Long Wigs

• Men in France and throughout much of Europe wore long, curly wigs that fell loose past the shoulders, made all the rage by King Louis XIV. Early-18th-century wigs were natural hair colors and were made from yak or horse hair, or the most expensive option, human hair. A human hair wig cost more than a man paid for the rest of his entire outfit. Men also paid hairdressers to brush and curl the wigs regularly.
  
  

Short Wigs

• By 1720, light-colored wigs were in vogue, which was most often accomplished by powdering a darker wig to be light. Between the cost of hair and powder, shorter, more affordable wigs soon caught on with many men. These wigs often fell straight to the tops of the shoulders and were tied back in a ponytail with a ribbon. Another short style was the bob wig, which came down just over the ears, with two or three rolled curls on the sides of his head. These were often worn by Colonial men in America.
  
  

Brimmed Hats

• Many types of brimmed hats were in style for men of every social rank throughout the first half of the 18th century. Both European and Colonial men wore hats that were short and rounded on top with wide, floppy brims. They also wore the quintessential pilgrim hat, which was a tall, black hat with a rounded brim and often a silver buckle in front. Men with money had their hats fitted specifically to their heads and made by milliners out of wool. Less expensive options, made from felt, were available.
  
  

Tricorn Hats

• As the 1700s progressed, many wigs had side curls that got in the way, and hats no longer fit comfortably on men's heads. In order for hats to accommodate the new wig styles, they had to adapt. The tricorn hat was the answer for many men. The three-sided, triangular hat had brims that curled up and rested comfortably atop wigs. They were worn throughout Europe and the American colonies. Another hat design had only two brims that went straight up in front and in back, such as the hat worn by George Washington during his 1776 crossing of the Delaware River.