Wacky Wigs Through History

It may come as a surprise, but wigs have been around since pretty much the dawn of man. While Egyptians are often mentioned as the first to don wigs, Phoenicians and Assyrians who were both contemporary with, and prior to, the Egyptian civilization, also wore wigs as a part of their daily costume. Wig-wearing fulfilled both aesthetic and, functional purposes. Lice, mites, and other parasitic creatures were common, and so wigs allowed the wearer to escape the agony of dealing with them as well as protect to their often shaved heads from the sun. Wigs were also often a sign a wealth and social status. However, after the fall of the Roman Empire, wigs fell out of favor as a popular item.
Wigs saw a revival in England with Elizabeth I, who again popularized them by parading around in elaborate red versions. Louis XII and Louis XIV made wigs again popular for men to sport, and this time it was not only for the look itself, but to mask balding heads. From here they became a must for men of prestige. For women of prestige and status, incredibly elaborate hair pieces were added to their coiffures, and some of the designs bordered on the ridiculous, including actual birdcages woven in, containing real birds!
The powdering of wigs also became a popular trend, with men powdering theirs white or off-white, while the women opted to grays, blues, and even pale pinks. The 18th Century was a time of the wig and hairpiece, with Marie Antoinette’s elaborate piece becoming somewhat of a symbol of French royal decadence.
Over the next half century, wigs paired down a bit, becoming more conservative, and being worn by more conservative gentlemen in general. In fact, the famous white hair of our first president, George Washington, is actually a wig.
Throughout most of the latter half of the 20th Century, wigs again fell out of favor, and were worn only in the case of necessity, as with old women who had significantly thinned hair. However, wigs again became popularize in the 1980’s when celebrities such as Cher began wearing wigs as a fashion statement; not for lack of her own actual hair.
Currently, in Britain and other Commonwealth nations, wigs are still worn by men in judicial, parliamentary, and other civic positions. Otherwise, wigs are now mostly worn by women instead of men (while men now wear the partial hairpieces, called toupees), and for many aesthetic reasons. From wanting to save their natural hair from the harsh procedures of dying and bleaching, to just wanting the variety of being able to jump from bob-length to long and flowing, wigs have taken on a fresh new life once again. Today, there’s a wig for everyone. Feel like having flowing blond locks? How about an edgy black bob? Maybe you just want to go red.

Ready to get started? Check out VogueWigs.com – they have what you are looking for in the way of fabulous wigs, so explore the latest wig revolution. Blondes do have more fun.