We know what you're thinking:
What were wigs like back in the day? And
how did wigs come about?
Wigs.com did some research for you on the history and the centuries-old art of
wigs...
Wigs were first worn centuries ago in ancient Egypt by kings and royalty to display their nobility as well as shield their shaved heads from the sun. Of course long ago, technology was limited, and Egyptian wigs were made with plant fibers, animal hair, and similar materials. The Greeks and Romans also wore wigs for religious purposes, to show nobility, and in the theater.
Starting in the early 17th century, the well-known oversized, curly wigs became fashionable. Again, a sign of the upper class, these wigs were mainly worn by
men. The wigs were often very heavy, made with natural human hair; horse and goat hair were cheaper alternatives used.
In the 18th century, men's wigs were powdered for that recognizable white color . At that time, women did not wear wigs but still had their hair coiffed and supplemented with artificial hair...
hairpieces and extensions! What was wig powder made of back then? Finely ground starch that was scented with orange flower or lavender. On occasion - for that little extra something - the wig powder was colored violet, pink, yellow or blue. How creative!
Some famous wig-wearers:
King Louis XIV of France really made a splash in men's fashion with his lavish wigs.
Queen Elizabeth I of England famously wore many red wigs, most in the 'Roman' style.
Marie Antoinette – in the French court of Versailles, women often wore large, elaborate and sometimes themed wigs such as the stereotypical "boat poufs" that were in vogue during those days. Marie Antoinette and the ladies of the court frequently wore
extensions and hairpieces in these over-the-top hairstyles.
Over the last several decades, wigs have risen in popularity, but are generally worn for different reasons than in the past. Wigs are frequently worn for medical reasons or as an easy alternative to many hair replacement therapies. On another end of the spectrum, wigs are worn by male cross-dressers, for costume purposes, and even by women who just don't feel like styling their own hair - they just like wearing wigs!
Stars such as Dolly Parton,
Raquel Welch, and Cher have really popularized wigs. Wigs are also worn for television, theater and film so that the actor may fully feel and look like their character.
So there you have it... a brief history of wigs! Learn even more by
clicking here, and stay tuned for more great features from
Wigs.com - The Wig Experts.
(information and images courtesy of Wikipedia.org)
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