America ’s Founding Fathers had some rightfully defining locks , but we tend to think of those well - coiffe blanched lock — with their black ribbon hair ties and perfectly - managed frizz — as being wig . Not so in the case of the main man himself , George Washington .
As Robert KrulwichreportedatNational Geographic , a 2010 biography on our first president — Washington : A sprightliness , by Ron Chernow — let on that the man “ never wore a wigging . ” In fact , his signature style was but the result of an in an elaborate way construct coiffure that far surpasses most morning tomentum routine , and even some “ fancy ” hair function .
The dash Washington was sporting was really a problematic look for his day . In the recent 18th one C , such a hairdo would have been wear out by military men .
While the hair itself was all real , the color was not . Washington ’s true chromaticity was areddishbrown colour , which he powder in a fashion that ’s in truth delicious to imagine . George would ( likely ) get into a powdering gown , dip a puff made of silk strips into his pulverization of choice ( there are a few options for what he might have used ) , turn away his school principal over , and throw off the puff out over his scalp in a enceinte swarm .
To reach the factual ‘ do , Washington hold his hair’s-breadth long and would then rip it back into a tight gold braid or but bond it at the back . This helped to showcase the forehead , which was very in style at the time . On occasion , he — or an attendee — would bunch together the slump into a black silk bag at the nucha of the neck , perhaps to assist protect his habiliment from the powder . Then he would blow the haircloth on each side of his head to make “ backstage ” and secure the look with pomatum or good old instinctive oils .
To get a just gumption of the swordplay - by - looseness , check out theawesome illustrationsby Wendy MacNaughton that accompany Krulwich ’s post .
