Hair extensions might seem like a new invention but in reality hair additions have been around as far back as the Egyptian times when both men and women work wigs. Since then hair pieces have been in and out of fashion ever since.
At that time, Cleopatra was known to wear wigs and other hair adornments, which were not only for cosmetic vanity, but also to avoid infection and head lice.
This trend continued up until 1800 when fake hair and extensions were frowned upon and essentially outlawed. However, this did not stay the case for long and during the early 1880’s, more than 150,000kgs of fake human hair were sold in France.
Around the 1920’s less hair was the big thing so hair pieces took a dive around that time and it wasn’t until the 1940s when long hair came back into fashion and women starting indulging again. Then in the 1960’s big hair was back with a vengeance. Coils were the in thing or the updo as better known to us were seen of many women, this was created by very extravagant human hair pieces. Wigs made from real or fake hair were commonly worn around this time too and carried on into the early 70’s. Come the 80’s and big hair was in but only natural hair. Famous singers wore wigs but that was about it.
As time progressed, Asian countries learned to process and manufacture hair extensions to be sold all over the world. Like now, most of the hair extensions and wigs manufactured back then consisted of human hair. The main difference was the way they were applied to the wearer.
Whereas now, we have fusion techniques, clip on hair extensions and strand bond weaving, back in the day, they were fastened with a thread to the wearer’s natural hair. Wigs were coated with beeswax or plant resin so that they could be secured to the wearer’s scalp or natural hair.
As more things change, more things stay the same. Today, there are hundreds and thousands of hair extension products that are out in the market place. As long as society continues to judge people through their looks, hair extensions will continue to play a vital role. Everyone always loves to have nice hair! For whatever purpose you use wigs and hair extensions systems, we hope that they will inspire you to feel and give you a sense of all the possibilities that can be created.