Ancient Egypt to Lady Gaga - A history of the use of wigs through the ages

Ancient Egypt to Lady Gaga

The History of Wigs

Historically, humans have shown a preoccupation with hair (or the lack of it) for millennia. In ancient Egypt (as early as 4,000BC) there is evidence of the use of wigs and hair styling tools by men and women. 

Myth & Magic of Hair

Hair has been a focus in myth, magic, and folklore. Rapunzel lets down her hair for her prince. Delilah cuts Samson’s hair to render him helpless. Slavic legend credits hair with magical power. 
http://thebirdsnestnzshop.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-wonderful-hair-slavonic-folk-tale.html

Hair Work in Jewelry

In Denmark, at Rosensborg’s palace there is a bracelet of precious metal with a simple braided lock of hair, a gift from King Christian IV (1577-1648) to his queen. 

During the following century memorial jewelry made with hair was common. For example, rings commemorating the executed King Charles I of England were circulated among his faithful supporters. In most of the 19th century, and a few decades into the 20th century, mourning brooches included a locket of hair of the lost loved one.

In a Swedish book of proverbs one can read that “rings and bracelets of hair increase love” (Vadstena stads tankebok). A locket is a pendant that opens to reveal a space used for storing a photograph or other small item such as a curl (or lock) of hair (hence the name.) 

Hair in Art and Music

Hair has been, and continues to be a major focus in artwork. 

There are songs and sonnets about hair. 

http://thebirdsnestnzshop.blogspot.com/2014/02/hair-lyrics-of-theme-song-from-famous.html

http://thebirdsnestnzshop.blogspot.com/2014/02/lyrics-to-san-francisco-be-sure-to-wear.html

And throughout the ages, various religions and other groups have considered hair to be sufficiently important that they regulate the length of the hair of their congregation, its style and/or and how it is covered. The hair is traditionally kept long in some cultures; and turbans or equivalent are worn to help keep the hair clean and out of the way.

An example of a distinctive hair style is the wearing of dreadlocks which is closely associated with Rastafarians. Rastas maintain that dread locks are supported by Leviticus 21:5 ("They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh.") and the Nazirite law in Numbers 6:5 ("All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow."). However while Rastafarians chose dreadlocks; some groups in other cultures keep their hair long, but cover it.

Many birds, particularly the Birds of Paradise species dramatically alter their feathers to attract the opposite sex; to serve as a warning; to protect themselves; or to use as camouflage. Arguably human beings have used their hair (and substitutes for hair) for similar purposes throughout the ages.

The way hair is worn affords a powerful identification of social, economic, intellectual, and sexual status. Even more than natural hair, wigs have been used for medicinal reasons, disguise, and ceremony, as well as badges for the elite. From ancient Egyptian queens to current members of the British court, wigs are not just decoration, but crucial elements of identity and community. 

A History of Wigs

We've talked about the importance attributed to hair which is common across many, if not all cultures. If hair is important, then it is to be expected that lack of hair may be of concern to some individuals. And in other instances, individuals, like birds of Paradise might wish to use their hair or a substitute for their natural hair for effect.

The word wig first appeared in the English language around 1675. A periwig (short for peruke) was the name given to the particular long, curly wigs that became popular after Charles II was returned to the throne in 1660. It was typically a powdered wig gathered at the back of the neck with a ribbon and was usually worn by men.

However the use of wigs predated the use of the actual word by quite a margin.

Wigs in ancient Egypt

Egyptian artifacts and wall painting on ancient tombs reveal wigs were very common. Most Egyptians found it easier to shave their hair than to keep it clean and free of pests in the hot Egyptian sun. However, because Egyptians did not think looking bald was aesthetically pleasing, most Egyptians, except for priests and laborers, donned a wide variety of wigs. Wigs did not try to simulate real hair, and typically consisted of assorted sizes of braids set with beeswax or something similar.

While all Egyptian classes wore wigs, wigs also served as a class barrier, and it was not unusual for upper-class women to own several large, decorative wigs in different styles. The most expensive wigs were made of human hair, but could also be made from wool or palm leaf fibers or even pure silver. Only noble women could wear long wigs that were separated into three parts, called a “goddress”.  While dark brown hair was sometimes worn, wigs were also dyed various colors such as red, blue, and green.

Wigs in some other ancient cultures

Wigs were popular in ancient Greece, both for personal use and in the theater (the color and style of wigs disclosed the nature of individual characters). In Imperial Rome, fashionable women wore blond or red-haired wigs made from hair from the heads of Germanic captives, and Caesar used a wig and a laurel wreath to hide his baldness. Both Hannibal and Nero wore wigs as disguises.Hannibal (247-183 B.C.) is credited with having two types of wigs: one to improve his appearance and one to disguise himself in battle. 

Other ancient cultures, including the Assyrians,Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans, also used wigs as an everyday fashion. Wigs were rarely worn in ancient China or Japan except by actors performing in the traditional theaters of China and Japan (Noh or Kabuki) and by certain types of female entertainers such as the Japanese geisha or the Korean Kisaeng.

Wigs in Europe 

In the Middle Ages, it was custom that young women wore their hair long, whereas married women covered it with a scarf or a cap. This was with reference to the Apostle Paul [First Letter to the Corinthians] as a sign of a woman’s dependence on her husband. (Only he had the right to see her head uncovered).  During the reign of Stephen in the

middle third of the twelfth century, wigs were introduced in England. It was from the beginning of the Renaissance [1400 to 1600] that the female hairstyle gained again in importance and women's hair was no longer completely hidden. It was often put up and arranged with the help of hairpieces and braids.

By the end of the sixteenth century, a great deal of false hair was used in Europe. By the beginning of Queen Elizabeth’s

reign (1558), wigs were becoming an indispensable part of a lady’s wardrobe and increasingly popular with men. In England, women’s wigs were often dyed red as a compliment to Queen Elizabeth who had natural red hair (and at least 80 wigs). Marguerite de Valois (1553-1615) was rumored to have kept blonde servants to provide hair for her wigs. Catherine de’ Medici (1519-1589) also helped popularize the wig and paid a woman for her daughter’s hair. And Mary of Scotland (1542-1587), who had an even larger collection than her predecessor Elizabeth, preferred the winged or horned style wig.

The seventeenth century was one of dramatic change for men. Though the Puritan Parliament faction (called “Roundheads” for their short, somber haircuts) railed against wigs, and some Puritan pastors even refused to allow anyone wearing a wig into the church, this century saw the widespread use of wigs for men.

The French had a major role in the rise and fall of the popularity of wigs in Europe.

The French King Louis XIII lost his hair as a young man. In 1630, embarrassed by his baldness, Louis XIII began wearing a wig made of hair sewn onto a linen foundation. Wigs became fashionable, increasing in popularity during the reign of Louis XIV, who not only wore them to hide his baldness but also to make himself seem taller by means of towering hair. As a compliment to the Sun King, all his courtiers began to wear yellow wigs. Men and women (who were more likely to wear extensions), both old and young began to copy him.

During his reign, the Allonge wig for men was invented and became an important part of every garment. At this time, wigs were mainly made of human or animal hair. Under Louis XIV, the French Royal House employed 48 wig makers at court. Later, in old age, Louis wore an enormous wig, thickly covered with perfumed and white powder.

A famous hairstyle - the Fontange, (which incorporated rows of starched lace in the hair - was named after a mistress of King Louis XIV). The Fontange style with the liberal use of hair accessories resulted in an increase in popularity of the wearing of wigs and hair pieces by wealthy and aristocratic women.  There were countless variations of the Fontange style, based on the original. These were created with the use of hairpieces and false locks.

With wigs virtually obligatory garb for men with social rank, wigmakers gained considerable prestige. A wigmakers' guild was established in France in 1665, a development soon copied elsewhere in Europe. Their job was a skilled one as 17th century wigs were extraordinarily elaborate, covering the back and shoulders and flowing down the chest; not surprisingly, they were also extremely heavy and often uncomfortable to wear. Such wigs were expensive to produce. The best examples were made from natural human hair. The hair of horses and goats was often used as a cheaper alternative.

In the late eighteenth century, another French King - Louis XVI wore wigs to hide his baldness, and wigs were very very fashionable throughout France; and wigs and hair pieces became a status symbol amongst women as well as men. The modern technique of ventilating (attaching hairs to a net foundation) was invented in this environment.A series of other improvements followed rapidly, including knotting techniques, fitting methods, and the use of silk net foundations.

Women in the 18th century did not often wear full wigs; but wore extravagant coiffures

supplemented by artificial hair or hair from other sources. The wealthy and aristocratic wore amazing creations on their heads constituting whole compositions from birds (origin of birds nest hair), statues and even mini gardens, with small artificial trees. Marie Antoinette's A-la Belle Poule hairdo with frigate belongs to this period too. The creation of such a hairdo could take all day, and was worn for several days, sometimes even a week.

The enormous popularity of wigs in England declined markedly following the French Revolution as they were associated with the aristocracy, (many of the French aristocracy having lost their heads) - and it was not considered to be prudent to be too ostentatious. During the reign of George III of England, wigs lost popularity - except for individuals who continued to wear them as a symbols of their professions (e.g., judges, doctors, and clergymen).

Powdering of Wigs

Near 1715, wigs started to be powdered. During this period, wigs were often made of Yak hair. The original hair color was natural white and with the help of starch (such as rice powder) or Cyprus powder (powdered reindeer moss which was used for retention of scent to give the wig a pleasant odor) wigs could be colored white, blue or pink. Homes had special rooms for the "toilette", where they arranged and powdered their artificial hair. To powder wigs, people used special dressing gowns, and covered their faces with a cone of thick paper.

Powdered wigs (men) and powdered natural hair with supplemental hairpieces (women) became essential for full dress occasions and continued in use until almost the end of the 18th century.

From 1770, women wigs were being made taller (they could be almost a meter high) and more sophisticated, especially in France. Men's wigs were generally white, whereas women's wigs were often of pastel colors, like pink, light violet or blue. Depending on how wigs were ornamented, they could reveal a person's profession or social status.

By the 1780s, young men were setting a fashion trend by lightly powdering their natural hair, as women had already done from the 1770s onwards. After 1790, both wigs and powder were reserved for older, more conservative men, and were in use by ladies being presented at court. After 1790 English women seldom powdered their hair. 

Wig Makers

The success of wigs resulted in a demand of new type of professionals; wig makers and designers - who also cleaned and repaired wigs, refreshing the curls with powder and fragrances. Guilds of wig makers were organized, and they were required to pay a fee and to take an exam to show aptitude to work in the wig profession. 

High Cost of Wigs

Wealthier people could afford expensive wig designers and better materials. They were made in general with human hair, but also with hair from horses or goats. The countess of Matignon, in France, paid to the famous hairdresser Baulard 24,000 livres a year to make her new headdresses every day of the week.

Large wigs were considered an investment and were often willed along with other valuables. Those who could not afford a wig wore their own hair to look as much as possible like a wig. Not surprisingly, wig thieves emerged, some specializing in robbing passengers in hackney coaches. They would cut an opening on the back of the carriage while on horse back, grab the passengers wig and disappear.

Taxed out of Fashion

In 1795, the British government levied a tax on hair powder of one guinea per year. This tax effectively caused the demise of both the fashion for wigs and powder.

From the late 17th to early 19th centuries, European armies wore uniforms more or less imitating the civilian fashions of the time, but with militarized additions (typically two hairrolls on the sides). As part of that uniform, officers wore wigs more suited to the drawing rooms of Europe than its battlefields. The late 17th century saw officers wearing full-bottomed natural-coloured wigs, but the civilian change to shorter, powdered styles with pigtails in the early 18th century saw officers adopting similar styles. 

Let them eat Brioche - the drop in popularity of wigs after the French Revolution

During the early eighteenth century, wigs continued to be popular and, in 1715, there were even riots in Caen, France, resulting from the fact that badly needed flour for bread was being used by aristocrats to adorn their wigged heads. The death of Louis XIV in 1715, however, led to the decline of extravagant wigs and fashion began to favor less pretentious wigs other than those used in court.

Wigs worn by the judiciary in Court

In Britain, most Commonwealth nations, and the Republic of Ireland special wigs are also worn by barristers, judges, and certain parliamentary and municipal or civic officials as a symbol of the office. Hong Kong barristers and judges continue to wear wigs as part of court dress as an influence from their former jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Nations. In July 2007, judges in New South Wales, Australia voted to discontinue the wearing of wigs in the NSW Court of Appeal. New Zealand lawyers and judges have ceased to wear wigs except for special ceremonial occasions such as openings of Parliament or the calling of newly qualified barristers to the bar.

The Revival of Wigs as a Fashion Accessory

The fashion, entertainment and movie industries are credited with the revival of wigs as a fashion accessory. It commenced with the rise of "Haute Coiffure" - in the early 1900s. Antoni "Antek" Cierplikowski (1884 – 1976) became the world's first celebrity hairdresser when he opened the salon Antoine de Paris in Paris and became known as Monsieur Antoine. 

To the right is Josephine Baker, the American dancer in Vogue Magazine 15 Dec 1935 - with hair by "Antoine."

In 1915, wigs made a comeback when the hair stylist Carita designed wigs for Givenchy’s models as a gimmick for a Paris fashion show. When Life magazine reported the story, a new growth in interest in Flapper style and other wigs began. The fad for wigs blossomed in the late 1950s, and by 1963 the wig industry once again had become well established. This was partly because better quality, more natural looking wigs had come available at prices more ordinary people could afford. In addition to full wigs, false hairpieces (sometimes called “wig bands,” or hair that was mounted on a band) became increasingly popular.

For the less wealthy and those who could not afford to buy the more expensive wigs; wigs were available to rent as “pay-as-you-wear.” 

Wigs generally were more readily available - and no longer restricted the wealthy, famous models, entertainers and movie stars. Wigs were also worn by ordinary people as a fashion accessory or to cover up “hair problems”.

Women found wigs incredibly convenient. Instead of hours in curlers under a hair dryer hood - they could simply drop their wigs off at the hair dresser and pick them up later. 

The days are over when only royalty and the social elite could afford the time and the money to maintain their hair in the latest fashion. The evolution of new fibers has resulted in synthetic hair that looks and feels similar to real hair. This, along with the creative hair styles of people in the entertainment industry has insured that wigs are very definitely in style.

While the extraordinary (but highly impractical and expensive) haute couture outfits that grace the catwalks during fashion shows serve more as an inspiration to most of us, rather than anything we could afford (let alone fit into) - haute couture and haute coiffure are forms of art which we can all enjoy.

Lady Gaga's extraordinary wig styles and headwear are a reminder that Haute Coiffure style wigs are also an art form - one that requires imagination and skill to create (not to mention a skilled entertainer to perform with them on). Haute Coiffure wigs and hairdos, like craftily constructed Haute Couture outfits - are the human equivalent of a Bird of Paradise display.

That's entertainment.

For the rest of us, there are marvelous modern wigs available that can be worn for practical reasons, or to make a statement, or to create a total look as a fashionista, or just for fun - that don't cost an arm or a leg to buy - and can be worn without a lot of drama.

In the twenty-first century, the use of wigs is limited only by the wearer’s imagination.

If you are interested in a reasonably priced fashion wig please visit our shop:

The Birds Nest NZ Shop
http://thebirdsnestnz.com

The Wear and Care of your Fashion Wig

The Wear and Care of your Fashion Wig

Holding a Wig in Place - Wig Caps, Clips & Tape

• Although most fashion wigs can be slipped on like a hat, there are some things that can help a wig to fit better.
• If you have medium length or long hair, it helps to braid your hair in 2 or 3 braids and wrap them around your head (use a few clips to hold them in place). This helps prevent a wig from being dislodged by the weight of your hair (Braids are better than pony tails because a pony tail creates a bump.)

• Besides this, in case you have not worn a wig before, a wig cap is usually worn underneath the wig (unless you have very short hair). 
  
• The purpose of a wig cap is to help tuck your hair in, and keep your hair from showing. This also helps prevent a wig from slipping off. 
• This also protects the wig from your hair and scalp, keeping it cleaner longer.
• If you don't have a wig cap, you might try using a piece cut out of the panty part (so you have elastic to hold your hair back from your face) of a clean pair of small panty-hose instead - and clip it in place.

• You can also use special wig clips to help hold a wig in place.
• For people who have hair loss, there is also double sided tape to help hold a wig in place.
• Most fashion wigs I sell have adjustable tabs (like a bra hook) at both sides of the back of the wig.
• These tabs can be clipped into the bottom of the back of the band to change the fit of the wig.
• These tabs are prone to slip out. So once you know roughly the best place for them to be, so the wig fit is most comfortable, I would suggest that you sew the tabs into place on each side.

Positioning the Wig

• After you braid your hair, or otherwise tuck it away, preferable under a wig cap - its time to put your wig on.
• You can easily tell where the front of a wig is if it has a fringe. If it doesn't - to get you oriented:
  

• The frontwards top of a fashion wig (versus cheap wigs which just have a stretchy net) has a relatively solid lacy structure

• The back of the top of the wig, the sides and back have an open network of webbing on which the hair is fixed. This helps air circulate through modern wigs. 

• The bottom of the back of the wig usually has what look like bra adjustment straps. These can be hooked into the narrow grooves in the band in the lower part of the webbing so you can make the wig smaller if necessary. (Once you know what the right size is, its a good idea to sew these in place.)

• Wigs are generally designed so that the solid part of the front of the wig just covers the front of your natural hairline.
  

• The wig tends to feel more comfortable and generally look more natural if it is worn like that - but if it feels more comfortable for you to wear it differently, go for it.

Wig Brushing or Combing

• If you don't have a specific wig brush or comb, don't worry.
• Generally, your fingers are the best way to comb or smooth a wig. Any brush or comb that has fairly wide rounded teeth, will also do. 
  
• The less you style a wig the longer it lasts. 
• This is because it is made of fiber (imagine it as an angora sweater with very long fibers, the less you handle the fibers of a sweater, the less likely it is to matt and pill). 
• The hairs of a fashion wig are glued and/or tied in. Each time you comb or brush it, inevitably some hairs will come out, and like all fibers the fibers will matt with repeated rubbing or if exposed to perspiration or sticky fingers.
• Wigs should only be brushed or combed when completely dry to reduce damage to the hairs.
• Tangles should be brushed out starting from the bottom of the hair and moving towards the top. If you get tangles that are hard to get out, do your best and then snip any tough to manage parts out with a scissors.
• It is best to avoid brushing very tightly curled wigs; and to limit the amount of brushing through the wave part of wavy or loose curl wigs. Fingers are best for these styles.
• Sweating directly onto the hair (which commonly occurs behind the  neck especially when there is very thick long hair) can cause tangling or matting of the hairs right against your neck. This is a normal reaction of the wet fibers to the rubbing action as the hair moves against your neck. You deal with this as above.

Trimming a Wig

• If you would like your wig styled (eg a fringe shortened or thinned etc) you can do it yourself, but most people would find this challenging.
• Although many hairdressers seem to dislike wigs on principle; they are the experts at styling hair.
• If necessary, it would generally be better to have your wig trimmed by your regular hair-dresser (or a skilled friend) while you are wearing the wig, so that he/she and you know exactly where the wig fits on your head.
• Most wigs with fringes have relatively long fringes. This is because the length of people's foreheads vary, and this allows wigs to fit people with longer foreheads - though others may need to trim the fringe.
  

• Most people wear wigs only intermittently eg on "bad hair" days or to special events etc and your hair dresser should understand this.
• People with serious hair loss who have to wear wigs regularly for medical reasons should let their hair-dresser know before they go in to get their wig trimmed. Their hair-dresser will almost certainly be happy that they leave their wig on while trimming it.
• It goes without saying that once the hair on a wig is trimmed, it cannot grow back. 
• Here are a couple of guides on how to trim your own fringe (hair dressers may faint on seeing these techniques; and there is no guarantee that this will go as planned. It really is better to have someone who is competent do this while you are wearing the wig.)

http://www.hairdarling.com/2012/11/29/if-you-have-to-cut-your-fringe/http://www.athriftymrs.com/2012/03/how-to-cut-your-own-fringe.html

Washing a Wig

• This is a dress/day wig (not a cheap nylon cartoon wig). 
• You can hand wash it (carefully) in cold water, though this does risk tangling. (Remember the angora sweater)
• It's generally recommended that you not wash a wig more than after every 7-10 wearings. (Mind you if the cat decides to roost in it or you have decided to use a lot of hair products to make a fancy up-do; or there is any other reason to do so - just go for it.)
• Before washing the wig, brush it gently (preferably with your fingers).
• Although ideally wigs should be washed in wig shampoo, wig shampoo is usually hard to find, and tends to be expensive. 
• Woolite (think cashmere sweaters again) is said to be OK; as is baby shampoo - the one that says "No more tangles" apparently is better. 
• Let the wig just soak in the cold water with the shampoo for no more than 5 minutes; then rinse by gently swishing thoroughly from the crown (top) down. 
• Do not rub the fibers. (Think of the sweater). 
• You can then use a mild conditioner. 

• Generally if you are not using wig conditioner; it is recommended that this be mixed 1 part conditioner to 4 parts water; sprayed on (don't rub it in), then rinsed off. 

• If you do decide to use a leave in conditioner be sure the wig is completely dry before you comb it. 

• Remember, the more products you use on the wig and the more it is handled, the shorter the life of the wig due to matting, tangling etc 

• If the hair on your wig is sticking out with static, try wetting your hands and then smoothing the hair first - rather than using conditioner, because the less product you use the better.
• Do not use a hair dryer or curling iron etc on a synthetic wig. 
• The fibers of most fashion wigs are not able to take direct heat. (Only completely hand knotted wigs that are made of special heat resistant fibers or human hair can handle direct heat. These usually cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.)
• To dry the wig, it would be ideal if you had a collapsible plastic wig stand (but you don't have to have that.)
• If it is a short wig and you do not have a wig stand; you can prop a facecloth or hand towel on top of a tall can or large water bottle or equivalent, and place the wig on top of the towel. (Make sure the position of the towel etc does not result in the hair drying at odd angles.)
• Otherwise, to dry the wig; take it from the sink, and lay it indoors flat on a towel, making sure no hair is lying at an odd angle. 
• Because I have been asked this, I think I should add the advice that you

• Do not lay the wig out in the sun to dry;

• Do not dry the wig by hanging it with clothes pegs on a clothesline (whether outdoors or indoors).

• Gently blot (don't rub) the hair with the towel to get rid of most of the water.
• Change to a dryer towel and leave the wig to dry on the towel.
• Don't brush your wig until it is completely dried.
• Never brush your wig when it is wet.

Changing the color of a wig made of synthetic hair

• Natural hair wigs can be dyed. Real natural hair wigs (versus those untruthfully claimed to be made of natural hair) can cost up to $1,000 because the hair is sourced from human beings whose hair had to be long enough to sell, and natural human hair wigs are hand knotted). If you intend to buy a wig from a seller who claims the wig is made of natural hair - and you intend to dye it - you should let the seller know before you pay for it - because you cannot successfully dye synthetic hair with human hair dye.

• Neither bleach or human hair dye work on synthetic wigs because the synthetic fibers and construction are not porous like human hair. The chemicals will not be absorbed; and exposure to the chemicals in bleach and human hair dye is likely to weaken the fibers. However, just because human hair dye does not work, it doesn't mean that the color of the wig cannot be changed - but there are major limitations. 

• Ink, not dye is used when changing the color of a wig made from synthetic hair fibers. Permanent ink from Sharpie markers, acrylic ink (or other inks that can be bought at a craft shop) are what is used. But, the color choices are limited to colors of ink, and the process is reasonably long, and generally associated with unpredictable outcomes. You cannot make a dark synthetic wig a lighter color. (And it would seem to be a major waste of time and expense to do this with a cheap nylon wig from a $2 shop.)

• Here are are 2 links that describe the method to do this (though I make no guarantees whatever as to the likely outcome). Remember you can't recolor a dark wig to a lighter color.

http://www.wikihow.com/Dye-a-Synthetic-Wig

http://therabbittales.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/dying-wigs-with-ink/comment-page-1/

Storage

• Theoretically, the dried wig should be kept on a mannequin head.
• Homes can be surprisingly dusty; readily visible wigs very tempting to children and visitors, and most people don't own a mannequin head (or 2 or 3 heads as might be necessary)
• I have acquired quite a few wigs over the years and this is what I do :

1. I keep the wig inside a clear plastic bag (so I can easily see and decide which one I want to wear)
2. I put the bags in a big box that has a cover on it so nothing very heavy or sharp should land on the wig. All the wigs should fit in the box and the cover should fit on it; otherwise, who knows, your partner or child may leave their weight set on top of it, or the cat take a fancy to it. 
3. You can rumple up a little white tissue paper or a light hand towel in a ball inside the wig (just in case something heavy winds up on the wig; as this might help prevent a crease from appearing). 

How long will a synthetic Wig last?

• The answer to this is - It varies. (Think of that angora sweater.)
• Unlike cheap nylon wigs bought at a $2 shop (which are often disposed of after one wear), wigs made of synthetic monofilaments can be re-worn.
• Longevity mainly depends upon wear and tear, and that largely depends on the wearer.
• The more exposure to heat from the sun or anything else; (tangling with wind etc, especially in the case of long hair), perspiration, handling especially with sticky fingers which will cause matting), washing and the use of styling products - the harder it is on the hair, and the shorter its life span.
• Even wigs made with the very expensive heat resistant fibers and human hair are affected by frequent wearing and the factors noted above. Even they will not cope with a lot of rough handling, especially with sticky fingers.
• Wigs that are worn for long periods of time on a daily basis - will deteriorate from wear and tear, much as would an angora sweater worn frequently under the same conditions. (That is why people who wear wigs regularly due to hair loss tend to have to replace them fairly often.)
• In my personal experience, fashion wigs wigs worn occasionally, treated reasonably, brushed carefully (preferably gently with fingers), and stored as above - can last for years. But they are an accessory, better worn and enjoyed to the full rather than stuffed away in a closet.

For the price of ~ one trip to the hair-dresser or the cost of a top; modern fashion wigs are a fabulous clothing accessory; and well worth owning. 

I hope you enjoy your new look.

Thank you for shopping with us.

SHOP -      http://TheBirdsNestNZ.com

BLOG -     http://thebirdsnestnzshop.blogspot.co.nz/

The Wonderful Hair - a Slavonic Folk Tale

“THE WONDERFUL HAIR”

(A Slavonic Folk Tale)

There once was a very poor man. He and his wife had many children. They were so poor they had no food to eat and were starving.

One night he had a dream. In the dream a child said to him: 

“In the morning you will find under your pillow a mirror, a red kerchief, and an embroidered handkerchief. Tell no-one, but take all three and go to the hill behind the town. By it you will find a stream. Walk along the stream until you come to its fountain-head. There you will find a witch who will appear as a beautiful woman, with hair bright as the sun hanging down over her back. Be on your guard, that she does not coil her hair around you. Do not converse with her if she speaks; for if you converse with her, she will poison you, and turn you into a fish or something else, and will then eat you. But if she asks you to examine her hair, do it quickly. As you turn over her hair, look; and you will find one hair as red as blood. Quickly pull it out and run away home. If she runs after you, throw her first the embroidered pocket-handkerchief, then the kerchief, and, lastly, the mirror. Sell the hair to a rich man. Be careful you are not cheated for, that hair is worth a great deal; and with the money you get for it, you will be able to support your family.”

When the poor man awoke, he found everything under his pillow, just as the child had told

him in his sleep. He then went to the hill. When there, he followed the stream until he came to the fountain-head. He looked around and saw a woman sitting beside the water. She was threading a needle with hair and was using the hair to embroider stories into cloth. Initially, she had been hard to see because she blended into the countryside - but when she saw him, her hair transformed into gold like the sun. 

As soon as he saw her, he greeted her respectfully. She questioned him: “Where do you come from, young man?” But he held his tongue. She questioned him again: “Who are you? Why have you come?” and she asked him many other questions. But he acted mute as a stone, making signs with his hands, as if he were deaf and wanted help.

Then she told him to sit down on her skirt; and she bent down her head to him, that he might examine her beautiful hair. Turning over the hair of her head, as if to examine it, he was not long in finding the blood red hair. He separated it from the other hair, pulled it out, jumped off her skirt and ran away with her in pursuit.

He looked back, and seeing that she was about to overtake him, threw the embroidered pocket-handkerchief on the ground as he had been told. When she saw the pocket-handkerchief she stopped to pick it up and began to inspect the embroidery - so he got a good way off. But she then ran after him again.

When he saw that she was about to overtake him, he threw the red kerchief, and she again stopped to look at it and try it on her hair. But before long she was after him again.

This time when he saw that she was about to overtake him, he threw the mirror. When the

witch came to the mirror, the like of which she had never seen before, she lifted it up to look at it. When she saw herself in the mirror, she fell in love with her reflection and became quite preoccupied with it. This time the man got so far off that she was no longer able to overtake him and he reached his home safe and sound.

After arriving at his home, he showed his wife the hair, and told her about what had happened to him. She laughed at him being excited about a hair. But that did not worry him because he was sure that there was something very special about this hair. He went to the town to tell his story and to sell the hair. 

A crowd of all sorts of people and merchants collected round him. They became increasingly excited, and like the poor man - were convinced that there was something wonderful about the hair. One rich man offered a gold coin for the hair, another two, and so on; higher and higher, till they came to a hundred gold coins. 

Owing to the crowds and excitement the emperor came to hear of the auction of the wonderful hair. He summoned the man into his presence, and said to him that he would give him a thousand gold coins for it, and so the man sold it to the emperor - and was a poor man no more.

The emperor had been intrigued by the story. He had heard of the witch and was sure there was something magical about the hair. He held the hair thoughtfully, and became filled with the urge to split it in two and twist the strands together. When he did this, he became filled with the wisdom of the ages.

This story is based on a traditional Slavonic folk tale of Serbian origin.