Innovation No. 45 of 77 in the book
Wigs and Hair Extensions
Hairpieces shaped and held with beeswax
- When
- c. 2600 BCE
- Dynasty
- 4th Dynasty
- Era
- Old Kingdom
Egyptians were wearing elaborate wigs and adding hair extensions by around 2600 BCE, in the Old Kingdom — the oldest wig industry known.
Real human hair was knotted onto a mesh cap and set with beeswax and resin into precise braids and curls. Some surviving wigs are astonishingly complex, styled strand by strand.
They kept a shaved scalp cool and lice-free under the sun, and signaled rank at a glance — a formal wig for formal occasions.
The wig, and the hair extension, were styled first in Egyptian workshops.
Dry tombs preserved these unusually well. The braided wig of Merit, wife of the royal architect Kha, around 1400 BCE, was found at Deir el-Medina and is now in the Egyptian Museum in Turin, its braids still lustrous. A large temple singer's wig sits in the British Museum. Chemical analysis shows the fine examples were human hair, sometimes blended with sheep's wool, while cheaper wigs used wool or date-palm fibre alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What held the braids in place?
A coating of beeswax mixed with coniferous resin, worked through the hair — in effect a permanent setting lotion. It is why braids, crimps and curls put in three thousand years ago are still holding their shape.
What if someone didn't want to shave their head?
They added hair instead. The mummy of Queen Ahmose-Nefertari, around 1500 BCE, was found with extensions braided directly into her own hair for a fuller look. Chemical analysis also shows pharaohs dyed their hair.