Wigs

A wig is a piece of hair made from horsehair, wool, feathers, yak hair, human hair, buffalo hair and synthetic hair. Wigs are used and worn for many different reasons- acting, religious context, fashion trends or if people are bald. They have been used for hundreds of years with wigs styles and hair pieces changing through the decades.

16 century wigs


Wig wearing was revived in the 16th century after the fall of the Roman Empire a thousands years earlier due to hair loss or improving your personal appearance. Natural hair during the 16th century was unhygienic as it attracted head lice so many people shaved there hair off and replaced it with ready made hair pieces. Queen Elizabeth 1 famously wore a red wig tightly curled and Roman style. King Louis X111 of France and King Louis XIV of France made mens wig popular from the 1620s. After 1660 mens wigs were either shoulder length or longer which became the fashion trend.