Enormous wigs took off as a fashion trend in the early 17th century when Louis XIII of France used one to cover his baldness. Soon after the battle over the title of most ridiculous wig began. If you've seen The Duchess, you'll know that they could reach very dangerous heights. They were not only difficult to balance, but they also caught fire very easily. By the beginning of the 18th century, white wigs were all the rage and men were pouring bucketfuls of powder on their heads to try and make them as white as possible. When a hefty tax was imposed on the powder, and when aristocratic fashion fell out of favour around the time of the French revolution, the wig mania finally came to an end.
