Gal (or the Japanese transliteration: Gyaru ) is the slang term for a fashion style or even subculture containing vast subcategories in which originated in Japan that is now emerging in western civilization. It began around 1991 when tanning salons and loose socks became popular in Shibuya to high school s (this is possibly because of pop idol Namie Amuro). This trend eventually led to the birth of kogal (kogyaru)whom often resembled the California valley cliché of the west. They tanned their skin, lightened their hair, shortened their skirts, over-accessorized their cellphones, piled on the makeup and developed a dandy set of slang (kogyaru-go ‘kogalese’). Around 1997 ‘loco gyaru’ appeared. Loco gyaru was the wild sister of kogyaru. It consisted of very dark tanned skin, bleached hair, bright tropical apparel, purikura thrashed cell phones, thick panda-like makeup, and even more complex slang. In 1998 the name ‘loco gyaru’ was laid to rest and they were known further as Ganguro(btw, ganguro and kogal are not to be confused with each other. In fact there is speculation that the ganguro name began because kogal and loco gal were too similar and neither wanted to appear related). In 1999 Gonguro hit the subculture stage as a more extreme version of ganguro; deeper tan, crazier hair, brighter elaborate clothes, twice the make-up, and so much slang it sounded like another language. They marked the beginning of the word yamanba(now known as, simply, manba) and helped along the Para Para boom. The gals were d by mainstream Japanese culture and in 2001 they died out, or at least that’s what they made everyone think till a few years later. Around 2003 they were back, bigger and better than ever. There are now over 15 subcategories of gal and it's not stopping there. Gyaru have created their own culture; fashion magazines, support groups, clothing lines, television series, languages. Gal is now becoming relevant in all parts of Western civilization.
taken from Gals! from myspace