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The History of Wigs

Photo credit: Kevin Mazur

Deciding to wear a wig can be a difficult choice and you may wonder whether a wig will be uncomfortable or look too ‘fake’. Rest assured, wigs have come a long way from the synthetic itchy costume wigs of the ’90s. Wigs can be worn effortlessly for fashion or to discreetly disguise hair loss. Here at Simone Thomas hair loss clinic in Bournemouth, we provide both human hair wigs and synthetic wigs in Bournemouth.

Wigs in Ancient Times

Humans have been wearing wigs for different reasons for a very long time. In fact, it is well documented that wigs were very popular in ancient Egyptian society. In the beginning, they wore wigs to protect their scalps from the blistering sun, but wigs soon became a fashion statement amongst the Egyptian elite. Greeks and Romans were among other ancient cultures that would also wear wigs as a fashion trend.

16th Century Wigs for Hair Loss

People realised that wig fittings were a great cure for head lice in the 16th century. People would shave their natural hair to get rid of lice and wear wigs instead. It was also around this time that people started using wigs for hair loss caused by diseases such as syphilis and the plague.

18th Century Ornate Wig Fittings

By the 18th century, men wore large, white powdered wigs and women wore less grandeur hair pieces. However, the women in the French court of Versailles were an exception to the rule.  They were famous for their elaborate wigs. Georgain wigs were often made from horse, goat or human hair. Marie Antoinette, the queen of France, had an extravagant human hair wig which became an iconic symbol of French fashion history.

19th and 20th Century

In the 19th and 20th century wigs became less popular, with many men, including George Washington, choosing to grow and powder their own hair. Women would wear wigs for hair loss in a discreet fashion to improve their hair volume.

1920’s to Now

Natural looking, human hair wigs have been popular throughout the years in black hairdressing. They are great protective styles that allow the natural hair to maintain health and length.  Oprah and Beyoncé are just two examples of black women renowned for their extensive wig collections.

These days celebrities such as Kylie Jenner and Ariana Grande are making contemporary wig fittings more accessible for everyone. People across the globe from a range of different cultures now wear highly-evolved, comfortable human hair wigs and synthetic wigs.

To find out more about our hair loss treatments in Bournemouth, get in touch with our friendly stylists.  Our team of qualified trichologists can provide a comprehensive hair loss consultation at our Simone Thomas hair loss clinic in Bournemouth. Call today on 01202 760003 or book online.

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