18th century wigs why

Perukes remained popular because they were so practical. At the time, head lice were everywhere, and nitpicking was painful and time-consuming. Wigs, however, curbed the problem. By the late 18th century, the trend was dying out. French citizens ousted the peruke during the Revolution, and Brits stopped wearing wigs after William Pitt levied a tax on hair powder in Short, natural hair became the new craze, and it would stay that way for another two centuries or so.

BY Lucas Reilly. Cover-Up And so, the syphilis outbreak sparked a surge in wigmaking. Wig Out By the late 18th century, the trend was dying out.

The other day we were watching The Favourite — great movie, by the way — and every time male characters appeared on the screen a question arose in my mind: why on Earth did they wear wigs for? And apparently they were. The trend came from France, when the fashionable King Louis XIV started wearing them after noticing a receding hairline on his previously voluptuous and admirable hair. Such a wig required 40 highly experienced wig makers — good times were coming for the trade — and soon after his royal head was set up for success.

Unless one met certain qualifications, such as being a member of the British Royal Family or the Clergy, citizens had to purchase a certificate to purchase hair powder. Wigs have made such an impact in historical remembrance that they seem to be represent the symbol of late 17th century history. Hollywood seems to be particularly attached to misrepresenting the proliferation of wigs. Although Pirates of the Caribbean largely depicted British sailors without wigs, those pesky powdered perukes still made their appearance.

However, relatively few remain, as they were not particularly easy to preserve. The lasting legacy of wigs is undeniable — British judges and barristers still wore wigs well into the 21st century, although the practice is largely ceremonial now. Despite not being quite as prevalent as depictions in modern day popular culture might suggest, wigs still had a major impact on fashion of the 18th century. And since fashion is ever-changing and often cyclical, maybe someday the big wig will be back in style!

Rev War Article. The Rise and Fall of the Powdered Wig. Learn all about the rise and fall of wigs. Sign up for our quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! How the Wig Got Big In the 17th century, hairlines were an important aspect of fashion — a good hairline was the mark of a well-bred man. So, who wore wigs? If they were so popular, why did wigs go out of fashion? Where are all the wigs now? Related Articles.