Wigs have reached a point in their history where they are used in dozens of different applications all over the world. From hair correction to acting and religious rituals, very few cultures have no account of the use of faux hair. Whether they used horsehair, wool, feather, or
real human hair wigs, there is an interesting trend in our species for the use of wigs for various reasons. Let's take a look at some of the varying uses for makeshift human hair over the course of time and space.
In ancient Egypt wigs were not only used for fashion purposes but also to shield their shaved heads from the sun--often using beeswax to fasten to their heads. Continuing into the 16th and 17th centuries, we continue to see the use of
hair wigs for women and for gentlemen of the time. Often related to the surge of royalty that somewhat defined the world's cultural relations, wigs had begun to see their rise as an upper-class symbol. This set the tone for wig use for the next few centuries. Aristocratic use of wigs not only gave the impression of a certain amount of wealth but also power. The power aspect can still be noted today in governments that are under, somewhat antiquated, colonial laws--namely, in their government processes that often require the wearing of a white or grey wig.
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