In 1624,23-year-old King Louis the XIII of France was in crisis.
He was balding.
What would people say, at a time when a monarch's hair had come to symbolize his power and nobility?
Louis was not interested in finding out.
Instead, he made a decision that kicked off a 150-year fashion craze: he wore a particularly full wig.
Long before Louis people adopted wigs for various reasons — including hygiene, theater, and anti-aging endeavors.
Wigs date at least as far back as ancient Egypt, where well-regarded hairdressers crafted them into intricate styles.
And under certain ancient Roman dynasties, women's wigs became particularly ornate, one poet mocking their numerous tiers.
During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church discouraged wig-wearing, emphasizing instead humility and austerity.
So, those who did wig in medieval Western Europe generally wore more natural-looking styles.
