Wigs in Show Business

Wigs, aside from covering bald spots and hiding bad hair, are actually indispensable items in show business. They have helped actors portray various characters on stage and on screen.

Johnny Depp, for example, is known for playing eccentric characters. He could not have transformed into a convincing Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean" or a mesmerizing Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland" had he not used wigs to drastically change his appearance. Uma Thurman also left an indelible mark on pop culture when she wore her iconic black wig in the movie "Pulp Fiction" as the irresistibly dangerous Mia Wallace.

Other than making a movie character more believable, wigs are also used by celebrities to create an image. Marilyn Monroe wore her pale blonde wig everywhere that people did not even realize it was a wig. Her style tactic worked however. The platinum blonde locks with pin curls suited the flirty and vivacious persona she wanted to project. Decades later, the Marilyn Monroe look is still being copied by everyone from drag queens to ingénues looking to reinvent themselves.

Artists like Marilyn Monroe and Dolly Parton might have stuck with one style throughout their careers, but if you are someone like Cher, then you probably have thousands of wigs gathering dust in your closet! This singer-actress has reinvented her look so many times that it is impossible to guess how many wigs she has donned over the course of her career. With wigs, celebrities can change their looks and give life to even the most surreal characters. All it takes is a few minutes on the dressing room table and voila - you are a new person! As long as there are stars who want to keep experimenting with different styles, wigs are definitely going to stay in Hollywood.