For nearly two centuries, powdered wigs—called perukes—were all the rage. The chic hairpiece would have never become popular, however, if it hadn't been for a venereal disease, a pair of self-conscious kings, and poor hair hygiene.  

The peruke’s story begins like many others—with syphilis. By 1580, the STD had become the worst epidemic to strike Europe since the Black Death. According to William Clowes, an “infinite multitude” of syphilis patients clogged London’s hospitals, and more filtered in each day. Without antibiotics, victims faced the full brunt of the disease: open sores, nasty rashes, blindness, dementia, and patchy hair loss. Baldness swept the land.

At the time, hair loss was a one-way ticket to public embarrassment. Long hair was a trendy status symbol, and a bald dome could stain any reputation. When Samuel Pepys’s brother acquired syphilis, the diarist wrote, “If [my brother] lives, he will not be able to show his head—which will be a very great shame to me.” Hair was that big of a deal.

Cover-Up

And so, the syphilis outbreak sparked a surge in wigmaking. Victims hid their baldness, as well as the bloody sores that scoured their faces, with wigs made of horse, goat, or human hair. Perukes were also coated with powder—scented with lavender or orange—to hide any funky aromas. Although common, wigs were not exactly stylish. They were just a shameful necessity. That changed in 1655, when the King of France started losing his hair.

Louis XIV was only 17 when his mop started thinning. Worried that baldness would hurt his reputation, Louis hired 48 wigmakers to save his image. Five years later, the King of England—Louis’s cousin, Charles II—did the same thing when his hair started to gray (both men likely had syphilis). Courtiers and other aristocrats immediately copied the two kings. They sported wigs, and the style trickled down to the upper-middle class. Europe’s newest fad was born.

The cost of wigs increased, and perukes became a scheme for flaunting wealth. An everyday wig cost about 25 shillings—a week’s pay for a common Londoner. The bill for large, elaborate perukes ballooned to as high as 800 shillings. The word “bigwig” was coined to describe snobs who could afford big, poufy perukes.

When Louis and Charles died, wigs stayed around. Perukes remained popular because they were so practical. At the time, head lice were everywhere, and nitpicking was painful and time-consuming. Wigs, however, curbed the problem. Lice stopped infesting people’s hair—which had to be shaved for the peruke to fit—and camped out on wigs instead. Delousing a wig was much easier than delousing a head of hair: you’d send the dirty headpiece to a wigmaker, who would boil the wig and remove the nits.

Wig Out

By the late 18th century, the trend was dying out. French citizens ousted the peruke during the Revolution, and Brits stopped wearing wigs after William Pitt levied a tax on hair powder in 1795. Short, natural hair became the new craze, and it would stay that way for another two centuries or so.

This section is for the "Follically Challenged".  There are so many conversations and articles on the topic and I want make sure you are getting good information. 
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This month's article

Birth control pills can cause hair loss due to their effect on a person’s hormones. Many prescription and nonprescription treatments are available for hair loss, or a person can switch to a nonhormonal form of birth control.

Any hormonal form of birth control — including oral pills, skin patches, hormone injections, and implants — can potentially cause hair loss. The ingredient in these products that may cause hair loss is progestinTrusted Source.

Progestin is a hormone that has androgenic activity, which means that it acts similarly to male hormones.

This article discusses birth control pills, their side effects, and how they may cause hair loss. It also examines the risk factors and treatments for hair loss. 

How birth control pills work

Birth control pills reduce the likelihood of pregnancy in a couple of waysTrusted Source.

Firstly, they prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs. Secondly, they thicken cervical mucus, which helps keep sperm from reaching the egg.

Other forms of hormonal birth control, including skin patches, minipills, progestin shots, and vaginal rings, all work in the same way.

Types of birth control pills

There are two types of birth control pills: combined and progestin-only. Doctors prescribe them, and a person takes one daily at the same time each day. Depending on the type of pill, some people might have a 7-day break from taking it each month.

Combined pill

A combined birth control pill, which some people simply call “the pill,” is a combination of progestin and estrogen.

Progestin is a synthetic form of progesterone, a hormone that the ovaries release naturally. The estrogen in the pills is also synthetic.

Due to the possible side effects, doctors may not prescribe these pills for:

• people older than 35 years
• those who smoke
• individuals with a history of breast cancer or blood clots

Progestin-only pill

The progestin-only pill is sometimes called the minipill.

It contains only progestin and is an option for people who cannot take estrogen.

Side effects

Both types of birth control pills can cause side effects, which can vary among individuals.

Combined pill

Side effects may include:

• breast tenderness
• nausea
• headaches
• breakthrough bleeding

The combined pill also carries some health risks, which include:

• deep vein thrombosis
• heart attack
• stroke

Progestin-only pill

Bleeding changes are the most common side effect of progestin-only pills.

The changes may be unpredictable and involve short cycles of spotting. Less often, people taking the progestin-only pill may experience heavy bleeding or no bleeding at all.

Other side effects may include:

• breast tenderness
• headaches
• nausea

Progestin-only pills do not have the risks that are associated with combined pills.

How the pill causes hair loss

Progestin is the component of birth control pills that causes hair loss.

Unlike natural progesterone, this synthetic form of the hormone has androgenic activity, so it may produce effects similar to those of male hormones.

The androgenic activity of birth control pills may cause various negative effects, including hair loss. Some progestins have a greater androgenic effect than others.

Birth control pills are more likely to cause hair loss in females who are hypersensitive to hormonal changes or have a predisposition to hormonal-related hair loss.
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Those with a family history of hair loss should also be aware of this possible side effect. Anyone with concerns about hair loss can speak with a doctor about taking a pill that has low androgenic activity. Alternatively, they can ask about nonhormonal forms of birth control.

When you color your hair brown or blonde, you might not like the warmth that comes through your hair color. Going for a cool-toned look, it’s important to have an at-home care routine that will help you neutralize brassy tones and keep your color free of unwanted orange shades.
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If this sounds like something you struggle with, find out more about what a blue shampoo is and how to use it properly to avoid having a green hair mishap.

What Does Blue Shampoo Do?

Blue shampoo is a toning shampoo that contains blue pigments. The latter deposit onto the hair with each wash, neutralizing any warm underlying pigments. If you have red or orange tones in your hair, blue toner will not give you a blue tint: because blue and orange are opposites on the color wheel, blue pigments will do corrective coloring, neutralizing orange and keeping your hair color cool.

Who Should Use Blue Shampoo?

Blue shampoo should be used on lightened and highlighted brown hair and is ideal for anyone trying to maintain a perfect caramel, dirty blonde, and ash brown color. It can also be used on natural brunettes but the effect might not be as drastic.

Here is a color science behind it. Each hair color has a variety of underlying warm pigments that always come through when the hair is being lightened to a new hair level. Medium to light shades of brown hair naturally contain warm undertones such as red and orange, and they almost always come through when going through a color process. In this case, you will most likely benefit from a blue shampoo that will help you reach or maintain the desired brunette hair color.

For highlighted and blonde hair, the results of using a blue pigment may be different and, potentially, less appealing. It is not recommended for golden or yellow-based blondes because blue shampoo can add a green tint to the hair. Remember, when yellow and blue mix, it creates a green color – a hair color mistake that is very difficult to correct. Thus, when your hair is highlighted to yellow, you should be very careful with blue toners and blue shampoos.

If your hair is highlighted to a pale yellow or almost white blonde, a blue shampoo can give it a slight blue tint. Thus, when you seek an icy blonde color, it is key to use a silver blue toner instead of a blue one. It will neutralize the underlying red and orange pigments in your hair and enhance the icy tones.
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Blue Shampoo vs Purple Shampoo

Purple shampoo and blue shampoo work in a similar way, canceling brassy tones in your hair color. Because purple and yellow are opposites on the color wheel, violet pigments cancel out brassy yellow tones, which makes it great for making blonde hair more neutral. However, the purple shampoo will not work as well for caramel highlights or ash brown hair, as brassy orange is best neutralized by blue pigments.

5 Best Blue Shampoos to Choose

​If blue shampoo sounds like something you would benefit from using, look into purchasing one of our favorite ones:

1. Joico Color Balance Blue Shampoo protects the vibrancy of brunette hair, gently color-correcting the unwanted brassy orange hues.
2. Matrix Brass Off deposits blue-violet pigments ensuring flawless results for lightened and highlighted brunettes.
3. DevaCurl No-Poo Blue Anti-Brass Zero Lather Curl Cleanser is a conditioning color-deposing cleanser designed to neutralize brassy tones in lightened and highlighted curly hair.
4. Redken Color Extend Brownlights Blue Shampoo is a popular sulfate-free shampoo for maintaining cool brunette color, which is also great for brunettes covering their grays.
5. Not Your Mother’s Triple Threat Shampoo and Conditioner is a blue treatment shampoo and conditioner based on blue tansy oil that tones down all brunette undertones while soothing and strengthening the color-treated strands.

How to Use a Blue Shampoo?

Whatever your desired look is, most toners are demi-permanent colors. Thus, a color stays looking its freshest for up to 3 weeks, and you can expect to see warm tones coming back through towards this time. Of course, that depends on how often you shampoo your hair, how much you are exposed to the sun, and the quality of your water. If you want to avoid the warm tones, invest in a blue shampoo to use in between hair appointments at home.
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You likely won’t need to start using a blue shampoo until week 3; however, feel free to add it to your hair care routine whenever you notice a lot of unwanted brassy tones coming through your strands. Once you feel it is time to start incorporating it into your hair care routine on a regular basis, use it up to two times a week, which is generally enough to see the tonal change in your hair.

Need More Motivation…
​Growing hair out, men?
​Check out these 55 medium length hairstyle ideas for men.
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​With the warm and welcoming weather, hot holiday season and outdoor restaurant terraces, the summer season is exactly the best time to rock a new hairstyle. Are you looking for some hair inspiration and willing to explore the most recent hair trends? We’ve got you!
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From the latest haircuts and hairstyles to some hairstyling tips, we have collated everything you need to make your hair look great this season. Scroll down to see some of the best and seriously sought-after 2021 hair trends.

#1: Mullet Haircut

Are you bold enough to pull off this latest hair trend? Popular in the 80’, mullets are experiencing their resurgence as the number one female haircut for 2021.
With tons of texture and movement, shorter sides and longer back, this look is a quintessence of rebellion. Even though this haircut is not for everyone, it is undeniably cool and sexy.

#2: Angled Collarbone Bob

Are you debating on going short for a while but lacking confidence for the leap? An angled collarbone bob, one of the looks trending now, is a great option for a “short but not too short hairstyle”.
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We love its incomparable versatility: you can wear the collarbone bob straight and sleek for work, wavy and undone for a night out or curly and flirty for a dinner date. At the same time, on a hot day, you still have that safe backup option to throw your hair up.

#3: Half Up Half Down with a Scrunchie

Everyone seems to be mad about scrunchies this summer – they are so 90s’ and so cool. Velvet or silk, neutral or with a print, matching or contrasting with your hair color – options for a trendy scrunchie hairstyle are numerous.
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Put all your hair up in a top knot or, even better, wear it in a half up half down hairstyle to show off the depth of your balayage or any other sassy color for summer.

#4: Shag Haircut

How divine is this wispy, feathery hairstyle – so effortless and daring, yet feminine and soft. Heavily layered, with plenty of texture and face-framing strands, shag cut is one of the major 2021 fashion trends.
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The good news is that it is relatively low maintenance, so you won’t spend hours to style it. In fact, those choppy layers look good even when they dry out naturally which is a rare bonus for a top-notch haircut.

#5: Middle Part

Every detail counts when it comes to refining your style, and the way you part your hair is one of those little things that can change the whole picture. While side-swept hair with an ear tuck was huge during the last decade, this parting is now considered “too millennial”.
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Even though we believe that the most fashionable hairstyle is the one that suits you, we need to admit, the middle part is currently a big thing. Why not simply try it?

#6: French Braids

What can be better than keeping your hair away from your face and neck on a hot day? French braids are going strong this summer season and are a great hairstyle for a day on the beach, festival, or picnic.
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Before you start braiding, use some gel or hair cream and rub the product between your fingers to tame the flyaways and frizz – this way your braids will be neater and more long-lasting. It won’t hurt to use just a tad of hairspray to finish the look.

​#7: Summer-Ready Curls

Curls and waves are popular every summer: it’s utterly the best way to style your locks for a dinner date in a park, girls’ night on an open terrace, or just a good hair day.
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Often, in other seasons, poor weather conditions can put you off from making an effort to style your hair, as you clearly know – curls are not going to survive wind, rain or snow. On the other hand, warm summer days are virtually made for adding waves to your hair. Just make sure you use the heat protecting spray before curling.

#8: Short, Blunt Bob

Bob haircut is a staple for many years since Vidal Sassoon made it popular in the 1960’, but a short and blunt version of this cut is one of the main hairstyles for 2021.
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Use some mousse to add body to your hair and blast dry it for a slightly undone, effortless look. While smooth and polished bobs will always be popular, stylists say that a modern bob needs to be slightly tousled and imperfect.

#9: Curtain Bangs

Everyone knows that eternal bangs cutting and growing dilemma – we certainly all have been there. However, so popular curtain fringe is a completely different story. Elongated and subtle, it frames your face in the most flattering way, while giving you the freedom to pin it back.
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As the curtain bangs blend with the rest of your hair, growing them out won’t be a big deal. Do you even think you’d want to, though?

#10: Female Crop Cut

Mimicking an outgrown pixie, crop cut is a blunter and bolder version of a women’s short haircut. If you feel ready for an ultimate statement hair crop, this 2021 summer hair trend is exactly what you need. Ask your stylist for a slightly heavier and longer line at the nape and around the temple area and go full-on texture at the crown to hit all this summer’s trends.
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A cropped cut is one easy to style, but you will have to get used to the regular use of a hairdryer – unfortunately, most of the short haircuts end up looking flat without styling. Use some paste or pomade to finish the look.