What Are the Benefits of Different Wig Cap Designs?
If you’ve been shopping for a wig, you have probably seen a lot of terminology thrown around regarding the various cap designs and means of construction. This can be baffling and make you wonder if you’re really choosing the right wig for you. It can also explain why some wigs cost so much more than others.
So, to bring you some clarity, let’s dig a little deeper.
Standard and Capless Wigs
The term capless wig is often used interchangeably with standard, open-cap, wefted, or basic cap. While some people differentiate between types by saying that a standard or basic cap uses slightly denser machine-made construction on top, all of the terms above refer to wigs that are largely (or completely) constructed around machine-made rows (also called wefts).
These wefts are elastic, and all the hairs of the wig are sewn into them, meaning that there are gaps in between without hair. The construction is easy to perform with a machine, and, though it is unnatural, it is generally concealed by the styling of the wig.
Capless/standard construction is the lightest and coolest option for customers. It is also most affordable because it requires the least material and the least labor of all construction methods.
Traditional/standard and capless construction are great options for anyone who runs hot or will be wearing their wig in hot weather. However, these are not the most convincingly realistic construction methods. They do not allow the wig to be parted in various ways. The machine rows become too obvious to the outside eye if you change the original styling and parting of the wig. This is because the patterning does not match the appearance of bio hair growing from a scalp.
Monofilament Wigs
By contrast, monofilament construction allows for greater versatility in styling because each hair is individually hand-tied to create the appearance of each one coming from the scalp, as bio hair would. What is great about this construction is that your part will look completely natural. And, if the monofilament construction covers the entire top of the head, you can easily rearrange the parting on the wig.
The material that supports this kind of construction is sheer to allow for breathability, but it fully covers the scalp, there are no rows with space for greater air movement in between. So, this construction is both a little heavier and a little hotter. It is also more expensive.
Because of that, most monofilament wigs only include the monofilament construction on certain portions of the wig. Some wigs use it for the entire top of the head—which allows for the freedom to change parting sides easily. Others, use it just along one side or the other, meaning that you will not be able to switch the part, but the part that does exist will look more natural. And some wigs that are not styled around having a part will only include the monofilament section in the crown.
Hand-Tied Lace Wigs
Another element that can be added to the construction of a wig is hand-tied lace. This is most frequently used along the front of a wig. A hand-tied lace front looks very natural. You can use foundation to blend the lace with the color of your forehead, and with practice, you can fully disguise the presence of the wig.
Wigs used in movies and TV use hand-tied lace fronts because of how convincing they are. You would honestly be surprised by how many of your favorite film and TV characters are wearing wigs in order to achieve the hairstyles you see on the screen.
Hand-tied construction can be used for an entire wig. Some wigs use lace throughout and others, for the sake of durability, use a form of mesh that is a thicker and stronger than the lace used in the front. The hairs are tied into the mesh in a way that mimics bio hair (unlike the row construction of the capless design).
While this hand-tied construction is incredibly convincing, it is also hotter, because the density is universal, without any openings between rows for more airflow. It is also heavier, and it is a significantly more expensive construction due to the amount of labor involved in making the wig.
Most Wigs Are a Combo
Many wigs combine all of the construction methods we just discussed. This approach allows designers to choose the elements that will most suit the style and price-point of the wig while keeping comfort and weight in mind as well.
You can find wigs that combine all of these methods at Hair Kitty Kitty. Two of my favorite monofilament constructions are the Beckett Monofilament and the Trinity Monofilament. Both of these also include a hand-tied lace front. And you can also find a hand-tied monofilament part on the Calista Wig.
Some of our most breathable wig constructions include the Grayson Wig, the Anya Wig, and the Juniper Wig.
Visit Hair Kitty Kitty for more options.
So, to bring you some clarity, let’s dig a little deeper.
Standard and Capless Wigs
The term capless wig is often used interchangeably with standard, open-cap, wefted, or basic cap. While some people differentiate between types by saying that a standard or basic cap uses slightly denser machine-made construction on top, all of the terms above refer to wigs that are largely (or completely) constructed around machine-made rows (also called wefts).
These wefts are elastic, and all the hairs of the wig are sewn into them, meaning that there are gaps in between without hair. The construction is easy to perform with a machine, and, though it is unnatural, it is generally concealed by the styling of the wig.
Capless/standard construction is the lightest and coolest option for customers. It is also most affordable because it requires the least material and the least labor of all construction methods.
Traditional/standard and capless construction are great options for anyone who runs hot or will be wearing their wig in hot weather. However, these are not the most convincingly realistic construction methods. They do not allow the wig to be parted in various ways. The machine rows become too obvious to the outside eye if you change the original styling and parting of the wig. This is because the patterning does not match the appearance of bio hair growing from a scalp.
Monofilament Wigs
By contrast, monofilament construction allows for greater versatility in styling because each hair is individually hand-tied to create the appearance of each one coming from the scalp, as bio hair would. What is great about this construction is that your part will look completely natural. And, if the monofilament construction covers the entire top of the head, you can easily rearrange the parting on the wig.
The material that supports this kind of construction is sheer to allow for breathability, but it fully covers the scalp, there are no rows with space for greater air movement in between. So, this construction is both a little heavier and a little hotter. It is also more expensive.
Because of that, most monofilament wigs only include the monofilament construction on certain portions of the wig. Some wigs use it for the entire top of the head—which allows for the freedom to change parting sides easily. Others, use it just along one side or the other, meaning that you will not be able to switch the part, but the part that does exist will look more natural. And some wigs that are not styled around having a part will only include the monofilament section in the crown.
Hand-Tied Lace Wigs
Another element that can be added to the construction of a wig is hand-tied lace. This is most frequently used along the front of a wig. A hand-tied lace front looks very natural. You can use foundation to blend the lace with the color of your forehead, and with practice, you can fully disguise the presence of the wig.
Wigs used in movies and TV use hand-tied lace fronts because of how convincing they are. You would honestly be surprised by how many of your favorite film and TV characters are wearing wigs in order to achieve the hairstyles you see on the screen.
Hand-tied construction can be used for an entire wig. Some wigs use lace throughout and others, for the sake of durability, use a form of mesh that is a thicker and stronger than the lace used in the front. The hairs are tied into the mesh in a way that mimics bio hair (unlike the row construction of the capless design).
While this hand-tied construction is incredibly convincing, it is also hotter, because the density is universal, without any openings between rows for more airflow. It is also heavier, and it is a significantly more expensive construction due to the amount of labor involved in making the wig.
Most Wigs Are a Combo
Many wigs combine all of the construction methods we just discussed. This approach allows designers to choose the elements that will most suit the style and price-point of the wig while keeping comfort and weight in mind as well.
You can find wigs that combine all of these methods at Hair Kitty Kitty. Two of my favorite monofilament constructions are the Beckett Monofilament and the Trinity Monofilament. Both of these also include a hand-tied lace front. And you can also find a hand-tied monofilament part on the Calista Wig.
Some of our most breathable wig constructions include the Grayson Wig, the Anya Wig, and the Juniper Wig.
Visit Hair Kitty Kitty for more options.
