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 And it's easy to maintain! The regal hairstyle worn by many female anime characters. The name comes from the Japanese word for princess and is associated with upper class and traditional upbringing.
In its pristine form, the straight black hair endemic to actual, real-life Japanese people is worn long, save for perfectly level bangs trimmed just above the upper eyelids, and straight-cut side locks trimmed to roughly cheek and/or shoulder level, however shorter than the main length. It is widely believed to be the court style of the Heian Period, and thus Older Than Feudalism. Well, Japanese feudalism. The hairstyle is rooted in the fact the Japanese tend to have voluminous sideburns.
The Hime Cut is currently losing favor among new titles. Styles such as Princess Curls are gaining prominence among anime royalty, and the general populace in Japan is adopting distinctive short cuts or ponytail offshoots, such as tsundere pigtails.
This hairstyle still has a good chance of showing up if the character is an ojou or another similar type, like the Yamato Nadeshiko. Also a fairly popular style with mikos. In more modern settings, it's popular with Elegant Gothic Lolita characters. And if it's a Chanbara, its appearance is almost a given, although usually the hair in back is gathered with a ribbon, and sometimes the side locks also. It's also used to accentuate personality traits traditionally associated with the ojou and similar types: calm, dignified, traditional, elegant, graceful, demure, and modest (or some combination thereof). When listing examples, please identify which character traits the Hime cut is symbolizing or accentuating.
Naturally, any Historical Fiction or Period Piece set between the Heian period and Meiji Revolution will have women in this hairstyle, in which case the cut has little meaning. When listing examples, please mention if the story is set in those times.
Please do not list examples unless they have all the required physical characteristics (straight hair, bangs, sidetails, and back, all cut perfectly straight across) and at least one of the background or personality characteristics (royalty, nobility, miko, ojou, Yamato Nadeshiko, Elegant Gothic Lolita, or personality traits).
Do not confuse with a Gilligan Cut, or any kind of scene change as a cut.
Examples
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Anime and Manga
- Most any nubile woman in a Rumiko Takahashi work, especially in the Sengoku Era InuYasha.
- Sango also wears her hair in a version of this when she's not prepared for battle; she might be an action girl but she also is more mature, quiet, and self-conscious about her duties than she could be. Kikyou starts with ribbons binding both her back hair and side locks, but ditches the ribbons, going to the pristine form. She is a solemn priestess.
- Master of Disguise Tsubasa favors this style.
- A clear example has shown up in RIN-NE, Kaori Himekawa in chapter 8 sports a pristine version, if a trifle short in the back. Fitting, as she is a reincarnated princess, or rather it was enough to convince a ghost as much. Kaori is actually a reincarnated sea turtle. She's not happy about that. Then again her name "river princess" does actually foreshadow this reveal.
- Caucasian example: "Girlycard" (Alucard in the form of a young girl) from Hellsing.
- Caucasian-esque example: Princess Millia from Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing, which symbolizes her being a princess. Her hair gets cut short later on after getting rescued by Fam and Giselle.
- Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Shōko Kirishima, the ojou.
- One of the most important features of Yukari Hayasaka from Paradise Kiss, given that she's trying to become a professional model.
- Miho and her mom from Bakuman。. Her mom, though combine it with Princess Curls.
- Pictured above is Motoko Aoyama from Love Hina, who sports this type of hairdo, as does her older sister Tsuruko.
- In another Ken Akamatsu series, Konoka Konoe in Mahou Sensei Negima!, who doubles as an ojou. Mana Tatsumiya, who is a miko, wears her hair in a version with the side locks bound with cords. Also, Sayo Aisaka and Chachamaru Kakakuri qualify. Akira Okouchi would qualify, if she didn't have her back hair in a ponytail. She wears her hair in that style in the Ala Alba OAD #1, the side locks being slightly different.◊ Chisame Hasegawa almost wears her hair like this in class, with a ribbon gathering it in back, but she doesn't quite have the bangs. Ayaka Yukihiro, the other series' ojou, lacks properly trimmed bangs to have a hime cut. Quite an abundance in just one series, until you realize this all stems from Akamatsu's professed love of long-haired women.
- Arika, Princess of Vespertatia, and Theodora, Third Princess of Hellas, as befits their stations.
- Ruby from Rosario+Vampire sports this style.
- Hinata Hyuga from Naruto an Ojou always had her hair in this style but her hair was kept short. In the timeskip she grew her hair out to a standard version. Shion a blond miko from the first Shippuden movie also wears her hair this way.
- The Goddess Nagi from Kannagi, though you're pressed to explain the sky blue hair considering she's an animated tree spirit.
- Wang Liu Mei from Gundam 00, with variations of other hairstyles added to it (buns and low pigtails, high pigtails, pony tail, straight down, etc.).
- The second empress in Seirei No Moribito has this, as befits her station. (Doubtless the first and third empresses do also.)
- Azmaria (on the right) from Chrono Crusade has this hairstyle, despite being Portuguese, not Japanese. It fits her mature personality, although she's quieter and more humble than The Ojou.
- Kuro from Kodomo no Jikan being an Ojou.
- Shizuru from Mai-HiME and Mai-Otome. There's a joke in this somewhere...probably the kind involving her use of slicing weaponry.
- Rin from Spirited Away, along with all the female bathhouse workers. The only reason appears to be the vaguely turn-of-the-century feel.
- Mio from K-On!! fitting the more mature and traditional member of the band.
- Tomoyo Daidouji from Card Captor Sakura, especially apparent in the anime.
- Touko, Noriko & Yoshino from Maria Sama Ga Miteru.
- Ms. Yoshinoya in Hidamari Sketch uses it. That's why she was given a leading role in a parody of the story of Kaguya-hime, by her former student Kishi Maiko.
- Rin Itoshiki in Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei.
- Himegami Aisa from To Aru Majutsu no Index she's also a variation on the miko theme.
- Riful from Claymore has this hairstyle, as does Dietrich, although Dietrich's is blonde, with diagonally cut bangs, and its usually worn in girlish pigtails. Also, Alicia and Beth are seen with this hairstyle.
- Tamami from Mahoraba.
- Rei Tachibana and Sayaka "No. 6" Suzuki from Pani Poni Dash!.
- Yamada from Honey And Clover signifying her more traditional Japanese Girl Next Door nature.
- Male example: Sai no Fujiwara in Hikaru No Go. Justified, at his time this hairstyle was gender-neutral.
- Lucia in God Child.
- Ditto Tomoe, who wears it because she is the daughter of a samurai.
- Ouka from Busou Renkin, being an Expy of Tomoe, also has a Hime Cut.
- Coco◊ from Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch, only she's blonde.
- Bleach: In the Zanpakuto Rebellion arc, Tobiume wore her hair like this, adorned with cuffs on the sidelocks and a plum-branch ornament on her left temple.
- Chichi from Dragon Ball. She's had it underneath her headgear since childhood, and it's more prevalent when she grows up and takes it off. Signifying her traditional worldview and her role as a traditional Japanese mother.
- Ayano from Kaze no Stigma, except that it's pink/red.
- Tsumugi, the titular miko from The Mikos Words And The Witches Incantations.
- Just about the entire female cast of the manga The Change! wears the Hime Cut because the series is set in the Heian court.
- Fujioka Haruhi from Ouran High School Host Club until a kid stuck gum in her hair. Then she cut it. Herself. (The style she cut was probably symbolic of her previous life history).
- Sawako Kuronuma from Kimi Ni Todoke (She's a good traditional girl)
- Kirara, a miko, and Ukyo from Samurai 7 the anime version, when they takes their hats off.
- Hitagi Senjogahara from Bakemonogatari as she has the ojou-sama vibe.
- Hayate the Combat Butler (being about ojous) has several examples. Hinagiku clearly has the length and cut to qualify, and even had such before she was adopted into a wealthy family (probably due to personality).
- Isumi has a straighter, more traditional, example, with long purple-shaded hair. She's the miko.
- Another example is Holo from Spice and Wolf fitting her as a goddess.
- Hotarubi from Basilisk has this as her hairstyle.
- And yet another male example: Japan of Axis Powers Hetalia. Word Of God says his official Gender Flip counterpart's hair used to be cut in this style until she abandoned her concept of isolationism, when she cut it to show that she could open up.
- Hagoromo Gitsune (the modern incarnation) in Nurarihyon No Mago.
- School Rumble's got quite a handful of roses: Tae Angeasaki, Yoko Sasakura and Sarah Adiemus. And for a thorn: Ouji Karasuma. Oddly, it doesn't make him look any girlier.
- Ryoko Asakura of Haruhi Suzumiya sports this hairstyle, probably as part of her surface persona
- Saeko Busujima from Highschool Of The Dead being the samurai girl
- Aoi from WORKING!!, to underline the suspicion that she may come from a high-class background.
- Shizuku Sango with trimmed bangs.
- Miran Frouade of Den Yuu Den.
- Nadeshiko Fujisaki from Shugo Chara! wears hers in this style, but as a ponytail, and (if you ignore the psycho-ness) is clearly a Yamato Nadeshiko. However, like Coco up there, she's actually a boy.
- Kureneko from Ore No Imouto Ga Konna Ni Kawaii Wake Ga Nai, in this case because she is mirroring the style worn by an anime Gothic Lolita.
- Lady Kayura has a traditional hime cut but keeps it in a pony tail when fighting the Ronin Warriors/Samurai Troopers.
- Chrona, Eruka, Angela (all witches) and Yumi (the strict professional) from Soul Eater.
- And from the Spin-Off Soul Eater Not!, Anya an Ojou.
- Several of the characters could be said to have something similar, actually. Tsubaki (Yamato Nadeshiko) has bangs and small side locks, although she tends to keep her hair in a ponytail. Same goes for Blair, only with Anime Hair. Medusa has the bangs and (really long) side locks, except that her hair is too short to qualify.
- Homura of Madoka Magica once she undoes the braids. Probably denoting her austere and aesthetic nature.
- Nako from Hana Saku Iroha (although she usually has it up) the Yamato Nadeshiko of the group.
- In Gall Force, Shildy (and her "reincarnation" Varji).
- Kiyal and Adiane from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.
- Ayeka from Tenchi Muyo! has a variation of it. It has the perfectly cut bangs but the hair is promptly cut off at neck level, save for two long pony tails that nearly touch the ground. Clearly designed to remind you of the Hime Cut while being alien enough to remind you... she's an alien.
- Sunako Nakahara from The Wallflower.
- Shiraume Ume of Ben-To features one of these, complete with a largely formal demeanor and implied vast wealth.
- The Kyo Sawagi twins as well sport this hairstyle and are hinted to be Ojou.
- Saraswati/Kirara from Kore wa Zombie desu ka? is a Elegant Gothic Lolita Idol Singer.
- Mayucchi and Kokoro from Maji De Watashi Ni Koi Shinasai both are Ojou.
- Maon from Tamayura, underlining her efforts to become a Yamato Nadeshiko.
- Isuzu (aka Rin) from Fruits Basket, but Akito crudely cuts it off as "punishment."
- Shizuka from Arisa.
Comic Books
- The Japanese X-Man Armor is usually portrayed with a Hime Cut, denoting her as more distinctly Japanese.
Films
- Non-Japanese example: Anuk-su-namun in The Mummy Returns sports this cut. (The Ojou)
- In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, several male elves (including Elrond) wear their hair this way. Perhaps to make them seem both alien and ancient at the same time.
- Millennium Actress - Chiyoko has her hair (or prop hair) in this style when playing an actual Princess for one of her movies.
- Although not Japanese (she's Chinese Scottish) Cho Chang has the hair style in Harry Potter.
- Sadako from The Ring (being associated with the mystical).
Live Action Television
- Mako Shirashi had a hime-cut in later episodes. (Samurai)
- Also Kaoru Shiba, an actual princess.
Video Games
- Nakoruru and Mina Majikina but Mina has hers hair tied in a high ponytail from Samurai Shodown.
- Zelda in The Legend Of Zelda Skyward Sword sports a traditional Hime Cut.
- Flonne from the Disgaea series. Incidentally, the male Seraph Lamington is the one who wears it in its most pristine form.
- The mages (both Hour of Darkness and Cursed Memories/Absence of Justice), although the Cursed Memories one has longer hair.
- Princess Kaguya in Touhou, which makes her one of the few characters without a Nice Hat or Hair Decorations. Also Fujiwara no Mokou, who would have been actual Heian nobility.
- Star Sapphire of the Three Mischievous Fairies also has a hime cut, although the effect is altered because she wears a white ribbon. As some fans have noticed, Star Sapphire looks quite a bit like miniature, winged version of Kaguya.
- Maori Kasuga of Arcana Heart, a Miko.
- Emily "Lili" Rochefort from Tekken sports a perfectly trimmed blonde example of this.
- Utsuki, Kureha and Lady Ayako from Kuon. Since it's set in Feudal Japan, it's hardly surprising.
Visual Novels
- Maya Fey, a spirit medium from an isolated villiage, wears a variation of this haircut along with her kimono. Her expy, Ema Skye, wears almost the exact same variation but with the bangs brushed to the side.
- Rika◊ from Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni.
- Rosa, Bernkastel, Virgilia, Lucifer, Mammon, Gertrude, and more from Umineko No Naku Koro Ni.
- Kazuha from Yosuga No Sora an Ojou.
- Yo-Jin-Bo's Hatsuhime has this cut, but, perhaps because she's a Rebellious Princess, she keeps it tied up in a ponytail with a red bow, leaving only her bangs and framing shoulder locks free.
Web Comics
Web Original
Western Animation
- Mai (nobility) from Avatar The Last Airbender has hair like this, though it's rarely drawn down. She also has Odango Hair.
- In the Inspector Gadget episode, "The Japanese Connection" Penny's Japanese friend Atsuko sports this hairstyle along with the associated personality. It's probably the least offensive of the numerous stereotypes present in the episode.
Real Life
- Many wearers of Lolita fashion and Hime Gal have a hime cut, presumably both due to its regal connotations and the fact that it frames the face nicely if all the rest of the hair is in ringlets or a bouffant. It is admittedly less popular now than it used to be.
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