The nape braid is a type of hairstyle, involving a braid that follows the nape of the neck, not to be confused with rat tails, a style common to young males with buzz cuts. This style was originated in the red light district of Yokohama, Japan in 1989 by two Geishas, Ahiri Nokotaka and Ishioshi Yokiritama^[1], and was recently revived in the United States in 2007. The style has been seen on such stars as Miley Cyrus, Ashley Tisdale and Emma Watson^[2].

The style is created by gathering the top two-thirds of the hair into a ponytail-bun near the crown of the head. The bangs are french braided in the front and pinned just below the ear, and the bottom third of the hair is braided down the nape of the neck.

[edit] References

1. ^ Kyoto, Nashasuki. The Red Light District of Yokohama, Japan: The Origins of Geishas. 2. Tokyo: Terra Publishers, 1998.
2. ^ Jones, Samuel. Styles of the Stars. New York: New York Publishing House, 2008.