The sakko hairstyle

Hairstyle

A hairstyle, hairdo, or haircut refers to the styling of hair, usually on the human head. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal grooming, fashion, and cosmetics, although practical, cultural, and popular considerations also influence some hairstyles.-History of...

 is used by maiko

Geisha

, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...

 today, but was used in the Edo period

Edo period

The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....

 for a wife to show dedication to her husband. Maiko use it for a ceremony called Erikae

Erikae

is a ceremony where a maiko becomes a geisha and begins to wear the white collar of a geisha instead of the red worn by apprentices. Her hairstyle would also be changed to the shimada worn by older women, from the ofuku-style....

, or from maiko to geiko. Maiko use black wax to stain their teeth as well as this. Crane items kanzashi

Kanzashi

are hair ornaments used in traditional Japanese hairstyles. Some believe they may also have been used for defence in an emergency.In the English-speaking world, the term "kanzashi" is sometimes applied to the folded cloth flowers that traditionally adorned tsumami kanzashi, or to the technique used...

 are added as well as tortoiseshell

Tortoiseshell material

Tortoiseshell or tortoise shell is a material produced mainly from the shell of the hawksbill turtle, an endangered species. It was widely used in the 1960s and 1970s in the manufacture of items such as combs, sunglasses, guitar picks and knitting needles...

items. It's twisted in many knots, so it is quite striking and elaborate.