Hollywood’s Most Private Accessory

Jake Gyllenhaal, Kate Winslet, and a couple of Boardwalk Empire characters unveil more than just skin in recent nude scenes. Claire Howorth on the NSFW history of the merkin—also known as the wig for down there.

The 400-year-old merkin (pubic hair wig) has a long and fascinating history. Did you know most are made with human hair treated to look thick and curly and then stitched together on lace? And it was originally created to cover up visible symptoms of STIs?

Check out a slideshow of Hollywood’s most famous merkins here. It will remind you of the Sex and the City episode where Samantha says she’s got “Bozo the bush.”

merkin body hair stis