Wig Help - Glossary of Wig Terms

1/2 WIG: A 1/2 cap that covers the back half of the head. You can use your own hair to blend up and over the fall. Usually connects easily to your own hair with a series of flex combs.

3/4 WIG: A 3/4 cap that covers the majority of the head except the front hairline. You can use your own hair to blend up and over the fall. Usually connects easily to your own hair with a series of flex combs.

ADD-ONS: A partial hair piece - not a full wig.

ADHESIVE: A liquid product, which is medically approved for use in attaching wigs and hairpieces to the wearer's scalp.

ADJUSTABLE TABS: Allow you to adjust your wig with hooks or Velcro (at the nape section) up to 1" larger or smaller for a better fit.

BANANA COMB: A banana clip is a long, 2-part, plastic hair clip with teeth on the inner side of each part that grasp the hair and snap closed at the top. Many wig companies take these clips and attach hair to them in various lengths and styles. When a person's own hair is pinned or pulled back in a short ponytail and the banana clip hairpiece is snapped closed over it, it creates the illusion of a ponytail or bustle effect down the back of the head.

BUTTERFLY CLIP: Pressure sensitive butterfly shaped comb with interlocking teeth that attaches under your own hair. Press to open the teeth of the clip and insert into your own hair.

CAP: The foundation that gives the wig it's shape and a base to attach hair to. The underside cap portion of a wig upon which the wig hair fiber is sewn.

CAPLESS: Similar to the machine made standard cap design without the closed lace layer at the crown. Open-wefted in the back, sides, and crown allowing for maximum ventilation.

CLAW CLIP: Pressure sensitive interlocking teeth that open to attach to your hair at the crown area.

CLIP ON: A hair extension which clips onto your own ponytail. Easy to use, look great and very low maintenance.

DRAWSTRING: A hair extension shaped like a ponytail - usually constructed with two combs that attach to your own bun in the back of the head and secured with tightening an elastic drawstring.

FALL: A partial wig most often used to add length to a style which allow the wearer's own hair to show at the front and be blended into the hairpiece.

HAIRPIECE: Worn to give the illusion of longer hair by creating additional volume or length to existing hair.

HAND-TIED: The fibers are hand sewn into the cap.

HEAD BAND WIG: A half-cap or 3/4-cap wig attached with headband at the front. Can be worn with your own bangs slicked back underneath or worn on the outside.

HUMAN HAIR BLEND: A blend of human hair and synthetic fiber combining the best of both fibers. Synthetic fiber ability to hold it's style, and lower cost and the Human hair natural look and durability.

INTERLOCKING CLIPS: Two interlocking, flat combs contoured to fit closely to your head for a secure, comfortable fit and natural looking silhouette.

HAIR INTEGRATION: A system of nylon or polyester lines--kind of like a hairnet with hair attached--which allows you to pull your own hair out between the lines to create or add volume and/or length. Many of them are attached with small clip-combs which snap closed on your existing hair for security. They come in different sizes and different base constructions to accommodate various patterns of hair loss. A hair integration blends an individual's hair with an integration hair system to create fullness, volume and length.

KANEKALON FIBER: A trademark for a Japanese-made synthetic fiber which is used extensively in the manufacture of wigs and hairpieces.

LACE FRONT: A wig made with a mesh insert in the front into which individual hairs are hand-tied creating a realistic hairline. Attached with special adhesive the lace front creates an illusion that it is the wearer's own growing hair.

MEMORY CAP: Uses a thinner, stretch material that actually molds to the shape of the head for a lighter, more secure fit.

MONOFILAMENT: Hand tied individual hair fibers into a fine nylon or silk mesh which creates a more natural look. Can be done just on the parted areas or on the edge of the cap in order to hide cap material when the hair is pulled back. It allows the hair to fall naturally, giving it more versatility in styling. It is recommended for hair loss patients, and allows comfort and excellent ventilation.

NAPE: The area at the back of the neck at the base of the skull where the bottom of the wig fits against the head.

OPEN EAR TABS: Flexible material at the ears which allow you to adjust and contour the wig to your face around the temple area.

PART: A break at the top in the hair where the hair on each side of the parted area takes the opposite direction. In the case of a skin or Mono-Top, the hair may be parted all the way to the base and resemble a natural appearance of a scalp between the hairline.

REVERSIBLE FALL: A fall that can be reversed and look different on side than on the other side. A partial hair piece - not a full wig.

SKIN PART: Refers to a strip of fabric, usually silk, along the part where the hair is threaded. It gives the appearance of the hair growing directly from the scalp. Wig is parted in a fixed location, giving the illusion of skin. Generally less expensive than a full monofilament Wig.

SKIN TOP: These wigs, sometimes referred to a having a Monofilament Top, have a piece of thin latex of polyurethane inserted into the top of the wig with hair implanted into it. It gives a realistic appearance of hair growing directly from the wearer's scalp. A Skin Top cap is designed with a colored base to give the illusion of your own scalp directly under the wig. This is useful with hair styles that expose the scalp such as parts.

STANDARD WEFTED CAP: A standard wefted cap is comprised of strings of hair sewn into the shape of a wig. It is the most common and most affordable cap design. The layers of hair are open-wefted in the back and sides to allow for ventilation and have a closed lace layer at the crown. The hair at the crown is often lightly teased or crimped so you can not see down through the cap - effectively disguising the cap. This type of cap often gives the hair a natural lift at the crown for volume.

SWITCH: An elastic loop attachment that acts like a ponytail holder to attach the hair piece.

SYNTHETIC FIBER: Generally made from a modacrylic fiber which is not resistant to heat or styling products.

THIN WEFTED: A wig cap which has the wefts spaced out to provide for more ventilation and a thinner volume of fiber.

WEFTS: Strands of fiber sewn together at one end to make a curtain of hair. These wefts are sewn onto the cap to simulate natural hair.

WIGLETS: Partial hair piece.