We’ve been talking about the forms of traditional Hanfu for quite a while. Today, we can talk about something else, like the Chinese bloggers who do traditional Chinese hanfu makeup on the Internet. Among them, a blogger named Lao Baba (老八捌) has really stood out. When I watched her video of the cyberpunk Hanfu girl look, I understood that in her makeup looks, tradition and the future, traditional Chinese style and technology are combined. Her makeup is not just stunning; it’s also incredibly impressive.

Ⅰ. The Hanfu Cyber Girl Look

1. The National Treasure Cyber Girl

The inspiration for this set of photos comes from the Qing Emperor Qianlong’s blue glazed porcelain vase with golden patterns, symbolizing peace and prosperity. It was fired in Jingdezhen for the Haiyantang Hall in the Old Summer Palace. Originally, there were a pair of these vases. After the invasion by the Eight-Nation Alliance, only one of them has survived to this day.  

The light blueish-green color in the artwork symbolizes the tranquility of a clear river. The swallow is a homophone for the Chinese character “晏”, which means peace. The whole artifact conveys the meaning of “peaceful seas and a clear river, and a prosperous world“. With exquisite craftsmanship and superb painting, it represents the pinnacle of the craftsmanship of famille rose porcelain during the Qianlong reign!

On top of that, the content creator combines traditional elements with the cyberpunk style, integrating ancient national treasures with futuristic sci-fi. Isn’t that amazing!

The cyan cheongsam, the delicate kingfisher feather headdress, and the two swallow decorations all add charm. The golden nail guards exude luxury!

The key lies in the details of the face. The appearance of the two swallow decorations and the painted lines on the face are all exquisite and neat, highlighting the sense of futuristic technology with just a few strokes!  

2. The First Generation Cybernetic Hanfu Girl

The first video that combines Hanfu with a sense of technology by Lao Baba was released in 2018. It was inspired by the perfect integration of the kimono and the futuristic elements in Ghost in the Shell.

Since the kimono can be blended with science fiction, why can’t Chinese traditional clothing? Thus, the creative idea of the first generation cybernetic Hanfu girl came into being!

Perhaps because most netizens at that time didn’t have a systematic understanding of Hanfu and traditional makeup, and the concepts of Japanese style and Wafu (Japanese aesthetics) were deeply rooted in people’s hearts. After watching this video, quite a few netizens mistook it and said, “Is this the makeup style of the kimono?”

In fact, the Hanfu in the video is of the vertical collar and crossed-front style of the Ming Dynasty. The hairstyle and makeup refer to the style of the middle and late prosperous Tang Dynasty. For example, the most obvious one is the classic “eyebrow dotting” of the Tang Dynasty!

So, this is definitely not the Japanese style! It’s not!

3. The Tang Dynasty + Steampunk and Cyberpunk

The first-generation cybernetic Hanfu dress girl was already so stunning. Then, the subsequent works are bound to be even more mind-blowing. When I looked at these creative ideas, I was so deeply shocked that I couldn’t say anything else. Lao Baba is truly amazing!

The inspiration for her outfit came after she saw a Lolita-style skirt designed with elements of the round-collar robe, a type of Tang dynasty clothing.

She is a cool girl with the unique and alternative attributes characteristic of punk. Under the traditional elements, there are many small details on this set of the steam era, such as the small gear patches under the eyes, clock elements, and so on.

“It’s like a magical connection between the Industrial Revolution and the Tang Dynasty!”  

Reference

The set that combines the styles of the Tang Dynasty with steampunk and cyberpunk actually draws inspiration from the creative makeup of the early Tang Dynasty. It not only preserves the gentle and graceful temperament of the beauties from the early Tang Dynasty but also adds a sense of futuristic technology.

4. The Cybernetic Fairy from Dunhuang

In addition, the mysterious flying celestial nymphs depicted in the Dunhuang murals have inspired a very vivid makeup look. Under Lao Baba’s creation, this makeup is infused with a wonderful sci-fi touch for the first time. The makeup features the classic dark green and orange color scheme of Dunhuang. When looking at the part of the freehand painting, I can’t help but marvel at how steady her hand is!

5. Dunhuang + Cyberpunk

The futuristic sense of technology full of sci-fi elements can’t miss the combination with the mysterious flying apsaras of Dunhuang. This idea has been in Lao Baba’s mind for a long time!

There are also two sets of makeup looks. The first set leans more towards restoring the Dunhuang murals. The highly saturated colors are rich and exquisite. Some modern elements are added to the costumes, and the multi-armed models are slightly modified to become “robotic arms“.

In terms of the details of the eye makeup, Lao Baba wears full-coverage contact lenses. Paired with the overall shocking and grand scene effect, it can better bring out the ethereal feeling of the Buddha. Moreover, in order to create the texture of ceramics, oil paint is applied all over the body during the shooting, and it takes two hours just for the painting!

6. Cybernetic Traditional Opera Girls

Traditional Chinese operas also couldn’t escape Lao Baba’s transformation. “In the future, when traditional operas gradually lose their inheritors and people feel regretful, there are these cybernetic girls who can take on the task of inheriting the culture instead of human beings.”

These “cybernetic Hanfu girls” created by Lao Baba are not just a visual feast, but also a dialogue between the ancient and the modern. “These mass-produced cybernetic girls will bring traditional culture to every corner of the world.”

II. Talent and Interest Create a Top Cultural Icon

In fact, once you start watching Lao Baba’s videos, you can’t tear yourself away. Her creativity and imaginative ideas are not limited to the “Cybernetic Hanfu Girls“. The personified transformation video of Compendium of Materia Medica that has amassed over 30 million views across the internet is also incredibly stunning. People exclaim, “This sister is captivating!”

The gentle and sweet charm of cardamom, the bright and confident allure of rhodiola rosea, the elegant and healing charisma of bletilla striata, and the pretty and charming appeal of forsythia suspensa – these names of herbal medicines from Compendium of Materia Medica come vividly to life under Lao Baba’s creation.  

With every stroke, the extremely smooth eye makeup offers great visual enjoyment to the audience. Moreover, the combination of each Hanfu outfit fully showcases the unique characteristics of each herbal medicine. What truly stands out is not only the exquisite makeup and styling but also the interpretation of poems and the popular science of Chinese herbal medicines. This is truly an effective form of cultural output.

From the planning to the makeup and styling, and then to the shooting, Lao Baba spent nearly half a month. Whether it’s the floral accessories, the makeup painting, or the styling collocation, Lao Baba participated in every step and made them by hand.

Behind this talent lies Lao Baba’s ingenuity. In addition to making special effects, sculptures, and molds by herself, most of the exquisite costumes, props, and decorations presented in front of the camera are also assembled from daily discarded items by Lao Baba.

Throughout her journey, with a serious attitude, Lao Baba has been pouring her love into the dissemination of traditional Chinese style. By integrating technology, connecting the ancient and the modern, she uses her talent to output and spread traditional culture. Such a treasure-like blogger truly deserves all the praises saying “Amazing” on the screen.

Summary

Besides Lao Ba Ba, many other Hanfu bloggers are also showing everyone through their own actions that reviving traditional culture doesn’t mean “sticking rigidly to traditions”. Hanfu can also be combined with modern elements, Western elements, and even sci-fi elements to create imaginative works that are both fashionable and beautiful!

Currently, many Hanfu enthusiasts are also delving deep into the cultural essence that has been passed down through the Chinese dynasties for thousands of years. They gather together because of their love for Hanfu. We hope that in the future, we will be able to see more exquisite and creative Hanfu works.