Score a scrunchie

If you do not already live in Japan, please imagine that you reside in a land where women of all ages nonchalantly sport enormous, colorful scrunchies (or shushu in Japanese) everywhere they go. This is not to say that all ladies here support the pouf, but the vast majority are definitely big fans. I think the look works well on most of them because many are going for a girly look. In fact, I cannot think of a better way to complement outfits bursting with pom poms, glitter and every imaginable shade of pink. There are, however, a significant number of suit and scrunchie combos on view during my morning commute, so cuteness is not a prerequisite. The only important factor to consider is whether you have the luscious locks to pull off a hair accessory the size of an American breakfast muffin. Japanese girls tend to be really blessed in the hair department, so an ornately bound side ponytail usually looks quite nice on them. Sadly, I fall on the opposite end of this particular beauty spectrum. I do own a scrunchie now, though, thanks to a completely different cultural fixture that makes this country different from the one I have temporarily left behind. Japanese publishers very frequently include freebies with the latest editions of female fashion magazines. They usually partner with a recognizable brand, so the gifts are not necessarily generic throwaways. Some things I have seen in the past include mascara, styling wax, a fabric tote bag, and this fuzzy thing (above right) I never use to pull my hair into a ponytail.