Maiko Ohaguro Black Tooth Wax for Traditional Tooth Blackening

This is the ‘Ohaguro’ black Tooth Wax used by Maiko for that brief period of ‘Erikae’ – Turning their collar from red to white – when they graduate from Maiko to full-fledged Geiko. To apply, it is rubbed into the teeth with the fingers. Ohaguro used to be done with black ink several times a week to maintain the black colour. It has been a Japanese tradition since ancient times and was common up to the Meiji Era. It is even mentioned in the 11th century work ‘The Tale of Genji’. Originally Ohaguro was a practise among the wealthy only. Female members of the household would begin Ohaguro upon reaching adulthood – at that time around the age of nine. Ohaguro was considered to be more beautiful the blacker the teeth were… This is the exact item used by the Maiko and Geisha of Gion. We get them from a supplier in heart of the Gion Kobu ‘Hanamachi’ District that has a long history of supplying makeup to the Maiko and Geiko of Gion and to Kabuki Actors from the Minamiza.

Weight: 4g

MADE IN JAPAN