The art of Shironuri Makeup

Shironuri is an fascinating Japanese street fashion that combines old hints of Kabuki makeup with the insanity that is modern day Japanese Harajuku asthetic. I love it. Shironuri is one of my favorite things to do for photo shoots. I really try to do two or three looks a year, though whether or not that happens generally varies because the makeup and outfits require a lot of fore thought and the photo shoots require a really talented photographer.

Picking a photographer for a Shironuri Shoot is really difficult because when you apply Shironuri makeup you're basically erasing all the contours of your face, and starting from scratch, and the paint is super super reflective, so your photographer has to be aware of how different it is too shoot compared to a normal cosplay or fashion shoot

Photographer: Kaze Photography

Shironuri comes in many different styles. The most popular to westerners is probably the Mori, or forest style that was made popular by Shironuri artist Minori

Photo Credit- Minori

Minori is a crazy talented artist and seamstress and the reason that Shironuri has reached as far as it has. She made it into a true art form by connecting her hand made outfits and stunning makeup to the scenery in which she shoots.

But Shironuri doesn't only have to be the look of fairies and forest nymphs. While that look is most definitely gorgeous, Shironuri seems to have it's roots in much darker, Gothic looks. Mixing it with a black and red seifuku for instance is still a very popular look that pops up a lot around Halloween.

On the streets of Harajuku itself though one of the most wearable looks seems to go with mixing it with Lolita fashion

Photo Cred: Tokyo Fashion

This is a look that, other then recreating Minori's famous  vintage woodsy aesthetic, is a look that is very popular among western fans as well. A look that I, myself, am personally really fond of. It is allows you to mix the fun of the makeup with clothing that is already well suited to reflect the stark contrast of whatever makeup you choose to use

Photo Cred: Tiger Shot Productions

Photo Cred: Superrlynn Photography

 Personally what I love most about Shironuri though is being able to tell a story with your makeup. You can create a character, a personality, and a world all what you paint on your face, and that to me is the most exciting part of the makeup. I look forward to a chance to do even bigger projects with more photographers in the future, and to seeing what the ever growing number of shironuri artists are able to produce as well.