What powder was used for men's wigs in the 18th century?

In the 18th century, wig powder was made from finely ground starch that was scented with orange flower, lavender, or orris root. Wig powder was occasionally colored violet, blue, pink or yellow, but was most often used as off-white. Men's wigs were powdered to give them their distinctive white or off-white color. Women in the 18th century did not wear wigs, but wore a coiffure supplemented by artificial hair or hair from other sources. Women mainly powdered their hair grey, or blue-ish grey.

Powdered wigs for men and powdered natural hair with supplemental hairpieces for women became essential for full dress occasions and continued in use until almost the end of the 18th century. The development of naturally white or off-white powderless wigs, made of horsehair, for men made the use of wigs in everyday court dress a practical possibility. By the 1780s, young men were setting a fashion trend by lightly powdering their natural hair, as women had already done starting in the 1770s. After 1790, both wigs and powder were reserved for older, more conservative men, and were in use by ladies being presented at court. After 1790 English women seldom powdered their hair.

In 1795, the British government levied a tax on hair powder of one guinea per year. This tax effectively caused the demise of both the fashion for wigs and powder in Britain. The tax was repealed in 1869.