• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / History / What are Perukes and Periwigs and When were they First Popular with Men in English Courts?

What are Perukes and Periwigs and When were they First Popular with Men in English Courts?

February 23, 2020 by Karen Hill

Perukes or Periwigs were really tall wigs worn in the royal courts by 18th-century by both men and women.

periwig or peruke

Incidentally, the wigs and the behavior of the elite that wore them were the inspiration for the term “bigwig.”

When King Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660 after being exiled to France, Periwigs for men were introduced into the English-speaking world along with other French styles.

The long wigs imitated the long hair that had become fashionable among men since the 1620s. Many men shaved their heads to accommodate these wigs.

Periwigs tended to be unsanitary and this was a concern at the time as the outbreak of The Plague had just started.

Wigmakers gained considerable prestige from the popularity and demand for Perukes by men of social rank.

By the 18th century, men’s wigs were powdered in order to give them a distinctive white color. The powder was made from ground starch that was scented with orange flower, lavender, or orris root.

Related Facts

  • Which Explorers First Explored the Continents of the World?
  • What was the European Age of Exploration?
  • History of Bathtubs
  • Do Women Receive More Valentine’s Cards Than Men or Do Men Receive More Valentine’s Cards Than Women?
  • How did the Black Death affect the Catholic Church?
  • Why Do Men Have Nipples and Do Breasts Have Any Functional Significance For Men?

Filed Under: History

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What did John Wesley Hardin do before he became a outlaw in the American Old West?
Next Post: What is the difference between a House and a Manor and when did feudal Lords and Barons live in them? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2020 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy