Karakon Culture: Contact Lenses in Japanese Fashion & Which is Right for You?

Probably any gyaru you see post-early-2000s has those big, shiny, glamorous eyes. Beautiful, enchanting, and sometimes eclectic makeup all around those huge irises!

So, what's the deal?

Karakon (short for lit. colored contacts), specifically circle lenses has been an East Asian staple since the 2000s when Johnson & Johnson consumers wanted to make their eyes look bigger.

Circle lens comparison by YouTuber TiTi's Corner.

This trend grew majorly over the years, and today you will see almost all Asian celebrities wear some form of karakon, whether they are over-the-top enlarging with designs, or a subtle color change.

In Japan, natural colors and enlarging designs with a limbal ring are popular. However, as we know, gyaru origins were based on opposing trends and what was popular. For this reason, you will see many gyaru models wear unnatural colored lenses with intense designs.

Very popular lens with a huge limbal ring, from Flurry! These are currently my favorite lenses as well.

Since the focus of gyaru makeup is the eyes, it only makes sense that you would want to draw even more attention with beautiful eye colors!

It seems today that most young women wear karakon as it is considered an accessory or part of your makeup instead of a medical device (although circle lenses do come in prescription and even toric for astigmatism!).

Gyaru eye makeup featuring various colors of lenses.

Gyaru are seen advocating and producing karakon as well! For example, Koda Kumi has her own karakon line that she models for as well, called Loveil. The designs are very intricate and sexy, perfect for any gyaru wanting to imitate Kumi's adult gal style.

Beautifully patterned lenses featuring an array of colors to make your eyes sparkle, from Koda Kumi's Loveil.

So, now that we know karakon are a staple of Japanese gyaru, how do we get them and is it okay as Westerners to wear eye-enlarging products even though our eyes may be generally larger than an Asian person's?

To that I say, YES! Karakon are a gyaru's best friend, no matter the shape, color, or size of your eye! Karakon adds AUTHENTICITY! Real gyaru wear karakon. If you're going for an old school look, e.g. 1990s era Egg, then you don't need them! But if you are planning on donning full kuro-gyaru hair, makeup, and coordinate then I say karakon are a must.

Don't you think Harutamu would look quite strange without her signature pink lenses?

In the United States, UK, and Europe, your best bet to get karakon would be online. In the US, only certain brands are approved and sold by the FDA, so you may not find the lenses you like locally. Fortunately, there are MANY online resources for karakon. Personally, I buy from Push Color Global, as they offer authentic Japanese brands such as Loveil, Flurry, Candy Magic, and more.

Other resources I have had luck with are Pinky Paradise and OhMyKitty. Typically, lenses from Japan are offered in one-day and monthly lifespans; lenses from other manufacturers are more likely to have monthly and yearly lifespans.

I recommend daily lenses if you only wear gyaru on weekends. Typically, dailies come in a pack of ten lenses, so you get 5 pairs! If you wear gyaru every Saturday, you have enough lenses to last you 5 weeks!

If you are a more frequent wearer, then I suggest longer lifespans. The only difference to me seems to be the durability and fragility of the lens. Daily lenses are much softer and sometimes slippery, they can be hard to get in. When you're done wearing them, you can throw them away. On the other hand, yearlies are very resilient but you must stay keen on keeping them clean by rinsing and changing out the saline they soak in often.

Some designs offered by Kawaiieye.

Now that you know what lifespan you want, how do you pick your color and design!?

Firstly, you should shop around for colors that will suit your skin, wardrobe, and general makeup palette. You can take this quiz to find out what season you are, as it also gives you a flattering color palette!

If you're someone who wears a lot of pink eyeshadow and blush, I would recommend a chocolate brown lens. On the other hand, if you like striking smouldery black eyeshadow, I would suggest a bright blue or grey.

Popular lens colors for gyaru really depend on what style and era you're looking at. Kuro-gyaru tend to use blues, greys, and light browns, while shiro-gyaru tend to use dark chocolate browns and pinks.

To pick a design, you should know what effect each one will have on your eyes. Personally, I look for lenses with a large, black limbal ring because I want my eyes to look cute and large!

If you are seeking a more natural look, you might want lenses that have stroke-like designs on the outer-rim, instead of a thick solid limbal ring.

I recommend always looking at reviews and pictures of other people wearing the lenses you like before you buy! It really helps you compare how it might look on you instead of the model.

To conclude, karakon are a great accessory to have, as they bring a little more magic to your gyaru makeup! Enjoy searching for your favorite karakon, and let us know which you recommend!

With love,

GYARUSAN