Wigs of the royals in Europe

Wigs of the royals in Europe
Originally uploaded by trudeau

Royal patronage was crucial to the revival of the wig, says Wikipedia.[citation needed]

Queen Elizabeth I of England famously wore a red wig, tightly and elaborately curled in a "Roman" style.

King Louis XIII of France (1601–1643) and King Louis XIV of France (1638–1715) pioneered wig-wearing among men from the 1620s onwards.

Perukes or periwigs 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.

In the 18th century, men's wigs were powdered in order to give them their distinctive white or off-white color. Contrary to popular belief, women in the 18th century did not wear wigs, but wore a coiffure supplemented by artificial hair or hair from other sources.

During the late 18th century, men's wigs became smaller and more formal with several professions adopting them as part of their official costumes.

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. In the United States, only the first five Presidents, from George Washington to James Monroe, wore powdered wigs according to the old fashioned style of the eighteenth century.[3][4]