Why did people wear powdered wigs? – Stephanie Honchell Smith

Trace the rise and fall of the powdered wig fashion craze, from King Louis XIII to the French Revolution in the 18th century. — Wigs date at least as far back as ancient Egypt, where well-regarded hairdressers crafted them into intricate styles. And under certain ancient Roman dynasties, women’s wigs became particularly ornate. Yet it wasn’t until Louis XIII unveiled a magnificent mane in the 17th century that big wigs truly began booming. Stephanie Honchell Smith details the rise and fall of the bewigged fashion craze. Lesson by Stephanie Honchell Smith, directed by Patrick Smith.