Gyaru is not just one fashion style. It includes many different substyles, each with its own approach to clothing, makeup, hairstyles, tanning, and overall aesthetic. Some gyaru styles are soft and feminine, while others are bold, glamorous, colorful, or heavily tanned.
If you are trying to understand the difference between Hime Gyaru, Onee Gyaru, Shiro Gyaru, Kogyaru, Ganguro, Manba, Yamanba, Agejo, and Banba, comparing them side by side is much easier than looking at each style separately. The table below gives you a quick overview of the biggest differences.
Gyaru Styles Comparison Chart
| Gyaru Style | Main Aesthetic | Makeup | Hair | Skin/Tan | Fashion | Overall Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hime Gyaru | Princess, romantic | Doll-like & dramatic | Large curls, elaborate | Usually light | Lace, bows, dresses | Feminine & luxurious |
| Onee Gyaru | Mature, elegant | Glamorous & polished | Long, styled curls | Light to lightly tanned | Sophisticated & fitted | Mature & elegant |
| Shiro Gyaru | Soft, cute, feminine | Soft but defined | Feminine, curled | Usually light | Cute, pastel, feminine | Sweet & polished |
| Kogyaru | Youthful, school-inspired | Defined gyaru makeup | Long & styled | Often tanned | Uniform-inspired | Playful & youthful |
| Ganguro | Bold, rebellious | High-contrast & dramatic | Bleached, voluminous | Deeply tanned | Colorful & flashy | Bold & rebellious |
| Manba | Extreme, colorful | Very exaggerated | Bright & voluminous | Deeply tanned | Neon & colorful | Wild & playful |
| Yamanba | Ultra-extreme | Highly exaggerated | Bright & dramatic | Deeply tanned | Neon & flashy | Extreme & eye-catching |
| Agejo Gyaru | Sexy, glamorous | Heavy & glamorous | Large curls | Light to lightly tanned | Sexy & luxurious | Glamorous & mature |
| Banba | Colorful, playful | Dramatic but softer | Light/bright & styled | Tanned | Bright & colorful | Fun & colorful |
| Gyaru-kei | Trendy, feminine | Glamorous & wearable | Styled & voluminous | Varies | Trendy & everyday | Wearable & feminine |
Hime vs Onee Gyaru
Hime and Onee Gyaru can both look feminine and glamorous, but their aesthetics are noticeably different. Hime Gyaru focuses on a princess-like appearance, while Onee Gyaru has a more mature and sophisticated look.
| Feature | Hime Gyaru | Onee Gyaru |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic | Princess-like | Mature & sophisticated |
| Makeup | Doll-like & dramatic | Polished & glamorous |
| Hair | Elaborate curls | Long, styled hair |
| Clothing | Lace, bows, frills | Elegant, fitted clothing |
| Accessories | Decorative & luxurious | Sophisticated |
| Overall feel | Romantic | Mature |
In short: Hime is more princess-inspired, while Onee is more mature and elegant.
Hime vs Shiro Gyaru
Both styles can have a light, feminine appearance, but Hime is generally more elaborate.
| Feature | Hime Gyaru | Shiro Gyaru |
|---|---|---|
| Main look | Princess | Soft & cute |
| Makeup | Dramatic | Softer |
| Hair | Large, elaborate curls | Soft curls |
| Clothing | Frilly & luxurious | Feminine & cute |
| Colors | Often romantic/light | Often soft & pastel |
| Intensity | High | More understated |
In short: Hime is the more elaborate and princess-like option, while Shiro has a softer feminine aesthetic.
Hime vs Kogyaru
Hime and Kogyaru represent very different sides of gyaru fashion.
| Feature | Hime Gyaru | Kogyaru |
|---|---|---|
| Main aesthetic | Princess | Youthful |
| Clothing | Dresses, lace, frills | School-inspired fashion |
| Makeup | Doll-like | Defined gyaru makeup |
| Hair | Elaborate curls | Long & styled |
| Skin | Usually light | Often tanned |
| Overall feel | Elegant & romantic | Playful & youthful |
Hime vs Ganguro
These two styles sit toward very different ends of the gyaru spectrum.
| Feature | Hime Gyaru | Ganguro |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic | Princess | Bold & rebellious |
| Skin | Usually light | Deeply tanned |
| Makeup | Doll-like | High-contrast |
| Hair | Large curls | Often bleached |
| Clothing | Feminine & luxurious | Colorful & flashy |
| Overall feel | Romantic | Rebellious |
Onee vs Shiro Gyaru
Onee and Shiro can both have feminine and polished appearances, but Onee generally has a more mature aesthetic.
| Feature | Onee Gyaru | Shiro Gyaru |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic | Mature | Soft & cute |
| Makeup | Glamorous | Soft & feminine |
| Clothing | Elegant & fitted | Cute & feminine |
| Hair | Long & polished | Soft curls |
| Overall feel | Sophisticated | Sweet |
Onee vs Agejo Gyaru
Onee and Agejo are both associated with mature-looking gyaru fashion, but Agejo generally emphasizes glamour and sex appeal more strongly.
| Feature | Onee Gyaru | Agejo Gyaru |
|---|---|---|
| Main aesthetic | Elegant | Sexy & glamorous |
| Makeup | Polished | Heavy & glamorous |
| Clothing | Sophisticated | Body-conscious & luxurious |
| Hair | Styled & polished | Large curls |
| Overall feel | Refined | Glamorous |
Shiro vs Ganguro
Shiro and Ganguro provide almost opposite approaches to skin tone and overall appearance.
| Feature | Shiro Gyaru | Ganguro |
|---|---|---|
| Skin | Light | Deeply tanned |
| Makeup | Soft/defined | High-contrast |
| Fashion | Cute & feminine | Colorful & flashy |
| Hair | Feminine styling | Often bleached/voluminous |
| Overall feel | Soft | Bold |
Kogyaru vs Ganguro
Kogyaru and Ganguro are both associated with tanned gyaru aesthetics, but their fashion and overall presentation are different.
| Feature | Kogyaru | Ganguro |
|---|---|---|
| Main aesthetic | Youthful | Rebellious |
| Clothing | School-inspired | Colorful & flashy |
| Skin | Often tanned | Deeply tanned |
| Makeup | Defined | Dramatic/high-contrast |
| Hair | Long & styled | Often bleached |
| Overall feel | Playful | Bold |
Ganguro vs Manba vs Yamanba
These three styles are closely related, but their degree of exaggeration and styling can differ.
| Feature | Ganguro | Manba | Yamanba |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanning | Deep | Very deep | Very deep |
| Makeup | Dramatic | Extremely dramatic | Highly exaggerated |
| Hair | Often bleached | Bright & voluminous | Very bright & dramatic |
| Fashion | Colorful | Neon & colorful | Extremely colorful |
| Overall intensity | High | Very high | Extreme |
In short: Ganguro provides the foundation for a bold, deeply tanned aesthetic, while Manba and Yamanba push the colorful and exaggerated elements further.
Manba vs Banba
Manba and Banba share colorful elements, but Banba is generally a softer interpretation.
| Feature | Manba | Banba |
|---|---|---|
| Makeup | Extreme | Dramatic but softer |
| Hair | Bright & exaggerated | Light/bright & styled |
| Fashion | Neon & extreme | Colorful & playful |
| Tanning | Very deep | Tanned |
| Overall feel | Extreme | Softer & playful |
Gyaru Styles Compared by Makeup
Makeup is one of the easiest ways to distinguish different gyaru aesthetics.
| Style | Makeup Intensity | Main Impression |
|---|---|---|
| Shiro | Medium | Soft & feminine |
| Onee | Medium–High | Polished & glamorous |
| Hime | High | Doll-like |
| Kogyaru | High | Defined & youthful |
| Agejo | High | Glamorous & seductive |
| Ganguro | Very High | High-contrast |
| Banba | High | Colorful & playful |
| Manba | Extreme | Highly exaggerated |
| Yamanba | Extreme | Ultra-exaggerated |
Gyaru Styles Compared by Hair
Big, styled, and voluminous hair is common throughout gyaru, but the exact look changes between substyles.
| Style | Typical Hair Direction |
|---|---|
| Hime | Elaborate curls and princess-like styling |
| Onee | Long, polished curls |
| Shiro | Soft, feminine curls |
| Kogyaru | Long, styled hair |
| Ganguro | Bleached and voluminous |
| Manba | Bright and exaggerated |
| Yamanba | Extremely bright and dramatic |
| Agejo | Large glamorous curls |
| Banba | Light/bright and voluminous |
Gyaru Styles Compared by Skin Tone
Skin tone is particularly useful when comparing classic gyaru styles.
| Style | Typical Skin Appearance |
|---|---|
| Shiro Gyaru | Light |
| Hime Gyaru | Usually light |
| Onee Gyaru | Light to lightly tanned |
| Agejo | Light to lightly tanned |
| Kogyaru | Often tanned |
| Banba | Tanned |
| Ganguro | Deeply tanned |
| Manba | Very deeply tanned |
| Yamanba | Very deeply tanned |
Gyaru Styles Compared by Fashion
| Style | Typical Fashion Direction |
|---|---|
| Hime | Lace, bows, frills and princess-inspired clothing |
| Onee | Elegant, feminine and fitted clothing |
| Shiro | Cute, feminine and often soft-colored clothing |
| Kogyaru | School-uniform-inspired fashion |
| Ganguro | Bright and flashy clothing |
| Manba | Neon and colorful outfits |
| Yamanba | Extremely colorful and eye-catching outfits |
| Agejo | Glamorous and sexy clothing |
| Banba | Bright and playful clothing |
| Gyaru-kei | Trendy and wearable feminine fashion |
Which Gyaru Style Is the Most Different?
There is no single “most gyaru” style because gyaru is an umbrella category. However, the styles create very different visual impressions.
| If You Want… | Style to Look At |
|---|---|
| Princess aesthetic | Hime Gyaru |
| Mature elegance | Onee Gyaru |
| Soft & cute appearance | Shiro Gyaru |
| School-inspired fashion | Kogyaru |
| Deep tanning | Ganguro |
| Extreme colorful styling | Manba |
| The most exaggerated look | Yamanba |
| Sexy glamour | Agejo Gyaru |
| Colorful but softer styling | Banba |
| More wearable everyday gyaru | Gyaru-kei |
Can Different Gyaru Styles Be Mixed?
Yes. Gyaru styles do not always have to fit into one strict category. Elements from different aesthetics can be combined to create a personalized look.
For example, someone might combine the feminine clothing of Hime Gyaru with the mature styling of Onee, or use elements of Manba makeup with another gyaru fashion style.
This is especially relevant when looking at modern gyaru, where people can adapt older substyles to their own preferences.
Final Gyaru Style Comparison
The easiest way to understand the differences is to look at the main characteristics together:
| Style | Aesthetic | Makeup | Hair | Tanning | Fashion | Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hime | Princess | High | Elaborate | Low | Frilly | High |
| Onee | Mature | Medium–High | Polished | Low–Medium | Elegant | Medium |
| Shiro | Soft/Cute | Medium | Feminine | Low | Cute | Medium |
| Kogyaru | Youthful | High | Long & styled | Medium | School-inspired | Medium–High |
| Ganguro | Rebellious | Very High | Bleached | High | Flashy | High |
| Manba | Extreme | Extreme | Bright | Very High | Neon | Extreme |
| Yamanba | Ultra-extreme | Extreme | Dramatic | Very High | Neon | Extreme |
| Agejo | Glamorous | High | Large curls | Low–Medium | Sexy | High |
| Banba | Colorful | High | Bright | Medium–High | Playful | High |
| Gyaru-kei | Trendy | Medium | Styled | Varies | Wearable | Medium |
Conclusion
Gyaru is best understood as a collection of different styles rather than one fixed appearance. Hime leans toward princess fashion, Onee toward mature elegance, Shiro toward soft femininity, Kogyaru toward youthful school-inspired fashion, while Ganguro, Manba, and Yamanba are progressively more bold and exaggerated.
The differences become easiest to see when comparing makeup, hair, tanning, clothing, and overall aesthetic side by side. And because gyaru styles can overlap, you don’t necessarily have to follow just one aesthetic.
















