All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
When Candy Richens won a hair makeover from Alchemy Salon in Collingwood, Australia, she knew exactly what she wanted to ask for: the hime cut. The hairstyle, which means "princess" in Japanese, has historical roots and consists of blunt frontal fringe and face-framing side pieces, with the remaining hair worn long and straight down the back.
As W explained last year, the hime cut was a common look in the Imperial court during the Heian period in Japanese history, when noblewomen would grow their hair out to extreme lengths. And now it's returned to the trend cycle, with K-pop girl group superstars like Momo from TWICE and Lisa from Blackpink rep the style. The Haim sisters have sported hime cuts as well, as have models from the Prada's Spring 2021 ready-to-wear collection.
- Becc Snow, a hairstylist and owner of Alchemy Salon in Collingwood, Australia.
- Skip Fellers, hairstylist, educator, and owner of Neon Moon Salon in Asheville, North Carolina.
- Drea Russolillo, cofounder and owner of Motive Hair Group in Austin, Texas.
On social media, the hime cut has captured the attention of TikTok audiences for its unique shape and interesting origins. Stylist and Alchemy Salon owner Becc Snow posted Richens' makeover on the app, where it was viewed over 415,000 times.
TikTok content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
Who is the hime cut for?
A hime cut is not for the faint of heart. It's a style that requires heavy maintenance and upkeep, especially for those of us with a little curl or texture. Not to worry, though: most stylists insist that just about anyone can wear this look. Skip Fellers, owner and educator of Neon Moon Salon in Asheville, North Carolina, makes a case for the style's versatility, "This haircut works best for anyone who likes to have fun and reinvent themselves," says Fellers.
How is a hime cut performed?
So, what actually happens during a hime cut? First, the stylist will use a 6-inch scissor to cut a blunt bang right above the eyebrow, and then soften edges by point cutting, which adds texture to the ends of hair.
Then, as Fellers explains, stylists will "cut 1-inch deep into the client's cheekbone while lightly layering up towards the very top of their cheekbone." The rest of the cut is kept the same length.
How do you style a hime cut?
No matter one's hair texture, the cut requires a commitment to regular heat-styling. It's all about getting familiar with your tools. "The hime cut takes on different personalities whether you wear it super flatironed and sleek, or create flips around your face with a big curling iron," Fellers says.
Drea Russolillo, cofounder and owner of Motive Hair Group in Austin, Texas agrees that it's best to set expectations when shooting for the coveted hime style, because it requires a significant amount of heat-styling. "I use a blow-dryer and a small, 1-inch round brush to style [my clients]," she said.
Russolillo mentions that it's crucial to start with your bangs when styling your cut. "Bangs are the shortest pieces and will dry quickly. To get them into the shape you want, always dry them first and don't give them a chance to dry on their own," she adds.
The salon owner adds that a tight-hold mousse or the balm-like Liquid Spell from Davines on wet or dry hair will do the trick. Allure recommends the Best of Beauty-winning Rucker Roots Texture Styling Mousse, which keeps strands in place without feeling too goop-y on the hair.
Russolillo is behind the style on Kaylee Grundon, a new hime cut adopter. "Before I went for the hairstyle, I wish I had taken my face shape into consideration," says Grundon. "I have chubby cheeks, which were emphasized with this cut. Not that that's a bad thing, it just threw me off." Grundon also mentions that her hair is naturally wavy, which can be tricky when the hime hairstyle is your end goal.
Instagram content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
The cut favors naturally straight hair, but of course, there are ways around it. Grundon likes to style it with the shortest layers curled inwards toward the face. This can be achieved with a curling iron or flatiron, taking sections and curling the ends of each side framing piece inwards.
"I wish I knew the response I would get from people on TikTok," Richens, who won the makeover, says. "It seems the hairstyle is more divisive than I realized. But I love it either way." She recommends curling the hime's long ends outward with a blow-dryer and a round brush for a '60s-style, kitschy look.
Australian TikToker Rem posted a video explaining the style's origins and cultural significance and went viral almost overnight. It seems that even with straight hair, a hime cut is a little hard to achieve without styling tools.
TikTok content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
"Since my hair is cut short, the rest of my hair would often curl and twist in different directions," Rem says. After lots of trial and error, Rem now has things down to a science. "I recommend styling it into place and drying your hair immediately after stepping out of the shower. A hime cut is known for its sleek straight look and is definitely hindered from its full potential when there are random bits straying."
How do you grow out a hime cut?
Hime bangs are thick and extremely layered. Grundon admits that the grow-out process is an arduous one. "Be ready to pin some layers back," she says. The grown-out style will gradually fill out and fall past the cheeks and jawline, which is not something that everyone is into.
Grundon agrees that while the growth process is tough, she doesn't mind it all that much. "I'm loving the current just-below-the-chin length. I think it looks great with a blowout. Still a heavy layer to work with, but I'm into it," she adds.
Rem agrees that the grow-out phase can be grueling to work with at times. "There's always that awkward phase where it's too long to look like a traditional hime cut, and too short to have it blended into layers with the rest of your hair."
If you cannot find the time to head to your salon for regular touch-ups that maintain that sharp, blunt look, then a hair gloss like the Drybar's Liquid Glass Instant Glossing Rinse will keep up that sleek and glossy finish for those longer bits of the hime hairstyle. The Kristin Ess Signature Hair Gloss is an ammonia-free formula that works to preserve color-treated hair.
While the hime can be slightly intimidating, it's certainly achievable with a little help from your styling tools — and a bit of confidence, too.
Read more about TikTok trends:
- "Vanilla Almond Butter" Is TikTok's Favorite Summer Hair Color
- How This BeautyTok Superstar Gained Over 13 Million Followers in Two Years
- Can TikTok's Beauty Filters Help You Do Your Own Makeup?
And now, learn how bob haircuts aren't just for straight hair:
