The Hime haircut is trending again, but what should your clients know before opting for this bold, edgy look? As seventies-inspired styles like the mullet, shag, and wolf cut have reclaimed the spotlight in recent years, it's no surprise that the Hime, a statement cut rocked by Cher in the late sixties, is having a comeback. In fact, according to Google, searches for "hime haircut" are at an all time high and Billie Eilish is the top-trending person alongside it. So what's the history behind this trending cut?
The History of The Hime Cut
The Hime haircut (Japanese for Princess) is a distinctive and elegant hairstyle with ancient roots with a modern popularity. The origins of the Hime cut can be traced back over a thousand years to Japan's Heian period (794 to 1185) when aristocratic women popularised the look. At the time, it was common for women to grow their hair to great lengths, sometimes even to the ground. A ceremonial haircut called binsogi, often performed during coming-of-age rituals, involved cutting the hair around the face, giving birth to the style that would later be known as the Hime cut. Like many historical aspects of hairdressing, the Hime cut was also a sign of status and privilege. The precision required for maintaining the blunt, geometric cuts reflected the resources and time available to Japan’s aristocracy. The Hime haircut re-emerged in the 1970s and 1980s, thanks to the influence of Japanese pop singers such as Megumi Asaoka and the global popularity of anime culture. More recently it has been resurrected on the runway (see Prada spring Ready to Wear Collection 2021), and has now been brought further into the mainstream by pop icons like Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and Miley Cyrus at the 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony, it seems that now is the time for this sleek, structured cut to shine once again.
So What Should Clients Know?
First things first, the Hime haircut is a bold choice which demands upkeep, particularly for those with textured or thicker hair. That being said, no matter the hair type clients will need to rely on heat tools to achieve the sleek look this cut demands. The style features sharp straight lines with a blunt fringe and straight, face-framing side pieces that land at the cheek. The rest of the hair left long and straightened, to give that desired glossy finish. Clients should therefore be prepared for regular trims of their side-locks and fringe in order to hold the shape that defines this cut. Not to mention incorporating a haircare regime to protect their glossy locks from the damage of heat tools. The beauty of this cut is that it is edgy and versatile, pull it back for a bob moment like Billie Eilish or make a bold statement with dramatic face framing disconnected layers and longer locks explains Sam Villa, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Sam Villa and Global Artistic Ambassador for Redken.
How To Cut The Hime Cut
Sam Villa shares his tips for how to do a hime cut below:
- Cut hair dry in its natural falling position to ensure it’s right the first time versus going back to correct it.
- To make sure the fringe wraps around, cut to the round of the head and be thoughtful about where to start the cutting line. Sectioning is key – break larger sections into smaller sub sections with blousing.
- When cutting the fringe, use the wide teeth of a long cutting comb to hold hair at the level to establish the perimeter and point cut from under the comb with swivel shearsto create a soft yet defined line. Cutting with the wide teeth eliminates excess tension.
- The sides start at the high point of the head and are the width of the ear. Blouse to subsection and working from bottom to top with horizontal sections, use a razor to establish and maintain consistency in the perimeter line based on the guide underneath.
Lead image credit: Photography/Nico Nordstrom Obsidian and Blush; Hair/Sam Villa; Creative Director/Teresa Romero; Makeup/Leticia Tapia and Tanya Ortega; Wardrobe/Michi Lafary Obsidian and Blush; Model/Christi Ho; Videographer/Todd White.
