What Were Powdered Wigs Made Of in the 1700s?

Powdered wigs in the 1700s were commonly made from human hair, horse hair, goat hair, or other animal hair. The white look often came from powder, not naturally white hair.

What was the powder?

Hair powder was often made from starch or flour and could be scented with lavender, orange flower, or other fragrances.

Why powder them?

Powder created a fashionable pale look, helped manage odor, and made different hair colors appear more uniform.

Bottom line

Powdered wigs were hairpieces made from human or animal hair, styled with grease or pomade, and covered with scented starch or flour powder.