The World of  Wigs 

 Wigs were worn by both men and women in ancient civilizations. They were first  made of human hair. In Egypt young girls often had pigtails while boys had shaved heads, except for one braided lock worn to one side.  That must have been handsome! 

Ancient comb, hairpin and wig piece

Heads were shaved for coolness and cleanliness. Wigs were worn for protection from the sun and to show power.

  
King Louis XII (late 1400's) began losing his hair, so he started to wear a wig and people in the whole country of France started wearing wigs.  When the English king, Charles II, began changing from black haired to gray, he put on a wig.  Of course, everyone started wearing one! 

 Louis XIV didn't wear a wig until he was 35 years old. The king's personal barber was the only one who could see the king without his wig. 

 Men and women often wore the same hair style. For centuries, men and women have been wearing wigs.  Wigs got more elaborate in some cultures. They became more expensive and heavy, so that wearing a "big wig" showed off wealth and position in society.
 

How many bottles of hair spray did that take?

The fashion stayed popular, even in the American colonies. I wonder if he was the only president with a wig?

George Washington wore a powdered wig.

We need a haircut.

I need some hair!

     English judges began wearing wigs in the days of Queen Anne and, even today, wear white wigs (made of nylon.)  Did they do that with a curling iron? Wigs for men have grown less popular in the United States.  (A hairpiece for a man is called a toupee.)  Today, mostly women wear them. 
  

Wigs grew very popular in the 1960's, but they were made to look "fake" by using synthetic materials in funky colors!  Hippie wigs! Today, wigs are still worn in most countries just to improve the appearance.

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