Wig popularity can be credited to their lightness, ease of wear, and ability to blend well with the scalp and natural hairline and mimic real hair. But that’s not what the inventor had in mind.
In this blog post, we’ll look at the evolution of the lace front wig.
The Invention of the Lace Front Wig
It all started with ancient Egypt.
To understand the lace front wig, let’s go back to when the first wig was invented in Egypt. Around 2700 BCE, affluent Egyptians fashioned wigs to protect their scalps from the sun. Due to high and dry desert temperatures, many people preferred to stay bald. So wigs were used to enhance one's looks and keep scalps protected.
Like today, there were all different wigs in Ancient Egypt – the expensive wigs made from human hair and woven silver and the inexpensive ones made of palm leaves. The style of the wig, too, set the higher class from the lower class.
With time, wig-making improved, and fuller hair became the desired look. This was possible due partly to the invention of wigs that had inspired the growth of the hairdressing industry, encouraging more creativity. Those who were wealthy even kept two wigs – a thinner one to run errands and a fuller one for exclusive engagements and dinners.
This popularity of wigs then led to the invention of lace front wigs.
The Birth of Lace Front Wigs
Though worn by courtiers and kings before him, including his father Louis XII, who was balding by age 23, King Louis XIV made wigs a part of fashion for the aristocratic world. He, too, had undergone some hair thinning and rocked a curly and full wig, even employing around 40 wigmakers to keep up with his habit.
His hair was shaved every morning for a completely bald look, and then he would wear a custom-made lace front wig sewn with silken thread.
The fashionable Sun King embracing the lace front wig validated it even more, such that people mimicked his wig style, and if they couldn’t afford a wig, they styled their natural hair to look like one.
Thanks to the lace front wig invention, the wig industry improved in the early 1900s, when other wig styles like fronts and fringes were born.
Lace Front Wigs Today
The modern lace front wigs come with so many advantages and unique features.
At first, people were only wearing lace front wigs because they were easily styled, allowing them to explore different hairstyles. However, this is changing, and many women are now exclusively opting for lace front wigs for several reasons, including ease of wear and blend-ability with the scalp.
This shift happened in 2016 when the first 360-degree lace wig was created. It also meant that women could wear completely detachable ponytails. Lace front wigs have also evolved in terms of versatility. For example, it was impossible to engage in activities like swimming and exercising with the traditional lace front wigs. But with the modern lace front wigs, all this is now possible. As a result, many people are now opting for these easy-to-wear wigs instead of more invasive procedures like adding hair using surgical methods.
As technology improves in the future, we will hopefully have synthetic lace front wigs that look and feel exactly like our own individual hair texture.
Wrapping Up
The lace front wigs industry has come a long way. It wasn’t possible to mimic a natural hairline, but you can pick your lace front wig shade. This allows you to choose something that looks like your scalp color. It’s almost impossible to tell whether someone is wearing a wig or it's just their natural hair.
Another advantage is that modern lace front wigs can last years in good shape when washed with the correct shampoo and conditioner. This makes them more affordable and worth their value in the long run.
To be honest, the lace front wig industry will only get better. Do you agree with this prediction? Let us know in the comment section.