When Was The Wig Invented – A Brief History

People have been wearing wigs for a very, very long time. There is evidence that people were wearing wigs as far back as Ancient Egypt. When in ancient, “Egyptian society men and women commonly had clean shaven or close-cropped hair and often wore wigs.”

Popular plaits

They were made from human hair or sheep’s wool, “And consisted of a bulky mass of plaits or braids.” The hairs of the wig were kept in place using beeswax or resin in order to maintain the style.

Early wig wearers

There is also evidence of wigs in other ancient cultures, such as the Assyrians, Phoenicians, Jews in Ancient Israel, Greeks, and Romans. Wealthy ancient Roman women wore blonde wigs as blonde hair was so unusual amongst Roman people. The hair in that instance came from the people that the Romans had conquered in the north.

In the West, wig-wearing only began to surge in popularity from the 16th century onwards. Then wigs were known as periwigs. At that point, their purpose was to disguise hair loss or enhance one’s appearance.

Finding their feet in fashion

However, in the 17th century wigs were the cutting edge of fashion across Europe. King Louis XIV of France made wearing a wig an absolute must for fashionable society and that trend soon kicked off across the Channel in Britain.

Like all other aspects of the fashion world, wigs have evolved as fashions have changed.

@FITfashionstory demonstrated how wigs changed with the styles of the time, when they tweeted saying, “The 1690s silhouette for women was extremely vertical with the long-trained mantua. Men’s coats gained fuller skirts and their wigs were two-peaked, and by the end of the century, powdered grey or white…”

And in Georgian England, wig-wearing was so intrinsic to keeping up with the Joneses that everyone was sporting a wig. During the Georgian era, extravagant, “Hairstyles, particularly towering powdered wigs abounded. But that would change. As the 18th century came to a close, wigs (for both men and women) were on their way out, seen as a sign of deception and viewed with suspicion.”

Back with a bang

Luckily, today, wig-wearing is back in! There are a huge number of celebrities and actors sporting wigs every single day, for work and pleasure! The freedom that wigs give you to mix up your look is now being appreciated by everyone across the world. This means that the quality and the range of different styles of wig available are now outstanding.

The Guardian agrees. They say that the, “Rise in popularity may also be down [sic] the fact that wigs have much improved in recent years.” That’s what has made wig-wearing in the twenty-first century even more fun!

Alter ego or back to yourself

Now, whoever, you are, you can buy a wig that feels comfortable to wear and instantly transforms your look. Wigs can turn people into superheroes, Georgian ladies, or Roman emperors within a blink of an eye, or they can just make you feel like yourself again.

If you need help in finding your perfect wig then call Wigs4U today on 01945 587584 to speak to any of our helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable staff members.