Everyone knows that people wearing human hair wigs or hair extensions are to let one become more beautiful and impressive. But in the western countries, why English lawyers also wear wigs? As you know, they are almost men and the place is just in the small court, not outdoors.
If you want to know the detailed reasons, we firstly need know the relevant history. At the beginning, when the English barristers started wearing wigs, it was only to maintain style. They followed uninterruptedly wearing the wigs as it was not stopped by anyone. The layers need use own’s salary to buy their wigs, which is a little expensive. Sometimes there was necessity to buy their own wigs by the barristers and some lawyers used to buy the wigs that were already used by others. One reason for wearing wigs is that it can bring the dignity of law to accused people when they wear this kind of wig. Another reason is that when lawyers wear wigs, the people in court and outdoors can recognize him by white wigs immediately.
The lawyers began using wigs in the year 1680. It was normally made of white or grey hair, and this wig was used for about 150 years. Till the year 1822, ‘Humphrey Ravens croft’invented one kind of wig named legal wig, which was used only for lawyers. This wig was comprised of greyish white horse hair which was not having curling, powdered, perfumed and frizzing characteristics.
The time came to the year 1969, the capital punishment was stopped at that year, and the lawyers were wearing black caps when they were announcing death sentence. After that, the wigs began to the common people. The style and colors become more various. For now it appears that tradition and iconographic status has the peruke set firmly in place upon the heads of Britain’s courts. With so many years of history behind it, it seems unlikely that the periwig will be dislodged. While technically out-dated, clearly uncomfortable, expensive – costing as much as £1,000 (Yablon) – and cumbersome, this is a tradition whose roots have grown very deep. But who knows, they may yet come back into style. Fashion has brought back stranger things from the past, and one can never be sure when the next plague of head lice is going to strike. Until then, balding leaders beyond the British courts will have to suffice themselves with the shorthaired cousin of the peruke, the toupee, or with a bottle of Rogaine.