The ancient Egyptians wore them to shield their shaved, hairless heads from the sun. The Egyptians also wore the wigs on top of their hair using beeswax or resin to keep the wigs in place. Other ancient cultures including the Assyrians, Greeks and Romans also used wigs. Wigs are principally a Western form of dress, in the Far East they have rarely been used except in the traditional theatre of China and Japan. Some east asian entertainers wore wigs as part of their traditional costumes.
16th & 17th Century
The use of wigs were solely used as a way of compensating for hair loss or improving one's personal appearance. They also served a practical purpose, the unhygienic conditions of the time meant that hair attracted head lice, and the problem was prevented by shaving the natural hair and replacing the hair with an artificial hairpiece. Royal patronage was crucial to the revival of the wig. Queen Elizabeth I of England famously wore a red wig, tightly and elaborately curled in a Roman style while King Louis XIII of France (1601-1643) and King XIV of France (1638-1715) pioneered wig-wearing among men from the 1620s onwards. Wigs for men were introduced into the English-speaking world with other French styles when Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, following a lengthy exile in France. These wigs were shoulder-length or longer, imitating the long hair that had become fashionable among men since the 1620s. Their use soon became popular in the English court
No comments:
Post a Comment