4 Reasons Why the Wig Returned in the 1960s
By the swinging sixties, the wig had been out of style for a while. The use of hairpieces for both men and women had gone up and down throughout history but there was sudden resurgence in the era of Beatlemania, JFK and Martin Luther King – but let’s find out why this wig craze came back!
1. Givenchy brought them into the limelight.
The truth is, it all started in 1958 when the French designer was putting together his fashion show for the runway. He was frustrated about the hours spent on hairstyling and the lack uniformity in his models – so he bought in wigs! By this name-brand giving wigs the go-ahead, an estimated half-a-million American women wore wigs by 1962 – and it was all down to Givenchy’s impatience and his influence on the best-dressed beauties of the era.
2. Synthetic wigs were born.
Wigmakers went through a period of innovation to meet the high demands of mass production. This man-made alternative to human hair designs is what introduced wigs as more affordable and easier to manage.
Synthetic wigs were a way to turn a high-end fashion trend into a household item for all women to enjoy. This new style was created by using modacrylic fibres which were soft to the touch, simple to clean and quite long-lasting.
3. Big hair was all over Hollywood.
From the bouffant to the beehive, every fashionable girl wanted her hair to defy gravity. But even by using backcombing techniques and plenty of hairspray, most could only get their hairdo to stand up so high – not to mention, all of this vigorous brushing caused bad breakage. So, pre-styled wigs were the perfect solution which allowed women to keep up with the ever-changing trends!
4. Wigs could show off your political views.
The iconic First Lady, Jackie Kennedy, was the chic catalyst who made big hair go mainstream. Ladies who wanted to model their own look after hers did so to show their allegiance to JFK or to the Democrats in general. Particularly in the USA, wigs were met with a strong backlash. Many equal
rights protesters saw the wig as just another ideal of European beauty standards. During the sixties wig boom, the afro hairstyle became a strong symbol of resistance.
We stock a wide range of synthetic wigs for you to choose from, including styles with some serious volume! So, if you’re feeling a retro look, then browse through the big hairdos in our online shop.
