TED-Ed: Why did people wear powdered wigs? | Stephanie Honchell Smith

The video explores the history of wigs, starting with their symbolic importance in France under Louis XIII, who popularized wigs to cover his baldness. Wigs have ancient origins, used in Egypt and Rome, and were discouraged by the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages. The trend resurged in the 1500s, with Queen Elizabeth I owning many wigs. Louis XIV's France became a fashion hub, boosting the wig industry. Wigs were practical, hiding hair loss and reducing grooming needs. However, by the late 1700s, wigs fell out of favor due to economic issues and changing tastes, culminating in the French Revolution and England's powder tax.

What materials were commonly used to make wigs in the past?

How did the fashion of wigs differ between men and women in the 1700s?

What role did the French Revolution play in the decline of wig popularity?