Introduction to Wigs | WIGS 101
Whether you are shopping for your first wig, or your twentieth, the terminology used to describe wigs can be really tricky to understand. This is your introduction to wigs – WIGS 101! It can be easy to get lost in all the choice of styles, and cuts, and colours of wigs. But what about the cap construction? Or what about the type of hair used in the wig? These factors could make or break your level of comfort, and determine how you enjoy wearing your wig!
This guide is a tool anyone can use while researching their next brand new style. We know how important it is, for all customers to know exactly what they are getting, before you even try it on! Let’s get into it.
THE ULTIMATE WIG MAP
This is the ultimate wig cap, it has everything you might want in a wig. Often, this is the most expensive type of cap, as it has features such as velvet tabs, monofilament, and a lace front.
STANDARD/ OPEN WEFT CAP
These types of caps are also referred to as traditional weft caps, open weft, classic or standard caps. Hair is sewed and wefted together in strips, that drape in horizontal lines across the back and nape of a wig. There are usually more space between the lines of wefted hair, which makes the wig light and breathable.
By far, this type of cap construction is the least expensive type to make, and therefore the least expensive to buy!
Many find this wig perfect for chemotherapy patients as they are great at keeping your head cool, as the open wefts are great for circulating air and is therefore more comfortable.
These wigs are perfect for the summer time, and for hotter climates as they are super light.
Seville wig by Noriko shown below has this lovely, light cap.
MONOFILAMENT
What exactly is a monofilament? It’s a feature of a wig, hair is hand tied or sewn, into a fine sheer mesh material. When holding a monofilament hair piece, it is noticeable how light and delicate the monofilament feels as a comparison to the rest of the cap’s construction. The fine sheer mesh that the hair is sewn into is transparent. So when a person places it on their head, it looks just like their hair is growing out of their scalp!
This cap type is so natural, breathable, comfortable, and the hair moves naturally, just like your own hair would. For most wig wearers, the most important feature of the monofilament cap is that you can part the wig anywhere you want in the monofilament area, giving you more styling options.
A monofilament construction can be used in a few different ways in a wig cap.
So what’s the difference between a full mono cap and a mono crown?
A Mono Crown has a monofilament parting piece that usually has a circular shape. It’s popularly used in wig toppers, for a natural contour at the top of your head. It’s also useful for wigs that have a fringe or bangs, as the wig would naturally be parted at the crown.
A Mono top has a large monofilament piece that can measure around 5 inches across the top of the head where the hair line is usually parted. Ultimately, the full mono top gives you more of an area to alter your wig style. So you can chose to part it on the left, right, or cut in a fringe. With a mono top wig the option is yours!
This wig is the gorgeous Blake by Jon Renau, see more here!
LACE FRONT
The way in which a wig will fit your head, will be completely different to the way it fits mine. We all have different face shapes and head sizes! It’s tricky to make a wig with a hairline that will suit everyone, so lace fronts became popular to help solve this problem.
Wigs with lace fronts have an extra few millimetres of clear lace with no hair woven into it. With this additional material, the wearer will cut off the excess in accordance of where they want their hairline to begin. In some wigs, the excess lace is already cut off.
Lace fronts make it super easy to part your hair line in the place you desire. Lace fronts are easy to wear, and give the scalp space to breathe. A wig with a combination of a lace front and monofilament cap looks so natural, and gives an ultimate feeling of comfort to its wearer. The lace front also gives you the option to use adhesive or tap, to make your wig even more secure.
Jon Renau has an excellent range of SmartLace wigs, which includes the Carrie. Watch the review of the Carrie wig on our YouTube channel below.
We hope you enjoyed this weeks blog, we’re so excited to announce some changes coming to HairWeHaveOn by giving it a little makeover in the coming weeks, with new topics and themes to explore. We hope you enjoyed the introduction to wigs, WIGS 101! Watch this space for new blogs.
If you got any inspiration from the styles we’ve shown today, we’d love to hear from you! Tag us, or DM us at @hairweavon_com on insta or HairWeavon on FB!
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