My Circle Lens Journey: From High School Dreams ๐งโโ๏ธ to Gyaru Glow-Up ๐บ
When I first discovered Gyaru back in 2009โ2010, I was in high schoolโand completely captivated. One detail that especially caught my eye (literally) was circle lenses. I already knew about colored contacts (like those eerie whiteout lenses used for Halloween or extreme goth looks, which already intrigued me) but circle lenses were a whole new world. Wait... youโre telling me contacts can enlarge your eyes and give you that doe-eyed, almost anime-esque look? My teen brain was floored.
Naturally, I begged my mom for just one pair. After all, circle lenses are one of the defining characteristics of Gyaru fashion, no matter which substyle you love, Rokku, Hime, Agejo, or otherwise. My mom had always supported my fashion choices (except for facial piercings; which, looking back, was probably a wise call for 15-year-old me). So I thought I had a solid chance. But to my surprise, she said no. Her concern? The safety of circle lenses, especially since they were still relatively new in the U.S. market back then, and how colored contacts weren't that safe especially for someone with 20/20 vision and didn't need corrective lenses. I protested, "but Mooooom, everyone in the Gyaru community uses them! No oneโs going blind!" But alas, the answer stayed a firm no.
Fast forward 15 years: Iโm grown, Iโve got adult money, and Gyaru is still very much alive; and yes, weโre still rocking circle lenses without a mass blinding epidemic. So when a sale popped up, I went big and treated myself to five pairs (four carefully chosen, plus one mystery pair). And let me tell you: they make me feel alive.
Trying Circle Lenses for the First Time: Expectations vs Reality
To be honest, I wasnโt sure what to expect when it came to actually wearing circle lenses. I had this irrational fear it might be painful; maybe because anything touching your eye feels like a big deal (hello, stray eyelashes and rogue mascara), also that I would be able to get the lens in, but then never be able to get it back out, having to go to the urgent care and be laughed at for a) being a 20-year-old with huge red contacts in and b) not being able to get a contact out. But to my surprise, it wasnโt bad at all. Aside from a minute or two of adjusting, they felt totally fine, like an eyelash for the first minute or so, then nothing at all; taking the lenses out was less scary as well and super simple.
Since I had never worn contacts before, I assumed taking them out would be the hardest part. But nope! Thatโs the easy bit. For me, the real challenge is getting the lens in. No matter how many tutorials I watch, the lens just clings to my fingertip like itโs glued there. It takes me a good five minutes per eye. I'm hoping that with practice, itโll get easier (any tips are welcome!).
Iโll be writing a follow-up post reviewing the specific lenses I got, but for now, hereโs a quick before-and-after to show just how much circle lenses can transform your whole vibe.
โจ My First Rokku Gyaru Lookโฆ After 15 Years โจ
Back in the 2010s, I was obsessed with Ageha, egg, and all the edgy glam that made Rokku stand out: skull prints, studs, messy voluminous hair, and that perfect contrast between rock rebellion and high-maintenance Gyaru attitude. Life happened, styles shifted, and somewhere along the way, I stepped away from it. But the love never really faded.
Soโฆ after 15 years, I finally gave myself permission to dress Gyaru again. And not just any GyaruโRokku Gyaru. The kind with attitude, texture, and enough leopard print to make 2010s egg girls proud.
The comeback is loud, leopard, and long overdue.
And honestly? It felt like coming home.
This first coord was all about unapologetic, over-the-top fun. I wore a black off-shoulder top layered under a leopard halter with a bold lace bow. The skirt? Not a skirt, but full, ruffled, tiered leopard print dream in the form of shorts. Nothing subtle. Nothing quiet. Just full Rokku realness.
For makeup, I kept it classic: smoky outer corners, a dramatic wing, fluttery lashes, and glossy red lips that scream confidence. My wig was a blonde with chunky black black streaks with voluminous twin tailsโbecause if you're going to return to Gyaru, you better return loud.
Was it perfect? No. Did it light the spark within me that had dwindled for 15 years? Yes, and it invigorated me to get better.
Now, with a mix of nostalgia and newfound confidence, Iโve finally given myself permission to dress up againโand wow, what a feeling.
What surprised me most wasnโt just how good it felt to dress upโit was how much more I appreciated the aesthetic now. Rokku isnโt just about looking tough or cool. Itโs about reclaiming space, being loud in a world that tells you to be quiet, and loving fashion thatโs messy, dramatic, and full of contradictions. Rokku Gyaru taught me how to be bold, and Iโm finally ready to honor that again.
Iโve grown a lot in 15 years. But so has my understanding of what it means to be Gyaru. And Iโm learning that this comeback isnโt about chasing the pastโitโs about embracing my roots while expressing who I am now.
To anyone wondering if itโs โtoo lateโ to come back to Gyaru: itโs not. The style, the spiritโit lives in you. ๐ค๐ฅ๐
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