Called a maezashi or biradome, this is a small kanzashi (hair ornament) meant to be worn in the front of the hair (hense mae which means front).
Both maiko and geiko wear maezashi while dressed up for their engagements. These maezashi are expensive pieces made from precious stones and metal--many often feature combinations often made of gold, silver, coral, opal, jade, diamonds and pearls. Motifs range from various flowers, leaves, insects like butterflies and dragonflies and abstract designs like a river and weeds.
Maiko also wear maezashi casually. However, those worn casually are not made from the expensive items above, but may feature pretty metal and wire and a couple precious stones.
When worn casually, maiko wear maezashi on the front left side of the hairstyle. When dressed up for ozashiki, however, maezashi are worn on the front right, above the silver fluttering ougi bira kanzashi.
Geiko only wear maezashi when dressed for engagements, and the maezashi is always placed in front of the kushi (comb) on the front left.
