Okay fam, let’s talk about something kinda unexpected but also kinda cool: Why did men wear WIGS in the 1700s? Yes, wigs. And I’m not talking about today’s lace fronts and fun pastel colors. I’m talking about those big, powdered wigs that you see in old movies or history memes. Like, men didn’t just decide to put a 3-foot masterpiece on their heads out of fashion boredom, right?
We’re taking it all the way back to the 1700s—when guys fully committed to serving an entire LOOK, and nobody batted an eye. So let’s jump into it!
Wigs as Status Symbols: Because Only Fancy Guys Wear Giant Hairpieces
Let’s spill the tea on the actual reason men wore wigs back then. Spoiler alert: it actually started because it was trendy for royalty and big-shot figures to wear them first. Basically, if you were rich and powerful, you couldn’t just let your natural hair hang around all casual-like. No-no. These dudes were out here flexing on everyone else with their not-so-natural hairpieces.
So get this: the whole dude-in-a-wig vibe really kicked off with King Louis XIV of France (the “Sun King”—every self-proclaimed “king” probably wishes they coined that name first). He started losing his hair and freaked out. And because there wasn’t Rogaine or hair transplants back then, wigs were the solution. But he didn’t just stop at a chill, short wig. Oh no. Louis had to EXTRA. He went full-on with long, flowing locks in every direction. Why? Because basically, more hair equaled MORE status.
Eventually, wigs weren’t just for the kings of France and England. All the rich and famous types followed suit. If you weren’t flexing a wig in high society, who even were you?
Wigs were boujee hair extensions before hair extensions were even a thing.
Ooooh, They Were Called “Periwigs”!
Yeah, I know, I was today-years-old when I first heard the word periwig too. Like, why do everything back then sound ten times fancier than today? Anyway, periwigs were the long and often curly wigs guys wore. We would totally just call them powdered wigs now, but back then, “periwig” was the thing to call them.
And let’s talk about the powdering part. Have you seen pictures where these wigs are powdery white, and you probably wondered why they looked like they walked through a flour factory? Well, that powder wasn’t just some random thing. It was actually scented white powder that made the wig easier to style and maintain (and let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good-smelling wig?). The scent mattered. After all, the alternative was dealing with that 1700s BO. Ew, no thanks.
Health Problems? Throw On A Wig!
Okay, so one of the wildest reasons that wigs became popular with men had to do with…wait for it…Health issues.
The 1700s wasn’t exactly known for cutting-edge med technology (LOL), and there was a pandemic happening at the time, known as syphilis. Yep, syphilis was wreaking havoc, and it had some gnarly symptoms, including hair loss. So instead of looking like they had totally just gotten out of a plague bed, guys would wear wigs to cover up the fact that their hair was falling out or to keep those symptom vibes on the DL.
Table: Symptoms Syphilis Caused That Led to Wig Wearing
| Symptom | How Wigs Helped |
|---|---|
| Extreme hair loss | Wigs gave the appearance of a full head of hair |
| Rashes and scalp sores | Covered those messy symptoms |
| Tooth loss | Uhhh… okay, wigs didn’t help with this one, but it’s just gross. |
So not only was wearing a wig about being a king or a lord, it was honestly one of the first “Oh, I totally just did this to cover my hair loss” moments in history. 💀
Fashion, Darling! Let’s Not Forget About Flexing on People
Alright, fashion plays a massive role here too. Not every dude wore a wig because he had hair falling out. A lot of them were just out here wantin’ to look fabulous (I mean, priorities, amirite?). In the same way today we follow runway designers or whatever celebs are wearing during awards season, people back then kept a close eye on what the royalty were rockin’.
Think of dudes in the 1700s like TikTok influencers who all copy each other’s dances. Nobles obsessed over what fashion looked like at court, and wigs were totally part of that. Bigger wigs started becoming this major thing, so people were outdoing each other on who could have the more DRAMATIC wig.
If you had extra-long hair? Iconic. Super curly big one? Boom, trendsetter. Wigs for days!
In wig culture, bigger was better—and it was literally a competition for headspace.
Some of these rich men just had to one-up each other constantly. If your wig wasn’t giant, like, what was the point? I imagine there were plenty of “Who wore it better?” moments within their courts.
The Powdery Drama: A Brought-To-You-By Event
Wigs weren’t just all drama-free, either. There were serious time-consuming routines they had to go through to get those wigs looking good. Sooo much involved.
Wigmakers started popping up, and these people were like the IG celebrity hairstylists of the 1700s. You couldn’t just go pick up a wig off a store shelf. Nope! Rich dudes were custom-ordering wigs, having them powdered, perfumed, styled—you name it.
I’m kinda vibing right now with how the 1700s was full of men being so—how do I put it?—OVER-THE-TOP about their wigs! Like the drama of it all:
- The rolling up to court with frizzled curls looking Royal AF.
- The servants standing by because wigs were too heavy to handle alone.
- The FAKE hair becoming a literal flex on your status and coin.
But like, wigs were for big moments ONLY. People didn’t wear these around town to pick up groceries. They were strictly meant for when someone wanted to show off, like balls, courts, and important events. Imagine pulling these things out and dusting them off just to make an appearance then hiding them away for weeks. My wrists hurt thinking about it!
The Wig Game Ends: RIP to the Century of Wigged-Out Men
Wigs were a vibe until they weren’t (sorry, not sorry). By the later part of the 1700s, wigs slowly stopped being a thing.
Why? Tbh, it’s not very different than why we all move past certain fashion phases (cringey flashbacks to the 2012 galaxy leggings era scream). Fashion changed, stuff started getting boring. Plus, wigs were actual high maintenance.
Another biggie: The French Revolution happened. Rich, powdered-wig-wearing aristocrats weren’t exactly the most popular crowd during the Revolution (understatement of the century). When regular folks started rising up and overthrowing the elite in France, the powdered wig became a symbol of the old, rich ruling class that nobody liked anymore. So, everyone started going for a more natural style instead (finally embracing their actual hair, huh?).
Wigs in Modern Times
Soooooo, fast forward to today. We’re not quite dealing with kings or syphilis-caused 3ft headpieces anymore (thank you modern medicine), but wigs are still poppin’. Just different.
Today, people wear wigs to switch up their looks in the same sense but without all the drama and over-the-top status stuff from the 1700s. And bonus, it’s not exclusively a “fancy guy” thing anymore. Anyone can rock a wig, and guess what? It’s cool again. I mean, who doesn’t love the no-commitment aspect of wigs?
We’ve got lace fronts, synthetic beauty, and so many options that are…just better. I mean…can you imagine what those old-school periwigs felt like? It probably weighed SO much. Y’all, today’s wigs are a literal upgrade. Beyoncé and Cardi B stepping onto stages with wigs that are slaying the world. Total power move.
Let’s just be glad we’ve *upgraded* from 1700s periwigs to today’s lace fronts, okurrrr.
And the next time someone asks you about those white, powdered wigs rich guys used to wear? Now, you’ve got all the hot gossip behind one of fashion’s most iconic but wildest trends. 💅🏽
Stay glam and keep slaying! 😘
