The term or rather the word “Wig” has come to be unanimously associated with that of the after effect of hair-loss of a person. It might be the maximum used reason but never the only one. Wig or Periwig, as the original term, is used for religious, judicial, entertainment and certainly for stylistic reasons. This varied use of the wigs have been in human knowledge from many centuries back where the courts of law made the use of wig by judge and other high professionals of the court a mandatory issue. The topic that we are going to discuss through this essay is the type of wig that is in maximum use, its versatilities and its popularity.
When we say that “the type of wig”, the first thing that triggers is that there are different types out of which we choose the best. Well, that is not the case. Once and a long time back, there used to be wigs, the inside of which had cloth coverings which became quite itchy after some time providing utter nuisance. This was changed later with the inside of the wigs having thin gauze-like, almost transparent covering known as monofilament. Thus came the Monofilament Wigs. And ever since, it has been the only type that is in use and has proved much more comfortable than the previous cloth like covering. The term is derived from the fact that single hair strands are sewn and attached by hand knitting to this gauze like material, one hair strand at a time; hence mono-filament. Due to the unique technique of the monofilament wig, there is ventilation that is possible which keeps the itchiness away. Moreover, the monofilament wig can be easily styled to give the perfect kind of hair that one wants. The strands can move freely up and down on the base and this is what provides the base for styling. The comfort factor is top notch in the monofilament fabric wig. The hair is much more manageable and more free-styling.
The use of wigs has a long history. The use can be dated back to ancient cultures and civilizations. Wigs are traditionally a western form of attire and were primarily used by ancient Egyptians trying to cover their head from the rays of the sun. Except in China and Japan, the wigs had been rarely used during the ancient period. Even in these nations the wigs were limited to the people of the traditional theatre. The fall of Roman Empire signaled a period of dormancy for the wigs that were in use previously.
Again in the16th century the wigs came to be used to cover baldness due to hair loss and also for another reason; to deal with the problem of head lice which was abundant due to the improper and unhygienic conditions. The vitality of the wig returned crucially with the increased use of it by the royal patronage. The court of law and other high clergymen and royal advisors along with the king himself wore wigs when in session or a discussion. Different stylizations were started by the royalty while the introduction of Perukes or periwigs dictated the taste and the symbol of the hierarchy.
The gradual disintegration of the hierarchical symbolism of the wig came to establish the wig as an official garb of primarily every society and every rank in a country. This led to the emergence of wig-makers and new ideas were invested upon its manufacture. The main obsession was with the development of human hair as wigs with various stylizations. Although horse and goat hair was used for the manufacture of wigs, the human hair wigs were more comfortable and also more costly. The wigs were subsequently powdered or rather whitened for the appearance of a white o off-white color. Women in the ancient times and in the 17th century did not wear wigs but wore hair extensions on their original hair. Wig powder is not any kind of ordinary powder but made especially from finely ground starch and then scented with various odors of orange flower, lavender or orris root. Gradually the popularity rose to such a level that full dress occasions were incomplete without wigs and the use continued till the end of the 18th century. There was a need for a special kind of wig that was colored previously and did not need the use of artificial powders, which provided inconvenience to the people who wore them. Naturally white or off-white wigs were then brought into use and that has still been in use in the courts of law. During the end of the 18th century, a tax of one guinea per year was levied on the hair powder that was used to color the wig which subsequently caused the decline in the use of wigs and the powder.
During the 18th century itself the wigs worn by men stated becoming smaller as opposed to the larger and longer wigs that were in fashion earlier. The wigs worn by different strata of society started differing distinctively. Women started wearing full wigs and not only extensions from the start of the 19th century and that are in fashion till date.
Till today, in countries like Britain and other commonwealth nations, the wigs are worn by barristers, judges etc. etc. People in the entertainment business use specially manufactured wigs for different purposes. Actors and actresses alike wear different wigs in different films to portray the desired character. Also some of the celebrities wear wigs in their real life as a fashion statement.
Wigs are now a part of everyday life for a certain section of the people in different fields. Cancer patients are advised to wear wigs for both privacy and self esteem as they experience hair loss due to medical reasons.
The wigs that are manufactured nowadays are mainly of two kinds; machine made and handmade. The traditional or handmade method is used for customized and more comfortable purposes whereas cheaper wigs are manufactured in the factories. Primarily the measurement is taken and the hairline is measured which are subsequently transformed into wigform. The wigform is then covered with the thin gauze like structure or the wig netting, as it is commonly called. The finer the gauze material, the greater the comfort ability. A wig lace is placed over the netting and edges are then covered with very fine lace to blend easily with the skin. The mono-filament o process or the hair sewing process then takes place with the hair strands being taken one by one and then sewn together with the wig netting providing the monofilament touch. The hair strands may be human or from that of horse or goat. Human strands are more desirable as they are more comfortable and also seem extremely real in structure. The length and the color are the two main deciding factors of the process of sewing the hair strands. The process of tying the hair knots to the wig netting is called ventilation. Wigmakers use a special kind of tool called a wig hook which helps in tying the knot of the hair strands to the lace. The weaving technique or ventilation provides the hair strands to swivel freely on the base and the monofilament wig is therefore more easily styled. The ventilation actually refers to the hair breathing while worn which destroys any heat and moisture buildup. The hair prepared after ventilation provides a great base for extensive stylization and the hair is then customized for various uses. Another great effect of the monofilament wig is the fact that it is almost transparent giving a more real look. The thin gauze like fabric gives the actual color of the scalp, whatever shade that might be.
The final prepared wig is then applied over the normal hair only after the normal hair has been tightly knotted. Skin safe adhesives are applied sometimes for the wig to stay rooted to the hair surface. Extra and undesired hair or loose ends are then cut to get the required effect.
Nowadays the wigs that are available in the market of the monofilament type consists both the monofilament fabric and synthetic fabric as to give a more adjustable kind of a wig. Most modern wigs marked “monofilament wig” are actually only partially monofilament. The top of the wig usually is the most important part of the wig and it is monofilament, while the back has a more traditional construction. This reduces the cost of the wig and makes it easy to adjust with tape tabs. These ensure that the wig fits neatly on the head and the problem of sliding down disappears. The “crème de la crème” of the wig industry uses sometimes a double layer of the monofilament fabric for added comfort and adjustability; the process being known as two layer construction.
The monofilament wig has varied uses for people with no or severely less hair. The look is the most natural, as the color of the scalp is visible due to the ultrathin and the almost transparent wig netting. The monofilament wig is the perfect cure for a sensitive skin and provides much less irritation than its synthetic counterpart. The ventilation provides the ultimate in stylization.
The market or machine made wigs are usually made of horse or goat hair which are cheaply available. These are made for rough purposes and occasional uses and not for long-term uses. They are also cheaply priced.
The monofilament wigs though are the best in the market; they do come with a bit of a disadvantage. They are costlier than the machine made wig. They are advised for people with severe loss of hair or no hair at all. Cancer patients are advised to wear monofilament wigs. This is due to the fact that for occasional use, the problem of putting it on and then opening it is a lot than the normal machine made wig available. Also the manufacturing time of the monofilament wig is normally much longer than the factory made wig. The process is strenuous and the fitting is very important for this type of wig. Since the monofilament wigs are mostly for customized uses one single mistake in the manufacturing process may lead to complete non-use of the wig.
Halloween parties and other get together parties which promote fancy dress wear sees a lot of people wearing coloured wigs which are mostly machine made cheap wigs. Also for fancy wear, some stores sell rubber wigs, solid bald-cap shaped hats, designed like the hair. The wigs are also used for religious purposes and in numerous cultural or religious occasions. The Jewish law requires married women to cover their hair for modesty reasons and thus the use of wig is seen.
Celebrities have popularized various wigs which have shaped some of the style statement of many a people. From blond to brunettes, from black to various colours, the wigs are available in all shapes and sizes. Cher, a popular singer and actress has worn all kinds of wigs over her career. Specific films saw different actors and actresses using varied kinds of wigs thereby popularizing a particular kind with the hairstyle. The wigs used in films were not only because of the fact that the actors needed to change their character but also sometimes as actors themselves experienced loss of hair which is not wished in the show business. Rakesh Roshan, a Bollywood actor of the seventies and eighties, in his films acted always with a particular kind of wig on.
There are also a lot of people who dislike the concept of the wig as it signifies the packaging and polishing of something that is ugly. It also signifies among thinkers the concept of covering up. A lot of manufacturers are producing quality wigs, which deliver the ultimate in comfort and adjustability, and the wig industry is still going strong.