# Why did people wear powdered wigs?

- Institution: TED
- Department: TED-Ed
- Speaker: Stephanie Honchell Smith
- Year: 2024
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Society and politics, History, Teaching and learning
- Source: [TED](https://www.ted.com/talks/stephanie_honchell_smith_why_did_people_wear_powdered_wigs)
- Licence: [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) (Non-commercial use only, and no changed versions.)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

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. Yet it wasn’t until Louis XIII unveiled a magnificent mane in the 17th century that big wigs truly began booming. Stephanie Honchell Smith details the rise and fall of the bewigged fashion craze. \[Directed by Patrick Smith, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Stephen LaRosa\].

## Lectures

1. [Why did people wear powdered wigs?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/ted/stephanie_honchell_smith_why_did_people_wear_powdered_wigs/f3ada9710400), 6 min (TED's player)