Historians and anthropologists have confirmed that wigs have been used in many cultures for thousands of years for cultural, fashion, professional, religious, social, and of course, aesthetic reasons. From ancient Egyptians to Imperial Rome and ancient Greece, wigs have been found all throughout early history and are thought to have been used first as early as 100,000 years ago. While wigs have changed in style, production, application, and popularity, some interesting things we have learned from wig makers of the past have remained.
Some of the earliest artifacts found provide us with many hints about how wigs were made in the past. Ivory carvings of bald women's heads and clay sculptures with removable wigs identify many of the trends and wig making methods of bygone eras. The well-preserved wigs of ancient Egypt are displayed in museums around the world. One stunning wig found in the Temple of Isis in Thebes shows hundreds of intricate curls, demonstrating that even in the heat of the desert, many Ancient Egyptians had big ideas about how they wanted their hair to look.
During the 12th century, wigs became widespread status symbols in England and across Europe, worn predominantly by men of high social standing. Later on in history, fashionable women began wearing wigs as well. At this time, human hair and silk thread were popular materials and towering mountains of hair were used to demonstrate status.
Even during the plague in 1665, wigs were in high demand. Because there was no consensus about the safety of using donor hair from people who had died of the plague, wool, goat hair, and horse hair were often used in lieu of human hair.
While wig making methods and materials have changed and transformed in many ways over the course of thousands of years, one thing has remained constant: the importance of a fantastic fit. Some of these methods closely mirror the methods of current times, while others are admittedly more bizarre. In ancient Egypt, many wore wigs to shield their scalps from the harsh sun. People often shaved their natural hair and used beeswax to keep their wigs in place atop their scalps. In the 1630's, King Louis XIII wore wigs that were sewn into a linen foundation, and later on during the reign of Louis XVI in the 18th century, the use of net foundations became popular.
Net foundations—often seen in modern wig making—were invented during this time period, using many fitting techniques, different materials, and knotting techniques to improve upon these early wig designs and their overall fit. As time went on, a French wig maker invented flesh toned hair net that helped wigs blend more naturally then ever. These ventilated wig foundations often included springs to help the often tall and bulky wigs fit more securely. While springs are no longer widely used in wig making, the advancements during this time period forged the way for modern wig makers who have developed even better technology to help wigs disappear into the scalp.
Along the lines of what modern wig makers have in mind are synthetic prosthetics to match the scalp of the wearer, many that wore wigs for performances in the 19th century began using pig and sheep bladders. This was initially used to simulate baldness, but wig makers soon began embroidering hair into these “scalps” to make the most natural looking wigs yet.
In the beginning of the 20th century, wig makers from around the world continued to use alternative materials in lieu of hair, until modern synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, acrylic, and modacrilyc became popular options. Jute fibers and Tibetan yak hair were commonly used.
As time went on, wigs were no longer reserved for the incredibly wealthy. While prior to the 20th century, wigs were historically seen as elaborate, heavy, and uncomfortable. Even early during the founding years of the United States, prominent politicians wore big, elaborate powdered wigs that were curled, powdered, and tied. During this time, wig makers were skilled craftsmen who created wigs and hairpieces and helped clients with all of their haircare needs. From cutting and dressing the hair to cleaning wigs and selling soaps and cleansers, scented perfumes, powders, tonics, and lice remedies, these wig makers—much like modern wig makers—were full service.
These oversized court-style wigs often associated with European aristocracy eventually went out of style, making way for the future of wigs that were wearable, realistic, and far more practical. Wigs began to be catered toward people experiencing loss or thinning of hair more than ever. As the need for conventionally available wigs increased, modern hair preparation and wig manufacturing methods were born.
As glad as we are that we have such fantastic technology for assembling wigs natural and custom fit wigs nowadays, its always interesting to see the roots of this industry!
Some of the earliest artifacts found provide us with many hints about how wigs were made in the past. Ivory carvings of bald women's heads and clay sculptures with removable wigs identify many of the trends and wig making methods of bygone eras. The well-preserved wigs of ancient Egypt are displayed in museums around the world. One stunning wig found in the Temple of Isis in Thebes shows hundreds of intricate curls, demonstrating that even in the heat of the desert, many Ancient Egyptians had big ideas about how they wanted their hair to look.
During the 12th century, wigs became widespread status symbols in England and across Europe, worn predominantly by men of high social standing. Later on in history, fashionable women began wearing wigs as well. At this time, human hair and silk thread were popular materials and towering mountains of hair were used to demonstrate status.
Even during the plague in 1665, wigs were in high demand. Because there was no consensus about the safety of using donor hair from people who had died of the plague, wool, goat hair, and horse hair were often used in lieu of human hair.
While wig making methods and materials have changed and transformed in many ways over the course of thousands of years, one thing has remained constant: the importance of a fantastic fit. Some of these methods closely mirror the methods of current times, while others are admittedly more bizarre. In ancient Egypt, many wore wigs to shield their scalps from the harsh sun. People often shaved their natural hair and used beeswax to keep their wigs in place atop their scalps. In the 1630's, King Louis XIII wore wigs that were sewn into a linen foundation, and later on during the reign of Louis XVI in the 18th century, the use of net foundations became popular.
Net foundations—often seen in modern wig making—were invented during this time period, using many fitting techniques, different materials, and knotting techniques to improve upon these early wig designs and their overall fit. As time went on, a French wig maker invented flesh toned hair net that helped wigs blend more naturally then ever. These ventilated wig foundations often included springs to help the often tall and bulky wigs fit more securely. While springs are no longer widely used in wig making, the advancements during this time period forged the way for modern wig makers who have developed even better technology to help wigs disappear into the scalp.
Along the lines of what modern wig makers have in mind are synthetic prosthetics to match the scalp of the wearer, many that wore wigs for performances in the 19th century began using pig and sheep bladders. This was initially used to simulate baldness, but wig makers soon began embroidering hair into these “scalps” to make the most natural looking wigs yet.
In the beginning of the 20th century, wig makers from around the world continued to use alternative materials in lieu of hair, until modern synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, acrylic, and modacrilyc became popular options. Jute fibers and Tibetan yak hair were commonly used.
As time went on, wigs were no longer reserved for the incredibly wealthy. While prior to the 20th century, wigs were historically seen as elaborate, heavy, and uncomfortable. Even early during the founding years of the United States, prominent politicians wore big, elaborate powdered wigs that were curled, powdered, and tied. During this time, wig makers were skilled craftsmen who created wigs and hairpieces and helped clients with all of their haircare needs. From cutting and dressing the hair to cleaning wigs and selling soaps and cleansers, scented perfumes, powders, tonics, and lice remedies, these wig makers—much like modern wig makers—were full service.
These oversized court-style wigs often associated with European aristocracy eventually went out of style, making way for the future of wigs that were wearable, realistic, and far more practical. Wigs began to be catered toward people experiencing loss or thinning of hair more than ever. As the need for conventionally available wigs increased, modern hair preparation and wig manufacturing methods were born.
As glad as we are that we have such fantastic technology for assembling wigs natural and custom fit wigs nowadays, its always interesting to see the roots of this industry!
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