Periwigs

Keyes J. pg. 10

Periwigs became popular during 1585 - 1605, these became fashionable because of Queen Elizabeth who often wore these due to her loosing her hair because of illness she was said to have 80 dyed periwigs that were often auburn and saffron yellow. Periwigs were very complicated to dress and uncomfortable to wear so women often opted to shave their head and wore a complete periwig. These periwigs were very fashionable with the ladies in court and dyed these to similar shades of Queen Elizabeth's periwigs. To create these the hair was often stolen from children or young girls to get the best quality hair.

Periwigs were often styled in tiny curls or frizzed into tiny waves and built up into a symmetrical shape with a pronounced peak in the middle of the forehead, this was the signature Elizabethan heart shaped style and to finish they were decorated with pearls, jewels and feathers.


Queen Elizabeth Engraving by Antony Gucho

This image shows a middle aged Queen Elizabeth with her forehead plucked beneath a wig.

 

Keyes J. (1967). Hairstyles. In:  A History of Hairstyles 1500-1965. London: Methuen & Co LTD. p10 - 11.

Bryer R. (2000). From the Medieval to the Renaissance. In: Bryer R The History of Hair Fashion and Fantasy Down the Ages. London: Phillip Winston Publishers. p30 - 49.