Wig (hair)

From ArticleWorld

Wig hair is head hair that is worn for aesthetic, stylistic or fashion purposes.

Other names

A wig is also known as a toupee. A wig is used as a shortened version of periwig, which first appeared in the English language in or around 1675.

History

Wigs have been worn for nearly as long as recorded history. The ancient Egyptians would wear them to protect shaven heads from sun and other ancient people like the Assyrians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans were also known for wearing wigs. In the Far East they have rarely been worn aside for in theater. However, they are a form of dress in Western culture.

Usage

Wigs are worn today by women on a daily or occasional means. They can be styled ahead of time and are often worn by women of fashion as a matter of convenience (so they don’t have to take the time to style their own hair).

People – men or women – also wear wigs if they are undergoing hair loss due to chemotherapy or other medical reasons – or old age.

Some religions shave their heads and wear wigs for spiritual reason. Some religions that engage in this practice include Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Jews (including Chassids).

Wigs can also be worn as parts of fancy dress or as part of a costume. In this case they can be traditional or an outlandish or unusual color or construction. During Halloween, one type of wig that exists is a rubber wig, which covers one’s hair to make one appear bald.

In some British nations, wigs are worn by judges, barristers or certain government officials to signify their membership in office.