronzer and highlighter are optional.
Basic Insights Gathered from A Japanese Hair Tutorial
It’s important to note that while makeup is very important to look kawaii, it is highly crucial to properly fix the outfit, nails, and hair to complete the entire kawaii getup. As for hair, there are hundreds of different Japanese hairstyles that you can choose from. Categories that are used to sort out these different hairstyles include length, style (bun/updo), natural/wig, and by gender/age; men, women, kids, etcetera. One of the most basic and versatile hairstyles include the Japanese bun. You must have long hair to accomplish this style. Start by tying your hair in a high ponytail. Next turn it into a bun by twisting it up tightly, and circling around the hair-tie shaft it to form a bun. Once in place, pin it with a clip, and fluff up the bun for a natural look. Finish off by adding an accessory, such as a tiara, cute hair clips, or a headband. This is just one of the many styles; some hairdos give the impression of cat ears; more complex ones have beautiful braids. Choose from the many catalogs which style you thinks suits you best.
Don’t forget to keep your hair healthy by making sure you are in tune with its needs. If your hair tends to dry out, sue a moisturizing shampoo as well as a conditioner. You can even add serums after your shower to strengthen and/or moisturize it even more, making it easier to manage when you want to style it later on. Be careful not to blow dry, color, or iron too much, as this can destroy your hair.
The Key Basics of Japanese Nail Art
For the past two decades, Japan’s been the mecca of quirky trends in fashion and art. From makeup, all the way to clothes, their styles are unlike any other. Why should their nail art be any different? The latest buzz in nail art in Japan isn’t as simple as a few rhinestones on a multicolored nail. It gets cooler than that. 3D nail art is all the rage now, with models and figures popping out of the nails. You can pick the design depending on your taste – some examples are little sculptures of desserts, stars, cartoon characters, ribbons, and pearls. Some don’t stick to that, though, and go as far creating masterpieces on them (think 3D beaches with people on them). If you want to do your own nail art, you can try designing one yourself. First, add a clear base coat to your fresh nails, then add a layer of glitter on top. Design it however you want using a nail art pen, and add your other accessories (beads, figures, etcetera) on top using nail glue. Finalize everything by adding a thick glaze of topcoat. Feel free to get creative.
Popular Japanese Food Tutorial Recipe
Japanese food tastes amazing – it’s no wonder that everybody’s looking up how to make some at home. Some of the top searches of Japanese food tutorials are sushi, tempura, sukiyaki, and spicy tuna – restaurant favorites. Sushi is simple to make if you’ve got the equipment and ingredients ready. The recipe requires nori sheets, sushi rice (basically Japanese rice with rice vinegar, salt, and sugar), and fillings. Avocado, omelet, raw tuna, raw salmon, mango, cucumber, and imitation crab are some of what you can add to your roll. To start the procedure, spread the nori first on your bamboo rolling mat, and then dip your hand in cold water (so the rice doesn’t stick) and form a ball of rice. Spread that rice thinly throughout the nori wrap, but leave a fourth of the nori sheet on top empty. Line your rice with your preferred ingredients, making sure to spread them from tip to tip. Once you’re done, carefully lift the bottom of the bamboo mat and roll, tucking in at your first handful. Continue rolling, and tuck in again. Do this until you have a full roll. Chop it up using a knife, and you’ve got yourself some sushi.
A Tutorial On How To Make A Japanese Paper Doll
3D paper dolls in Japanese are called “washi ningyo”, “shiori ningyo” or bookmark dolls, and have been around for almost 500 years (almost as old as the abacus). They’re also called big sister dolls, or “anesama ningyo”, because of their history of being made by the elder sisters in families during Japan’s feudal period. They were used as aspirational toys by girls from middle-class families who longed to have the luxurious lives of women who belonged to richer families. Now, they are made as a fun hobby. They are often dressed up in elaborate kimonos made from special paper. To make one yourself, all you need are black crepe paper, 3 pieces of differently designed origami paper, cardstock, glue, and scissors. Cut out the “neck” of the doll (a small rectangle), and use that as your base; attaching that to a cut out of a head. Roll your origami, paper stop when your roll gets to the middle. Drape that over the “neck” of your doll as a supposed kimono, and keep folding inwards. You may give them sleeves and different hairstyles for the head, depending on your taste. You have as much creative freedom as you want to create your doll.
How Easy Is It To Complete A Japanese Flower Crochet Tutorial?
While crocheting may seem difficult, it’s really all about patterns. It’s pretty easy to create one once you’ve gotten used to the motions and pace. There are hundreds of different yarns and colors to choose from to create a personal design, too. All you need are the different yarns you’re going to use to create it, as well as audio-visual instructions on how to do it, so you have an easier time. It’s a fun hobby that even kids can do once they get the hang of it, and you can use them as coasters for your drink when you’re done.
Finding A Great Japanese Language Tutorial
You don’t have to pay top dollar or go to a school to learn Japanese. There are so many resources online that you can use to brush up on your Japanese, and if you’re dedicated and persistent enough with each lesson, you will pick up a big chunk of the language; both speech and writing. Premium services may require a little more payment, though, so you may want to consider investing in them. Make sure to check reviews about tutorial websites to get only the best quality lessons.