Powder, Pomade and Perriwigs

Join exhibition curator Anna Reynolds for a closer look at 18th-century hairstyles. During the Georgian period hair was an integral element of attire, changing alongside fashions in dress. This lecture will look more closely at the practice of wig-wearing for men during the 18th century, and will explain the broader cultural changes that resulted in a return to men wearing their natural hair during the period. To modern eyes the towering hairstyles of Georgian women are one of the most striking features of portraits and this lecture will also investigate how such coiffures were created and what they reflected about the era.