Grease Made Grandeur a Pest Problem
A towering powdered hairstyle was not simply hair piled high and left alone. Hair and wigs were shaped with pomatum, a greasy dressing that helped hold curls and forms in place; powder was then dusted over the surface to create the fashionable pale finish. Animal fat in some pomatums supplied the kind of rich, edible-smelling material that could interest rodents.
A large hairpiece also offered crevices and shelter. If it was left undisturbed overnight, a mouse could investigate the grease and work its way into the hair. The style’s height and intricacy made the problem especially unwelcome: a wig could be expensive and painstaking to arrange, yet still become a hiding place for a pest.
Styling Required Aftercare
That meant maintaining the look involved more than applying powder and arranging curls. Wearers had to protect the hairpiece when it was off, inspect it, and deal with any mouse that had found its way inside. Pest control became an awkward extension of grooming—a reminder that fashionable materials had practical consequences.
The striking tradeoff was that the same rich dressing that helped a hairstyle keep its shape could make it appealing to an animal looking for food or shelter. A carefully constructed coiffure was never entirely secure just because it looked polished.
