Learn About Cap Constructions for Wigs

   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.