How Lice Created New Fashion Trends
Throughout the course of history, attitudes toward insects have varied dramatically. Even today, a particular insect species can be considered a pest in one country, while being worshipped as a natural embodiment of god’s divinity in another. For example, in the U.S. and most western countries, termites are nothing more than home-wrecking pests, but in many Asian countries, termites are considered essential for treating certain medical maladies. In fact, the San religion practiced in southern Africa considers termites to be the first type of meat that god gifted to humans. Although insects have been culturally appropriated in a variety of different ways, the historical attitude toward lice has remained consistently negative across cultures. Despite the universal and seemingly timeless hatred with which people have viewed lice, the ectoparasitic insects have, surprisingly, influenced fashion trends throughout much of history.
Humankind has always been pestered by lice. Lice were even a problem for early hominids. In fact, many researchers believe that humans shed their body hair in order to prevent, or at least minimize, bodily lice infestations. Although our relatively hairless bodies are not as vulnerable to lice today, the insects have, nevertheless, remained a problem. For a period of human history, men went beardless in order to prevent lice infestations. It is common knowledge that wigs were worn by our European ancestors for centuries. There existed a variety of reasons why wigs became a fashion trend. For one thing, the style and intricacy of wigs used to serve as an indication of a person’s wealth and social status. However, it is likely that wigs originated as a method of shielding a person’s hair from lice. At some point, however, this was forgotten. Wigs were treated as nothing more than elaborate fashion statements for most of their existence. The popularity of wigs gave rise to other industries, such as wig-dressing, for lack of a better term. Much like modern hairdressers, upper class individuals would pay a high price for the services of professional wig stylists. Wealthy women even took to sleeping in an upright position in order to preserve the intricacy of their wig styles. By this time, the original purpose of wigs had been forgotten, and their constant use ensured that wigs also became infested with lice. Eventually, Europeans applied white powder, sometimes flour, to their hair for reasons that could be better explained. It is probable that this white powder was used as a preventative measure against lice infestations.
Do you believe that the primary reason for the invention of wigs was to prevent lice from infesting the hair on people’s heads?