WIGMAKER

If the practice of shaving one’s head and covering the bare scalp with an oh-so-snug wig seems odd today, it was common practice in colonial Virginia. The fashion, introduced by Louis XIII of France in the 1600s, took hold among England’s royalty and eventually made its way across the Atlantic. By the 1700s, stylish Virginia gentlemen owned several wigs in many colors, including the most fashionable white wig for formal occasions. Those truly devoted to the style had custom blockheads carved to their precise head measurements, which helped the wigmaker achieve a tight fit.

Few ladies of society wore wigs. Women typically added attachments to their own hair for social occasions. Piling their hair high atop their heads in the latest styles, they added flowers or jewelry to catch the gentlemen’s eye.

Wig- or perukemaking was a complicated process that required the skills of barber, hairstylist and wigmaker—all separate trades. A proper-fitting wig clung to the scalp and was built on a foundation of ribbons, netting and silk. Onto this “caul” imported human hair was woven. Horse, yak and goat hair were also used at the patron’s choice. Once made, the wigs were styled with scented pomade and powdered in the manner favored by the likes of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry.

For inquiries or purchases please contact Prentis Store at 757-229-1000, Extension 2117 or prentis@cwf.org.