A wig or toupee is a head of hair - human, horse-hair or synthetic - worn on the head for fashion or various other aesthetic and stylistic reasons, including cultural and religious observance. The word wig is short for periwig and first appeared in the English language around 1675. Headgear, headwear or headdress is the name given to any element of clothing which is worn on ones head. ... There are many different styles of hats A hat is an item of clothing which is worn on the head – a kind of headgear. ... A bonnet is a kind of headgear which is usually brimless. ... The initialism CAP, when used by itself, can refer to: California Assessment Program, a California standards test replaced by the California Learning Assessment System, which was in turn replaced by the STAR system. ... A hood is a kind of headgear. ... Pickelhaube of a Swedish Royal Guard soldier For other uses, see Helmet (band) A helmet (a 15th century loan from Middle French, a diminutive of Frankish helm, from Proto-Germanic *khelmaz, PIE *kelmo- a cover) is a form of protective clothing worn on the head and usually made of metal... WIG, originally an acronym for Warszawski Indeks Giełdowy (Warsaw Stock Exchange Index) is the oldest index for the Warsaw Stock Exchange. ... Masks in a Guatemalan Market A teenager reading a book, while wearing a dinosaur mask A mask is a piece of material or kit worn on the face. ... Veils are articles of clothing, worn almost exclusively by women, which cover some part of the head or face. ... A Scarf joint is a means of joining usually wood, sometimes metal, end to end. ... Beauty pageant tiara A tiara (from Persian تاره tara borrowed by Latin as tiara) is a form of crown. ... The Papal Tiara, also known as the Triple Tiara, in Latin as the Triregnum, or in Italian as the Triregno, is the three-tiered jewelled papal crown of Byzantine and Persian origin that is the symbol of the papacy. ... The turban (Arabic: , ‘imāmä; Turkish: tülbent; Persian: دلبنت, dulband) is a headdress, of Asian origin, consisting of a long scarf wound round the head or an inner hat. ... Crown (headgear) - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... This is an incomplete list of hats and headgear (that is, anything worn on the head), both modern and historical. ... Young Girl Fixing her Hair, by Sophie Gengembre Anderson Hair (latin pili) is a filamentous outgrowth of the skin found only in mammals. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Some people wear wigs to disguise the fact that they are bald. Actors, on the other hand often wear wigs so they better resemble the character they are portraying. Wigs are also commonly used for cross-dressing, gender bending, or for drag performances. In addition, some people have worn pubic wigs or merkins. See also baldness treatments. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This articles is about cross-dressing in general, that is the act of wearing the clothing of another gender for any reason. ... Drag in its broadest sense means a costume or outfit that carries symbolic significance, but usually refers to the clothing associated with one gender role when worn by a person of the other gender. ... A merkin (first use, according to the OED, 1617) is reported to be a pubic wig, worn by prostitutes after shaving their genitalia to eliminate lice or to disguise the marks of syphilis. ...

History

Wigs have been worn for thousands of years; the ancient Egyptians, for instance, wore them to protect their shaven heads from the sun. Other ancient peoples, including the Assyrians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans also used wigs. Curiously, they are principally a Western form of dress; in the Far East they have rarely been used except in the traditional theatre of China and Japan. Ancient Egypt was a civilization located along the Lower Nile, reaching from the Nile Delta in the north to as far south as Jebel Barkal at the time of its greatest extension (15th century BC). ... It has been suggested that Assyrian people be merged into this article or section. ... Phoenicia was an ancient civilization in the north of ancient Canaan, with its heartland along the coastal plain of what is now Lebanon and Syria. ... The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. ... Far East is an inexact term often used for East Asia and Southeast Asia combined, sometimes including also the easternmost territories of Russia, i. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

After the fall of the Roman Empire the use of wigs fell into abeyance in the West for a thousand years, until revived in the 16th century as a means of compensating for hair loss or improving one's personal appearance. They also served a practical purpose; the unhygenic conditions of the time meant that hair attracted head lice, a problem that could be much reduced if natural hair was shaved and replaced with a more easily de-loused artificial hairpiece. The Roman Empire is not the Holy Roman Empire (843-1806). ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... The head louse Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are one of the many varieties of sucking lice (singular louse) specialized to live on different areas of various animals. ...

Queen Elizabeth I, pictured in 1588.

Royal patronage was crucial to the revival of the wig. Queen Elizabeth I of England famously wore a red wig, tightly and elaborately curled in a "Roman" style, and King Louis XIII of France pioneered wig-wearing among men from the 1620s onwards. Image File history File links Elizabeth_I_(Armada_Portrait). ... Image File history File links Elizabeth_I_(Armada_Portrait). ... Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. ... 1588 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. ... Louis XIII (September 27, 1601 – May 14, 1643), called the Just (French: le Juste), was King of France from 1610 to 1643. ...

Periwigs or perukes for men were introduced into the English-speaking world with other French styles when Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, following a lengthy exile in France. These wigs were shoulder-length or longer, imitating the long hair that had become fashionable among men since the 1620s. Their use soon became popular in the English court. The London diarist Samuel Pepys recorded the day in 1665 that a barber had shaved his head and that he tried on his new periwig for the first time, but in a year of plague he was uneasy about wearing it: Charles II or The Merry Monarch (29 May 1630–6 February 1685) was the King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland from 30 January 1649 (retrospectively de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ... Events Expulsion of the Carib indigenous people from Martinique by French occupying forces. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Events March 4 - Start of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. ... A barber (from the Latin barba, beard) is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, give shaves and cut beards. ... Illustration of the Black Death from the Toggenburg Bible (1411). ...

"3rd September 1665: Up, and put on my coloured silk suit, very fine, and my new periwig, bought a good while since, but darst not wear it because the plague was in Westminster when I bought it. And it is a wonder what will be the fashion after the plague is done as to periwigs, for nobody will dare to buy any haire for fear of the infection? that it had been cut off the heads of people dead of the plague."

George IV (born in 1762), wore an auburn wig for his coronation in 1827 and this official portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence

Wigs were not without other drawbacks, as Pepys noted on 27 March 1667: September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... Events March 4 - Start of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. ... Silk weaver Silk is a natural protein fiber that can be woven into textiles. ... Westminster is a district within the City of Westminster in London. ... Image File history File links George IV, by Sir Thomas Laurence. ... Image File history File links George IV, by Sir Thomas Laurence. ... Sir Thomas Lawrence (April 13, 1769 - January 7, 1830), was an English painter was born at Bristol. ... March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in Leap years). ... // Events January 20 - Poland cedes Kyiv, Smolensk, and eastern Ukraine to Russia in the Treaty of Andrusovo that put a final end to the Deluge, and Poland lost its status as a Central European power. ...

"I did go to the Swan; and there sent for Jervas my old periwig-maker and he did bring me a periwig; but it was full of nits, so as I was troubled to see it (it being his old fault) and did send him to make it clean."

With wigs becoming virtually obligatory garb for men of virtually any significant social rank, wigmakers gained considerable prestige. A wigmakers' guild was established in France in 1665, a development soon copied elsewhere in Europe. Their job was a skilled one, as 17th century wigs were extraordinarily elaborate, covering the back and shoulders and flowing down the chest; not surprisingly, they were also extremely heavy and often uncomfortable to wear. Such wigs were expensive to produce, as the best examples were made from natural human hair; the hair of horses and goats was often used as a cheaper alternative. The head louse Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are one of the many varieties of sucking lice (singular louse) specialized to live on different areas of various animals. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ...

During the 18th century wigs became smaller and more formal, with several professions adopting them as part of their official costumes; this tradition survives in a few legal systems. They were routinely worn in western European countries and the British colonies of North America. The wearing of wigs as a symbol of social status was largely abandoned in the newly created United States and France by the start of the 19th century, although it persisted a little longer in the United Kingdom. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Women's wigs developed in a somewhat different way. They were worn from the 18th century onwards, although at first only surreptitiously, and full wigs in the 19th and early 20th century were not fashionable. They were often worn by old ladies who had lost their hair. In the film Mrs. Skeffington (1944), when Bette Davis has to wear a wig after a bout of diphtheria, it is a moment of pathos and a symbol of her frailty. This article is about Bette Davis the actress; there is also a singer named Betty Davis. ...

In the mid-to-late 20th century, wigs underwent a major increase in popularity. Elaborate bouffant hairdos became popular from about 1960 and brought the revival of full wigs for fashionable women. This was boosted by the development of wigs made from inexpensive synthetic fibres which look like human hair but are easier to obtain, use and wear. 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Contemporary usage

There are a wide variety of wig styles available.

Today, wigs are worn by women on a daily or occasional basis as a matter of convenience, as they can be styled ahead of time and then worn when there is not sufficient time to style one's own hair. They are also worn by individuals who are experiencing hair loss due to a number of medical reasons (most commonly cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy). A number of celebrities, including Dolly Parton and Raquel Welch have popularized wigs. Download high resolution version (888x626, 103 KB)Photo by Quadell File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (888x626, 103 KB)Photo by Quadell File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Chemotherapy is the use of chemical substances to treat disease. ... Dolly Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American country singer, songwriter, composer, author and actress. ... Raquel Welch on the film poster for One Million Years B.C. Raquel Welch (born September 5, 1940) is an American actress. ...

Among some Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Jews (including Chassids), devout women often shave their hair and wear wigs, for spiritual reasons. Orthodox Judaism is the stream of Judaism which adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmud (The Oral Law) and later codified in the Shulkhan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). It is governed by these works and the Rabbinical commentary... Haredi Judaism, also called ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Judaism. ...

They may also be worn for fun, as part of fancy dress (costume wearing), when they can be of outlandish color or made from tinsel. They are quite common at Halloween, when "rubber wigs" (solid bald cap-like hats, shaped like hair) are sold at some stores. A costume party (also referred to as fancy dress party in the United Kingdom) is a type of party where the guests dress up in a costume. ... Yarkand ladies summer fashions. ... Tinsel is a common Christmas decoration, popular because of its glittery appearance See [1] for some info Categories: Substubs ... Halloween is an observance celebrated on the night of October 31, most notably by children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door collecting sweets or money. ...

William Hogarth: The Bench, 1758

In England and most Commonwealth nations, special wigs are also worn by barristers, judges, and certain parliamentary and municipal or civic officials as a symbol of the office. Until 1823 all bishops in the United Kingdom wore ceremonial wigs as well. The wigs worn by barristers are in the style favoured in the late eighteenth century. Judges' wigs are, in everyday use as court dress, short like barristers' wigs (although in a slightly different style) but for ceremonial occasions judges and also senior barristers (QCs) wear full bottomed wigs. In the eighteenth century such wigs were made from real hair and powdered in order to give them their distinctive white or off-white colour. Powdering wigs was messy and inconvenient and the development of the naturally white or off white powderless wig (made of horsehair) is no doubt what has made the retention of wigs in everyday court dress a practical possibility. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2024x1673, 257 KB) Description: Title: de: Der Gerichtshof Technique: de: Öl auf Leinwand Dimensions: de: 14,5 × 18 cm Country of origin: de: Großbritanien Current location (city): de: Cambridge (Großbritanien) Current location (gallery): de: Fitzwilliam Museum Other notes: de... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2024x1673, 257 KB) Description: Title: de: Der Gerichtshof Technique: de: Öl auf Leinwand Dimensions: de: 14,5 × 18 cm Country of origin: de: Großbritanien Current location (city): de: Cambridge (Großbritanien) Current location (gallery): de: Fitzwilliam Museum Other notes: de... William Hogarth, self-portrait, 1745 William Hogarth (November 10, 1697 – October 26, 1764) was a major English painter, engraver, pictorial satirist, and editorial cartoonist who has been credited as a pioneer in western sequential art. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of 53 independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ... A barrister (advocate in Scotland and the Channel Islands, barrister-at-law in Ireland and elsewhere) is a lawyer found in some Common law jurisdictions who principally, but not exclusively, represents litigants as their advocate before the courts of that jurisdiction. ... A judge or justice is an official who presides over a court. ... Insert non-formatted text hereInsert non-formatted text here:This article is about the legislative institution. ... 1823 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ... Court dress comprises two forms of dress: dress prescribed for Royal courts; and dress prescribed for courts of law. ... Court dress comprises two forms of dress: dress prescribed for Royal courts; and dress prescribed for courts of law. ...

In Jidaigeki, a genre of film and television, wigs are used extensively to alter its casts' hair styles to reflect Edo Period when most stories take place. Only a few starring in big-budgeted films and television series will grow his or her hair so that it could be cut to a proper hair style instead of using a wig. Jidaigeki (時代劇) is a genre of film and television in Japan. ... The Edo period (Japanese: 江戸時代, Edo-jidai), also called Tokugawa period, is a division of Japanese history running from 1600 to 1867. ...

External Links

• Rene of Paris - fashion wig brand.
• Louis Ferre - fashion wig brand.
• Stanley Ley - supplier of legal wigs and gowns.
• Aderans - major multinational manufacturer of wigs and hair products.