5 Wig Facts That Will Shock You
Image | Pexels
Syphilis helped to popularise wearing wigs. Yeah, you read that right. That's just one of the shocking wig facts we've got lined up for you. Read on for the rest.
Syphilis Popularised Wearing Wigs
By the end of the 1500s, syphilis had swept through most of the vast cosmopolitan lands in major European cities. The epidemic unleashed hell on its victims: open sores, blindness, dementia, and unexpected hair loss were included in all the gory side effects.
As a result, syphilis actually stimulated a growth in the wig-making business because the upper classes, who viewed baldness as an embarrassment didn't want to face losing their reputations and social standings. Cue, the birth of the syphilis wig.
While some were made from human hair, most came from horse and goat and were made to cover up embarrassing bald patches and bloody sores around the face. They also happened to be great for hiding bald heads, which were the results of frequent lice infestations. Guess they weren't kidding when they said necessity is the mother of invention.
Image | A Scene From The Film 'The Madness of King George' via Twitter
Natural Red Hair Wigs Are Extremely Rare
Because only 1-2% of the world's population naturally grows red hair, it's nearly impossible to find a natural red hair human wig. So if you're looking for a red wig, you're better off buying 613 wig and dying it to your desired shade of red.
Image | Pexels
The Wig Market Is Growing Faster Than The Skincare Market
And considering how quickly skincare is growing, that's a lot. According to Statista, the world's wigs and hair extensions market is set to hit $10bn (£7.9bn) by 2023. This makes it the fastest-growing beauty vertical, double that of the skincare industry.
Image | Pexels
Image | Men Used To Be The #1 Wig Wearers
Before women became known as the primary wig wearers between the two sexes, it was men that used to wear them the most. Whether it was for work or to hide an unsightly bald spot (see the syphilis section above) men wore wigs more regularly than women. Upper-class men including royalty were particularly known for wearing wigs. King Louis XIV of France who started balding at a young age is infamously known for hiring 48 wigmakers to create custom wigs for him to use to hide his premature balding. Talk about extra.
It wasn't long until the rest of the nobility followed suit and started taking after people like King Louis, helping to start a trend of wigs also becoming fashion statements. Would King Louis have worn The Wig Fix? Considering it can help induce hair growth, it might've proved handy for him!
Image | Louis XIV via History
Wigs Take A Lot Of Time To Create
While they're more readily available than ever, the process of creating wigs from sourcing to final fitting can take weeks. This is especially true for higher-quality wigs which undergo more rigorous quality testing and are constructed by hand. Check out the Instagram post below by The Renatural for a glimpse into one of the many processes involved in the creation of a wig.
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Did these wig facts shock you? Let us know in the comments which fact was the most surprising to you!
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