Gyaru is a Japanese style, known for its eye-catching outfits and makeup. This style is meant to stand out and most gals (gyaru girls) do that. Gyaru has been around for many years, originating in the 1990s, the style gained its peak popularity during this time, and in the early 2000s. School girls created the style to rebel against repressing school and societal rules, as well as to rebel against Japanese beauty standards. These standards believe that girls should be quiet and naturally beautiful. 

As is the case with many fashion trends, gyaru has died out throughout the years. Worse yet it has seemed to become watered down and the meaning has been taken away from the style. When gyaru fashion was at its peak, there were many gyaru magazines like Egg magazine or Popteen. There were also many brands catered toward gyaru styles such as Ma*rs and Liz Lisa, though now these brands no longer cater to the style anymore. There are many different subcultures within the gyaru style, like hime gyaru which is a hyper-feminine style, as well as more extreme styles such as manba gyaru which is what most people think gyaru is. Manba gyaru includes deep tans, dyed hair, and intense makeup, such as very prominent highlighter and pale lipstick.

While the amount of gyaru you'd see on the street has died down significantly, the style hasn’t disappeared. If you scroll the internet and search gyaru it is easy to find other gals. However, it is difficult to come across someone decked out in full gyaru, there has been a pattern of people calling doujin makeup, a Chinese makeup style, gyaru, and assuming animal prints mean gyaru. Over the years the big hair, long nails, intense highlighter, and droopy eye makeup have been watered down to dolly eye makeup and leopard print. Gyaru has lost its popularity and also its true meaning. Gyaru had its moment and its purpose but just because it has died down the meaning has not changed and its impact still remains.