WEAVING THE FIRST WIGS
The earliest known wig dates back to around 3400 BCE, found in a female burial site at Hierakonpolis, also known as the City of the Hawk. Typically worn among the elite of ancient Egyptian high society, wigs served as a way for both men and women to show status and wealth within the social hierarchy. They also offered some protection against the Sun’s heat for members of the nobility that shaved their heads. Wigs were also used for cleanliness and the prevention of head lice.
Wigs were made from human hair, either taken from the wearer’s head or traded for, before a coating of beeswax or plant resin was applied for protection. Locks of hair could then be twisted, plaited or curled into shape by ancient hairdressers. To form the netted base of the wig, fine strands of plaited hair were woven together, often incorporating string and leather straps. Each lock of hair could be individually attached to the net to form the overall wig. Like any fashion trend, the style and appearance of wigs changed throughout the 3,000-year history of ancient Egyptian civilisation. From the short
