Katsura

Katsura is a Japanese wig. Nowadays, it is mostly used only in Japanese wedding ceremony, as a bridal wig.

Some kabuki performers dress up using katsura, and I suppose some geishas also.

When visiting Kyoto, some women enjoy a popular activity - they dress up as geisha apprentice, maikosan. They also wear a traditional Japanese wig.

Katsura is part of Japanese kimono culture. It is fragile and unique art. The wig is very heavy and hot to wear, and fragile. Many women feel too uncomfortable to wear it, even for their bridal ceremony, so they often go with a lighter setup.

Katsura is usually made of real human hair, shaped with wax and treated with camilia oil in the process. Therefore it has a distinct scent, that some people call "scent of antique" or "smell of history".

Katsura almost always have a decoration, which is sometimes minimal and sometimes excessive.

If you are in possession of an ancient katsura, do take good care of it. It is necessary to air it every now and then, and take care of the stray hairs by combing and applying a little wax. There is a special comb used for katsura. Moreover, be sure to protect the wig from insects.

To clean katsura, never use any alcohol or solvent, as they will have impact on the health of the wig. Lysol is recommended by some, but I must say I'm not expert on this.

Katsura is never worn directly on head, but a protective layer of silk or another fabric is used to protect the katsura as well as the head from the sheer weight of it.

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