When we envision wigs today, our minds often drift to their association with hair loss. However, this has not always been the case!
Dating back to 3600 BC, the earliest documented instances of embellishing our natural hair reveal a world where these adornments symbolised power, wealth, and beauty. Take, for example, the legendary Ancient Egyptian hairpieces, such as the one speculated to have graced the head of Cleopatra. Crafted from a blend of sheep's wool and human hair, these intricately beaded pieces were fastened with beeswax and adorned with radiant jewels. Across various ancient civilisations, hairpieces were symbolic of status, affluence, and at times, even fertility.
As history unfolded, the preference for human hair wigs decreased, giving way to the prominence of animal hair in wig-making. Queen Elizabeth I was known to have owned an astounding 60 hairpieces in the early modern period.
The 1700s are well known for the classic white wig that many men wore as a fashion statement, this trend has largely been credited to the influence of King Louis XIV who began wearing elaborate pieces when he lost his hair. As this trend exploded, people of lower classes started selling their hair to make money. Hair then became increasingly hard to come by and people went to drastic measures to keep up with the style, there were recorded cases of individuals having their hair taken forcefully to fulfil the demand.
The last six decades witnessed a revolutionary transformation in the wig industry after the development of synthetic fibres. This breakthrough brought in a new era of accessible and cost-effective wigs. These pieces have become increasingly realistic, catering to a wider audience seeking to enhance their appearance.
We hope that this quick dive into the past helps to show that hair loss is something that humanity has been dealing with for as long as recorded history has existed. Losing your hair can be daunting but remember you are not alone; statistics show that approximately 50% of women and 80% of men will experience hair loss during their lifetime.
There are many options available to best suit your hair loss needs. Click here for more information and to book a consultation with an experienced hair loss specialist at Aderans Trendco.
