I know many of you miss my fire-engine red hair… so here are some photos from a modeling shoot last year, in Tokyo!

There’s only one place where you can get styled like this: a gyaru / hostess hair salon in Kabukicho.

You can flip through gyaru magazines like Ageha, and pick out the style you want. Not everyone can make an appointment at these salons, since they primarily serve hostesses. However, if a friend has a connection, you can squeeze in.

For only 2000 yen, you can have a stylized do like mine. It’s incredible how fast the hairdressers work, and the amount of hairspray used.

I did extreme makeup to match the hair, and have it stand out in the photos.

The ring and jewelry are gifted by Strange Freak, a Japanese brand closely associated with J-rock artists (they collaborated with Seba). The design is a tribute to Hide, the deceased guitarist of seminal Visual Kei band, X Japan.

Long, trailing vampire dress: gifted by Lip Service
Lace top: Moi-meme-Moitie, from Closet Child. (Designed by Mana-sama of Malice Mizer)

We took over an alleyway in Shinjuku’s Golden Gai.

Photos by the talented Joey Wong and Jim Ollett, who did my Bust Magazine shoot.

Prepping and goofing around with Sebastiano, between the shots.

He changed into a Hypercore t-shirt, and we mugged in front of the punk bar, Hair of the Dog.

Seba dropped my long Morticia Addams skirt in the puddle! He got yelled at for his bad behavior.

Seba’s a model for the Japanese menswear brand, Umbilical.

Do you like his distinctively Japanese hairstyle?

The red Hide Strange Freak pendant stands out.

We’re fast at photoshoots. About an hour later, it was time to pack up and head home.

La Carmina with hostess gyaru hair — yay or nay? Aren’t Japanese hairstyles fascinating?

PS: I’m having such fun at Luisaviaroma Firenze4Ever… please follow my updates via Facebook!

Album of the Day: Mindless Self Indulgence – Tighter

I’m a nail art addict. If you’ve been following my blog or Twitter, you’ll know that I love to create my own DIY designs.

But there’s only so much you can do at home. For special occasions, I head to Bling Nails in Vancouver, Canada. Here’s a step-by-step look at my fingernail transformation. (Bone hair clip and heart necklace gifted from SassynPunk.)

Did you know there’s a huge variety of pro products and techniques? I avoid acrylic nails because they have to be filed off, and weaken the nail’s surface. I like Bio Sculpture Gel: it’s free of harmful chemicals, and keeps the underlying nail healthy.

Bio Sculpture Gel doesn’t chip off like regular polish, so your manicure is perfect for a month or more. To remove it, return to the salon and soak your hands in a special solution.

Purple skull sweater: Candy Stripper, from Closet Child Tokyo.

My nail technician (also wearing Bio Sculpture Gel) preps my nails and cuticles. She paints half of the nail purple, and the other half sparkly. I put my hands under a UV light for a few minutes, to set it.

Next, she carefully arranges gems on the nail, securing them with glue. A top coat for shine, and I’m done.

The process takes about an hour, and I ask a lot of questions along the way (I’m so curious about nail art techniques, and learn something new each time!)

A month later, my nails are still in A+ condition. You can see the growth at the bottom, but there’s no chipping and the glossiness remains. Yah-tah-tah.

Have you ever gotten your nails done at a salon? Did you try fun designs, or long-lasting products like acrylics? How did you feel about the experience?

PS: I’m currently traveling around Italy (Modena with DNR, Rome, Florence for Luisaviaroma) — I invite you to keep track of my updates via Twitter.

Album of the Day: Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral

Happy Spooky New Year! How did you ring in 2012? I’m in northern Italy with Seba — lots of mulled red wine and delicious, cheesy foods.

In Tokyo, many of my friends did the countdown at Decadance Bar, a colorful drag Gothic hangout. Preta Porco’s cheery yellow face always makes me smile.

A few months ago, Adrien saluted the bartender-performer during “Porco night.”

But nobody does it better than Porco.

That’s Adrien again — he’s quite the shape-shifter. You’ll always find cyber-glam creatures of the night at Decabar.

These Lolitas look sweet, but they’re here to party hard.

Under the blue hair and glasses, there’s Yukiro.

A place for pirates and absinthe.

There’s always a cyber-Goth-electronic DJ on hand. During special events, live performers like Selia grace the stage.

What’s this pink thing?

Something to be straddled?

Outside the bar, there’s a quieter lounge area where you can touch up your devil makeup.

Fun with torture chairs.

To top it off, there are delicious dinner sets.

Come to Decadance Bar! It’s right above Christon Cafe, Oriental Wave Bldg 8F, 5-17-13 Shinjuku. Get off on the eigth floor, and walk up to the 9th. For more Tokyo alternative club recommendations, view my Nightcrawling guide.

I leave you with Arina and her deadly custom nails art.

Have you ever seen an underground bar quite like this?

Album of the Day: VNV Nation – Automatic

Let’s continue our walk down memory lane, and review the second half of a spectacular 2011.

Sebastiano Serafini and I were guests at Luisaviaroma, an event that brings fashion’s most influential bloggers together. Events included tea with Mulberry, a grand dinner surrounded by animal bones, and haute couture photoshoots in the streets of Florence!

It’s hard not to love Italy. The food, the people, the fashion and architecture… If you missed it, here are all my Europe posts.

A few more milestones… I appeared in Bust Magazine, and on the cover of Alt Noir. I’m on another magazine cover in 2012; can’t wait to spill the beans.

Later that summer, a dream came true: I have a travel TV show on Huffington Post/AOL! In “Coolhunting Wisconsin,” I discover hip, weird, crazy attractions in and around Milwaukee — such as a spy-themed bar and retro love hotel. Watch the videos online.

In July, I jetted back to Tokyo to host and arrange the Japan episode of Fuel TV / Discovery’s Strangers in Danger. The BMX stars got saline donuts in their heads, among other daring tasks. (Are you exhausted from my constant traveling yet?)

The following month, the pretty-boy and I were Guests of Honor at Ani-Jam convention. It was fun to meet all of you who came. I also had a Hello Kitty birthday party at Hollywood club Mr Black, which was featured in LA Weekly.

Back to Tokyo again, to host/arrange episodes of Food Network’s “World’s Weirdest Restaurants,” and appear on NHK Kawaii TV.

I spent Halloween and Day of the Dead in Mazatlan, Mexico – hosting a series about the dark arts and culture. All my Mexican coverage is here, and videos are coming soon.

I haven’t even mentioned the various stops in LA and Vancouver, and my impending return to Italy in January for Firenze4Ever blogger conference…

All in all, it’s been my best year yet! I’m happy with how my work and travels have grown, as well as improvements to the site (loading time, photo quality and styling, etc). And it’s only going to keep getting better. Yarrr.

What are your proudest accomplishments from the past year? Favorite memories? What did you learn, or experience for the first time?

Album of the Day: The Birthday Massacre – Pins and Needles

What a wild year! As New Year’s Eve approaches, let’s take a moment to reminisce. Do you remember my travels and adventures, from last January to June?

I rang in 2011 in Los Angeles, at a Hollywood alt party with Seba and friends. We had a crazy time in LA, with gigs that included modeling for Lip Service.

In March, I was about to go to Japan for two TV hosting jobs (German and Belgian travel shows), and help bring the NOH8 Campaign (a photo-protest against inequality) worldwide. The earthquake struck the week before my flight – and needless to say, everything got cancelled.

First and foremost, I made sure my friends were safe. Seba flew to LA, and we threw ourselves into charity projects for Japan. I also interviewed Black Veil Brides about their experiences during the quake.

Seba and I released a benefit t-shirt with Like Atmosphere, and a panda bear necklace with Soho Hearts. All funds go to helping Japan; you can learn more about the designs here.

Since the disaster shifted my work away from Japan, I broadened my focus to dark culture and travel worldwide. First stop: Hong Kong (where we stayed in a Roomorama apartment) and Macau (for the Galaxy resort opening!)

Favorite memories include visiting the Charlie Brown theme cafe, and baking cute panda bread at my cousin’s cooking school.

Read all my HK and Macau articles, including Gothic Lolita shop recommendations.

This year, my TV hosting work blew up. The Norway host club documentary aired, and won the equivalent of a Grammy award. (Catch up on my video clips.)

I wasn’t able to make it to Wave Gotik Treffen, due to a conflict with a fashion event in Florence. In the next post, I’ll share photos from the second half of 2011: Italy, Tokyo, Wisconsin, Mexico and beyond!

Bonus photo: my extreme makeup for a 1980s Italo Disco party in Milan. The heart sweater is from Mongkok in Hong Kong. Radical.

Did you know I’ve been running this blog since September 2011? You can see the Archives using the drop-down menu on my right sidebar.

What did you accomplish in 2011? Do you feel you grew, or challenged yourself this year? How so?

Song of the Day: Duran Duran – Girl Panic!