Japan’s “Unique Skin Girls” turn heads with new trend celebrating colourful skintones

We’ve seen some crazy trends in fashion come out of Japan, but this is definitely one of the most unusual yet.

A Japanese model and DJ called Miyako has been making news around the country recently for her bright and colourful fashion choices, which include colouring her skin.

Called “ishoku hada“, which translates to “unique skin” or “remarkable skin“, the new trend involves the use of colourful body paint to help recreate the appearance of magical characters seen in anime, manga and video games.

#新しいプロフィール画像 https://t.co/lil9Y95DyV

—
miyako (@miyakocore) June 26, 2017

Miyako’s involvement in the ishoku hada scene was a natural progression, as she was already a big fan of the dark tans and heavy makeup seen in ganguro styles, a “gyaru” fashion trend that bucks conventional ideals of feminine beauty for individuality, self-expression, and freedom.

ウチらが一番カワイイし❤️💛💚💙💜🖤💖 #異色肌 #異色肌ギャル https://t.co/sKaM56pokM

—
miyako (@miyakocore) June 26, 2017

Ishoku hada takes self-expression and unconventional beauty to a whole new level, with multi-coloured wigs, bright contact lenses and colourful accessories essential to pulling off the look.

女の子複数人で異色肌ギャルやりたいぽよ https://t.co/ilTuqGmkpc

—
miyako (@miyakocore) May 09, 2017

At the centre of the trend, though, is coloured skin, which appears in all shades of the rainbow and more. The brighter and more outlandish the shade, the better.

ちゅ💋 #異色肌ギャル https://t.co/BKR3kK7OQn

—
miyako (@miyakocore) July 01, 2017

念願の！！！ #異色肌ギャル あわせ企画主催させていただきました(°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥o°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ )人 (°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥-°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ )🌈🌈🌈🌈 可愛すぎて素敵すぎて言葉にならないから、また明日写真沢山沢山載せ… http://twitter.com/i/web/status/8…

—
miyako (@miyakocore) June 25, 2017

異色肌併せ🌈 撮影 @mud_skii さん かっこいい(つェ⊂) ありがとうございました💗 安定のソノラマ子との併せ、魔女の子分感気に入っている💗 #異色肌ギャル https://t.co/HeeWLq3U5W

—
ぬかみそ。7/23喰種併せ♡ (@nukamisokami) June 26, 2017

And if you’re wondering how much of their body is covered in pigment, these clips below will help to answer that question.

💜💛🖤イショク倶楽部🖤💛💜 紫尻 @b_c_miku 黄尻 @cherry2_m 濃灰尻 @mknlin 監督 miyako💗 #異色肌 #異色肌ギャル https://t.co/EWOUghp13k

—
miyako (@miyakocore) July 03, 2017

赤鬼ギャル好評で嬉しい👹 赤鬼は制服以外も着るんだよ👹 尊敬する鬼はOMI化郎さんだよ👹 通知が多くてリプが辿れなくなっちゃったごめんなさい👹 #異色肌ギャル https://t.co/mjGyNPjqPE

—
ノグチユキ (@rumico_jp) June 30, 2017

Miyako and the ishoku hada girls have even inspired fan art online.

miyakoさんの異色肌ギャルがめちゃくちゃ良かったので思わず描いてしまった…… #異色肌ギャル https://t.co/3EB6qRZMD0

—
凸ノ高秀 (@totsuno) July 03, 2017

衝撃的で　つい　描いてしまいましてん　粗いですが。（:　´-`）.｡oO #異色肌 #異色肌ギャル https://t.co/oVNdeB68FO

—
サディスト冷冷 ファッション勢 (@SadistReirei) June 27, 2017

最近話題の異色肌ギャルがとにかくされてる方がポップでセクシーで可愛くてたまらなくてうちのギャル女子にも異色肌メイク挑戦させてみたくなったよね！　#異色肌ギャル https://t.co/tYJb4Ww8CY

—
岩飛猫 (@iwawotobuneko) July 02, 2017

Like ganguro and gyaru fashion, isshoku hada is a niche street style that is anything but mainstream. Since Miyako and the isshoku hada girls appeared online last month, though, they’ve already spawned fans who’ve quickly taken up the style, posting their own photos online with the hashtag #異色肌ギャル (#IshokuHadaGirl).

So if you happen to spot a flash of colour at a cosplay event or on the streets of Harajuku, make sure you head towards it – chances are it might end up being Mr Sato, who’s bound to get in on the ishoku hada trend following his experience as a gyaru at the Ganguro Cafe in Tokyo.

Source: Kai-You
Featured image: Twitter/@miyakocore

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