Unfortunately, despite this claim, it seems that that origination of hair powder did not involve ballad singers. Earlier reports note that Marguerite de Navarre, who was born in France’s commune of Angoulême on 11 April 1492 and who married Henry II of Navarre, wore hair powder in the 1500s. Another claim about hair powder and its popularity seems to also refute the idea that French ballad singers popularized hair powder:

M. Frampton and H.G.F. Mundy, The Journal of Mary Frampton (London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, 1885), p. 2–3. Powderbox: Dr. Samuel Johnson defined it in his dictionary as, “A box in which powder for the hair is kept.” [11] In England, during George II’s time there were numerous public statutes passed about hair powder to prevent fraud, including excise fraud. One publication in 1737 provided a section called “Starch and Hair-powder” that included all the statutes, with one of these stating:This print by James Gillray shows the wig being applied and is titled “Progress of the Toilet. – The Wig. – Plate 2.” Courtesy of the British Museum. Notice the powder-blower on the floor that is used to apply hair powder. “The Boarding School Hair-Dresser.” Courtesy of Lewis Walpole Library. T. Mortimer, A General Dictionary of Commerce, Trade, and Manufactures: Authorities (London: R. Phillips, 1810) Among those who did this was Dr. Johnson. He had double doors off his parlor that led to his powder closet where he stored his wigs and where he powdered his hair. Another powder closet was found in a guest room at the Ladies of Llangollen’s Plas Newydd home. Their closet was extremely tiny and required the person being powdered to be seated on a chair inside the closet while the hairdresser stood outside and powdered the person through a large circular hole in the door. A third powder closet was anything but small. It was stated to be an “unusually large closet, having a window that overlooks the garden,” [14] and it was found in the Robert “King” Hooper Mansion in Marblehead, Massachusetts on the second floor off the bedchamber. L’Etoile … relates that in the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-three, the Nuns walked the streets of Paris curled and powdered; from that time the custom of powdering has become so common, that in most places of Europe, but especially in France, it is used by both sexes, and by people of all ages, ranks, and conditions.” [2]

Americans similarly embraced the fad. Although no royalty roamed the streets, upper class and middle class people were all powdered. This was mentioned in The American Monthly Magazine related to dress and hair fashions in 1792: However, the light, powdery hair volumizing powder still boasts many impressive capabilities. “Unlike a dry shampoo, the volume it provides lasts all day — you’d need to literally wash this product out to not feel it in your hair anymore,” notes Yates.

Will you be claiming the VAT back?

Among those who embraced wigs and hair powder in the eighteenth century were English and French upper classes, middle classes, and royalty. For example, you could find everyone at the French court wearing powdered hair. This included Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette along with the Queen’s friend and Superintendent of her household, the Princesse de Lamballe, the famous Marquis de Lafayette, and Louis XV’s mistress, Madame du Barry. Across the Atlantic, in America, wigs and hair powder had also been viewed as a status symbol. When the American Revolution broke out people realized that getting rid of wigs also blurred class distinction. Thus, wigs and hair powder were eliminated when revolutionaries began to think about the equality of men. Are you looking for a light lift, or do you prefer a lion's mane fullness? Wherever your taste lies, you should find a hair texture powder that'll give you just the right amount of volume. One of the benefits of hair powders is that most of the current formulas on the market are buildable, so you can customize your look with just one product. Your Hair Color To add more shape and volume, apply the powder directly to your hair first, then work it or mess it up to look sharp. You can rework the powder as the day goes on or apply more to add more structure. Powder-bag: This term was used in a 1789 document in the following manner. “Unfortunately the hair-dresser’s wife had applied a cast-off powder-bag of her husband’s to the use of holding flower for her puddings and pies.” [8]