Wigging Out: Fake Hair That Made Real History

by Jessica Glasscock

Wigging Out  is a stunning visual journey through the fascinating history of wigs and hairpieces, covering thousands of years of hair worn by everyone from Cleopatra and Louis XIV to Naomi Campbell and Lady Gaga.

Starting in ancient Egypt and ending on the red carpet of the Met Gala, Wigging Out features capsule fashion histories set alongside spectacular images of real and synthetic wigs worn by everyone from Roman emperors and nineteenth-century Gibson Girls to twenty-first-century drag queens and London street punks. Including interviews with modern wigmakers, stylists, and braiders, Wigging Out is a revelatory mash-up of styles, stories, and personalities that takes readers on a joyful romp through fake-hair history.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

272 pages, Hardcover

Published April 18, 2023

Reviews

[Spudpuppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cool. Great pictures and really interesting info!

[Aubrey Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Jessica Glasscock’s work and this is by far her best book to date. I felt personally validated by the wig’s historical significance in both anthropology and the art worlds. Glasscock does a wonderful job clearing up the ethics of wig making as well as reaffirming its primary importance in the black and queer communities. I learned a lot of things I did not know. I recommend this to anyone with an interest in costume history.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

Really interesting and a lot of great info here. Loved all the pictures — tbh, I think it could have used even more pictures. There were several points where something was being described and a visual would have been handy.

My main negative is that the organization was a bit all over the place, jumping back in forth in time quite a bit.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly informative, considering how much of the page count is images. Also considers hairpieces in addition to wigs.

[Maura Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, visual history. I enjoyed it!

[Rena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, light art history.

[Monique Corbeil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fantastic book Always looking for learning something new ? This book provides multi infomratioon about the history of wigs and such. A delight really.