18th Century Women’s Wigs, Plaits, and Tates

Hairdressers and wigmakers in the 18th century sold false hair for women to achieve fashionable hairstyles. This took the form of partial additions, such as plaits or braids, as well as complete full-head wigs, often called “tates” or “tetes.”

Not all women wore wigs, of course; wig-wearing was more commonplace among men in England and Anglo-America. In his 1748 Account of His Visit to England, Pehr Kalm wrote:

Each country has its particular customs in one thing and another, and so it is in England. I believe there is scarcely a country where one gets to see so many Peruques as here. I will not mention that nearly all the principal ladies, and also a part of the commoner folk, wear Peruques, but I only speak of the men, who in short, all wore them.

Additional Resources

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18th Century Hair & Wig Styling: History & Step-by-Step Techniques

The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Beauty: 40 Projects for Period-Accurate Hairstyles, Makeup and Accessories

Packwood, Perfumer and Hair-Dresser — “At No. 16, Gracechurch-Street, Where Ladies Tetes are form’d compleat” — “elegantly dressed” ladies’ hair “for 1s. each, Powder and Pomatum included, having engaged ſome of the moſt capital HAIR DRESSERS in ENGLAND.”

But what if you’re more of a do-it-yourself woman of the 18th century? His business also “MAKES TRANSPARENT TETES, for LADIES who dreſs themſelves and expect the Ornament to anſwer the Ability of an Hair-Dreſſer,” as well as “Long Braids of Hair,” “plain Toupe,” “fine Ringlets,” “Drop Curls,” and “Silk Cuſhions.”

Trade cards of other hairdressers with a sideline in selling false hair include Ward …

Advertisements and other descriptions of 18th century women’s wigs & false hair

“French and other Hair Fillets, at 1s. 3d. a Piece.
Gentlemen's Dreſs Bags and Roſſets in the neweſt Taſte.
A great Variety of Cuſhions, Curls, Tupees, and Chignions, of all Sizes.”
(The Newcastle Weekly Chronicle, May 13, 1780)