The History of Wigs

Looking good is a priority for most people and hair is an important part of a person’s appearance. Having great hair can often take the emphasis off bad features and draw attention to better features. But what happens if you lose your hair? This is something that could happen to anyone.

There are many reasons for hair loss and wigs can be a great solution to permanent or temporary hair problems. For people that have lost their hair due to health issues and cancer treatment, the lack of confidence caused by the hair loss could affect their overall disposition and recovery time.

Throughout history there have been many accounts wherewigs have been worn. The ancient Egyptians wore them on in order to be protected from the heat of the sun. Wigs were also popular among other ancient European civilizations such as the ancient Romans and Greeks. Eastern civilizations also used wigs in theatre and cultural performances.

After the Roman Empire fell, the use of wigs was restricted for about a thousand years, until the 16th century. Wigs were worn again because of the hair loss that was common then or in order to boost a person’s appearance. They also solved a hygienic problem caused by head lice, which were highly attracted to natural hair. Shaving the head and wearing a wig more hygienic in olden times.

The 17th century was the time where wigs were introduced as a symbol of social status. Royal patronage played an important role in the revival of wig-wearing. In England, Queen Elisabeth I often wore a curly, red wig, and in France, kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV were responsible for introducing wigs as a part of men’s fashion as early as the 1620s and onwards.

When King Charles II was exiled from France, and then restored to the throne in England in 1660, he introduced long wigs that were to be worn by men. Long hair was in fashion among men since the 1620s. Any man that lacked the long hair could purchase long wigs in order to be part of the trend and styles that were current at the time.

Long wigs also started to be worn as a part of professional costumes. The clerics of the church in England and Ireland wore long wigs at ceremonies. This was also adopted in legal systems, where judges and officials were obligated to wear them.

This tradition is still kept in some legal systems around the world today. On the other hand, in France and the United States, long wigs haven’t been worn as a symbol of social status since the early 19th century. Today they are worn for convenience by a lot of people since it is a lot easier to put on an already styled wig when there is not enough time to style your own hair.

Men also wear them because of the loss of hair that can be sometimes demoralizing. Other current uses can be found among celebrities like Cher, Raquel Welch and lots of other movie stars, who prefer short or long wigs as part of their lives. Halloween is also a time of the year when lots of disguises include wigs of many colors and of different lengths.

Article Source: http://www.rightbiz.com

Even though wigs started off as useful pieces that were meant for protecting the scalp, they are now mostly used as fashion accessories. The perfect example of this is the long wigs worn by celebrities in their shows and in entertainment.

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