Roman Senators Wore Elaborate Wigs
A senator enters the forum with a mane thicker than a young lion’s—and not a single strand is real.
Charles Le Brun — "The Jabach Family" (ca. 1660), public domain
Roman Senators Hated Going Bald
A senator enters the forum with a mane thicker than a young lion’s—and not a single strand is real. Baldness in Rome screamed old age and political decline, so the powerful turned to hairpieces.
Imported Hair, Expert Wigs, Hot Irons
The richest Romans paid big for wigs made from real hair—sometimes smuggled in from distant provinces. Barbers curled and set them with heated irons, and the best pieces fooled even close friends. There’s archaeological evidence for wig combs and hairpieces in elite tombs.
In ancient Rome, male hair loss wasn’t just embarrassing—it was public. The elite fought baldness with wigs sewn from real hair, often imported from Germany or India. The most convincing pieces were shaped and curled with hot irons, and wealthy men paid handsomely to keep their bald spots a secret from the crowd.
