When Great Britain passed the Duty on Hair Powder Act on May 5, 1795, the government inadvertently changed English fashion forever. 

There are no stamps solely about powdered wigs, so a portrait of George III and his dandy wig will have to do.
George III
From the Kings and Queens, The House of Hanover series
Issued by Royal Mail September 15, 2011
Designer: Atelier Works

Powdered wigs were the norm in 18th century English society, so much so the island used 18,250,000 pounds of powder annually. Powdered wigs (and powdered hair) were seen as a mark of upper-class wealth and power. Johnathon Swift refered to people wearing powdered wigs as having “three-penny loaves” on their heads. 

What was the powder? Pulverised starch for the upper classes and plain flour for the lower classes who wanted to imitate the upper classes. The powder, made from pulverised corn, wheat or rice, was mixed with herbs (lavender and rosemary) and animal fat.   

In the 17th century, hairlines were an important aspect of fashion – a good hairline was the mark of a well-bred man. Unfortunately, syphilis was also on the rise in Europe, ultimately affecting more Europeans than the Black Plague. This happened well before the discovery of antibiotics, so people afflicted with syphilis suffered all the effects, including sores and patchy hair loss. As good hair was associated with status and style, baldness and hair loss compounded the shame of having syphilis.

Wigs were commonly used to cover up hair loss, but their use did not become widespread until two Kings started to lose their hair. King Louis XIV of France experienced hair loss at the early age of 17, and he hired 48 wigmakers to help combat his thinning locks. His English cousin, King Charles II, began wearing wigs a few years later, when his hair began to prematurely grey – both conditions being syphilitic signals. A fashion was born, as courtiers started wearing wigs, and the trend trickled down to the merchant class. The Rise and Fall of the Powdered Wig | American Battlefield Trust (battlefields.org) 

The British government passed the Duty on Hair Powder Act to raise money to help fund the ongoing war with France. With so much powder being purchased, it was a potential gold mind for revenue. Each person who wanted to powder their wig would have to purchase a 1 guinea certificate to buy the wig powder. This tax put the price of powder out of reach for the lower and middle classes, which contributed to a rapid decline in sales and a change in fashion.  

If you’d like to read more on Wigs and the tax, “Casting Off Powder:” The Death of the Powdered Wig and Birth of British Sartorial Modernity, 1795–1812 by Samuel Marknäs, Stockholm University Department of History is a good starting place. It’s an extensive look at the fashion and historical causes of the decline in powdered wigs. It’s a fun read as well. 

The next three are good companion pieces, but much shorter. 

Hair Powder: History of Its Popularity and Unpopularity – geriwalton.com

What Is The Secret Ingredient In A Powdered Wig? | ShunHair

Perukes, Pomade, and Powder: Hair Care in the 1700s | Lives & Legacies (livesandlegaciesblog.org)