The construction of
women’s wigs has improved enormously during the past decade. Today, it is hard
for the average person to identify when someone is wearing a quality wig. The
area of greatest improvement is in wig cap construction. Below is a summary of
the various types of cap construction available today in the alternative hair
market. With this information you will be more knowledgeable when choosing a
wig.
Whenever a
wig manufacturer has supplied a cap construction image, e-Wigs.com will show
that image of the cap along with the various views of the wig. In addition, you
will find a description of the cap construction along with capsize, fiber,
length, weight, color shown, and availability on each individual product page.
Traditional
or Standard Wefted Cap
The
traditional, sometimes referred to as classic or standard cap, is a wefted
construction where synthetic hair is machine or hand sewn into strips of
material. A “weft” is the narrow strip of material that has hair, all going in
the same direction, sewn into it. These strips are inter-connected in
horizontal planes going back and forth over the entire cap. This provides
overlapping layers of hair and simulates natural hair growth. With a standard
wefted cap you are buying a wig whose style cannot be altered.
Capless or
Open Cap
One
variation on the standard wefted cap construction is the capless wig cap. The
“capless” is not really “capless”, but the wefts are less dense and have a bit
more space between them. This provides a lighter weight cap with better air
circulation. Many women who wear wigs for medial reasons prefer a capless
construction. Because they will more likely wear their wig for longer periods
of time, a lighter weight cap provides more comfort.
Capless
wigs are usually secured with tape, medical adhesive, and/or clips, although
new advancements in stretch technology now allows some cap constructions with
thin resilient dual elastic sides that provides comfort and a precise all day
fit. Many capless wigs will have adjustment straps at the nape (back neck area)
to allow the wig to be sized down for a more snug fit.
Monofilament
Top (Mono-top):
Monofilament
cap construction is the preferred choice for those who want the most natural
look while wearing a wig. Wig manufacturers originally developed the
monofilament cap for women who have experienced significant hair loss due to
chemotherapy, alopecia, or other medical reasons and have sensitive scalps.
Sometimes mono-top wigs are referred to as "medical wigs." Due the
labor-intensive requirements to make monofilament wigs, they are more expensive
than standard wigs featuring wefted caps.
Regardless
of whether a wig is made from synthetic fibers or human hair, the mono-cap
construction method is the same. Instead of a few strands of hair or a weft of
hair sewn into the wig cap, each and every single hair is individually hand
knotted into a monofilament mesh cap so that it comes straight out of the mesh.
This unique monofilament weaving allows each strand of hair to move freely and
more naturally, allowing you to change the part and style of a monofilament cap
wig.
There are a
number of variations in monofilament design construction depending upon the wig
manufacturer. Since many hairstyles don't require 100% monofilament technology
to achieve a stunning look, or only require them at certain locations in the
wig's cap, monofilament cap construction may differ in some minor ways from
style to style. Most hand tied monofilament constructions involve a part area
or perhaps just the crown. A basic rule of thumb is: “the smaller monofilament
area the less expensive the wig.” Nevertheless, all quality monofilament wigs
offer a superior natural appearance.
