Why did men wear wigs in the Enlightenment? First of all, let’s talk about the customs of medieval France. In ancient Gaul, long hair was a symbol of glory and freedom. During the dynasty, it was a symbol of royal descent. As a result, King Louis XIII of France had a terrible problem-baldness.
The king's hair can't reflect his tall image without long hair, so Louis XIII used the ultimate solution-wearing a men wig! And it is not a normal wig, but a wig that is long at the waist. The nobles and ministers were shocked when they saw it. The king's hair was so long, so cool! As a result, the aristocracy in France has all kinds of wigs. Then the fashion spread across the strait and spread to Britain. The British also think that wearing a wig is very coooool, so it is not only worn by nobles, but also by judges who symbolize legal authority. This habit has been widely preserved in the Commonwealth countries and regions. In short, in the Enlightenment era, men wigs were a symbol of status and authority.