Powdered Wigs
The powdered wig, or peruke, has a rather ghastly origin. Syphilis rampaged through Europe in the late 1500s and early 1600s. Amid oozing sores, addled brain, and ghastly rashes, hair loss was one of the most devastating side effects. Wigs became a common – though discreet – way to cover up the balding head. But wigs really took off in 1655.
King Louis XIV of France started experiencing Ye Olde Male Pattern Baldness (or a touch of Ye Olde Syphilis) and donned a wig. Charles II of England adopted the style. From there, the trend caught on in high society (and those who wanted to be in high society), even used by those with a head full of hair and bloom of youthful color. Peruke wearers sprinkled them with powder and lovely scents. Wigs grew bigger and more extreme, some costing 800 shillings. The bigger the wig, the higher the status.
