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SEARCHThe disconnected cheekbone-grazing layers, and the heavy fringe, are the hallmarks of the hime or princess cut, also sometimes known as the jellyfish cut.
The hime cut is frequently seen in anime and manga, often worn by princess characters.
*Editor's Note: This article was originally published in April 2024 and has been updated.
In the miniseries version of Shōgun (Netlix) and inspired by James Clavell's historical novel, the Japanese royal women wear a haircut that will be familiar to lovers of anime, Japanese pop culture, and even Japanese history. The “hime” cut (from the Japanese word for “princess”) has evolved over the centuries, and today we see interpretations on the runway, in the crowd at Fashion Week, in hair collections, and trending on TikTok where it is sometimes referred to as the jellyfish cut.
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Sometimes called “The Princess Cut" or the anime “jaw-drop haircut,” this style dates back over a thousand years.
Wikipedia quotes Professor Tomita of Yamano College of Aesthetics who describes the cut as having originated from the hairstyles of noblewomen in the Heian period in Japan, which ran from 794 to 1185. In the Edo period (1603-1868), which was the period during which the action of Shōgun is set, the style lives on and is worn by the highborn characters Mariko and Ochiba.
The "hime" style features disconnected sidepieces, cut to the cheek bone or jaw line, and a heavy, blunt fringe. While the traditional cut was more severe, today these shorter side pieces might be blended into layers and waves, making them a bit more low-maintenance.
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