Below you'll find a glossary list of wig features and benefits that will be useful to you as you become more familiar with wigs.
3/4 Wig also known as Falls A 3/4 cap covers the majority of the head except for the front hairline. You can use your own hair to blend up and over the fall. Usually connects with flexible combs.
Braids From short layers with soft, straight ends - to long, lush face-framing layers which are hand-braided. Blend a bounty of long, hand-tied braids into your own hair.
Cap The base gives the wig its shape and is where the hair is attached to.
Chignon A small hairpiece worn as a bun on the lower back of the head.
Extended neck An added extension sewn to the bottom of the wig cap base just below the Velcro adjustments. This feature allows more coverage of the nape hairline. Wig wearers are usually able to tuck stray neckline hair under the extended neck.
Lace front Lace front wigs feature a virtually sheer lace (about 1.5" long) that creates a natural growth, low density hairline. Lace fronts allows for versatility with off-the-face parting at the hairline.
Nape The area at the back of the neck where the bottom of a wig fits against the head.
PermaLift Provides volume to the wig style without adding weight.
PermaTease Provides volume to the fibers and overall fullness to the wig.
Skin part Gives the illusion of skin where it is parted. Wigs with a skin part are more affordable than a full monofilament wig, yet still provide a natural look.
SofTouch® SofTouch is a lightweight, non-allergenic, silicone-like gel material developed by medical professionals. The material gently cushions the scalp, allowing your wig to fit securely and comfortably, without tape or glue.
T-Pins Small, T-shaped metal pins, which are used to secure a wig or hairpiece to a Styrofoam or canvas head.
Wig liner A lightweight, stretchable cap worn under a wig that holds the existing hair flat and helps keep it from slipping on the head.
Wig sizes Many wigs come in multiple sizes, ranging from mini petite to large - and PaulaYoung.com carries the largest selection of sized wigs available. Sized wigs guarantee a perfect fit for the ultimate in comfort and security. The difference between a petite and an average or an average and a large is typically about 1".
Cap Construction
Lace Cap The cap, from the front of the wig to the crown area, is covered with a layer of lace to which the fiber wefts are sewn. This feature provides a sturdy construction with solid coverage on the top.
Open Cap The cap is constructed with lace ribbons at the crown area to which fiber wefts are sewn to form an open pattern. This provides maximum ventilation, stretch, and flexibility in a machine-made wig. It is very lightweight, breathable and cool to wear and conforms to the shape of the head.
Part Open Cap The cap, from the front of the wig to the crown area, is constructed with a combination of lace and open wefts. This provides increased breathability and reduces the weight of the wig.
Mesh Cap 100% of the cap is constructed with a thin, micro-mesh, stretchy fabric to which wig fibers are 100% hand-tied. A second layer of mesh is sewn over the crown area.
Benefits of a Mesh Cap: The thin mesh fabric allows the color of the skin to show through and gives the illusion of hair growing from skin - over the entire head. The elasticity in the fabric provides a secure comfortable fit and can conform to the shape and size of the head. The second layer of fabric over the crown area provides a smooth comfortable layer next to the skin. This technology eliminates the need for wefts, elastic ribbons and lace within the cap resulting in an extremely lightweight, airy, comfortable wig. (For a mesh cap wig, we suggest the Sheer Abby and Sheer Colleen Wigs).
Ear Tabs
Open Ear Tabs Located in front of the ear forming a side burn shape. The open ear tab utilizes open construction where the fiber wefts are sewn within the fabric frame of the ear tab, creating open areas. This feature allows you to wear glasses through the openings and over the fibers for a natural look, while providing a lighter and secure fit.
Closed Ear Tabs Located in front of the ear area forming a side burn shape. The closed ear tab is constructed with a light piece of lace within the fabric frame of the ear tab. This provides a solid foundation to which wefts are sewn and full coverage of the skin in front of the ear.
Fibers
Human hair blend A combination of human hair and synthetic fiber. The combination of fibers gives the wig more flexibility and versatility in styling.
WhisperLite® fiber The lighter the wig, the more comfortable it feels! Many wigs feature our revolutionary WhisperLite fiber, which is softer, finer and half the width of traditional fiber, resulting in an exceptionally light and more natural-looking wig.
Hand-Tied
Hand-tied Crown Wig fibers are hand-tied to the crown area located behind the top area of the cap. The fibers are usually tied to a monofilament base. This provides a natural look and styling flexibility at the crown area.
Hand-tied Ear Tabs Wig fibers are manually hand-tied to the side edge of the wig around the ear opening. This softens the edge of the wig by camouflaging the cap material, providing a more natural looking hairline. These hair fibers are soft and wispy simulating new hair growth. Fibers can be brushed back without exposing the cap material.
Hand-tied Front Wig fibers are hand-tied to the front edge of the wig across the forehead area. This softens the front edge of the wig by camouflaging the cap material, providing a more natural looking hairline.
100% Hand-tied Wig fibers are 100% hand-tied to a micro-mesh cap. This provides the most natural look and ultimate styling versatility.
Monofilament
Monofilament Front The front edge of the cap, across the forehead area is constructed with a fine poly, silk mesh material. Wig fibers are always hand-tied to this cap material. This feature provides a very natural hairline, allowing skin color to show through and giving the illusion of hair growing from skin.
Monofilament Part The part center of the cap, which could be positioned on the right, left, or center of the wig, is constructed with a fine poly-silk mesh material. Wig fibers are always hand-tied to this cap material. This feature provides comfortable and breathability, as well as a very natural hairline, allowing skin color to show through and giving the illusion of hair growing from skin. It also provides greater styling flexibility at the part.
Monofilament Top The top area of the cap between the front hairline and the crown of the cap is constructed with a fine poly-silk mesh material. Wig fibers are always hand-tied to this cap material. This feature provides comfort and breathability, as well as a very natural hairline, allowing skin color to show through and giving the illusion of hair growing from skin. It also provides greater styling flexibility at the part.
Monofilament Crown The crown area of the cap (behind the top area) is constructed with a fine poly-silk mesh material. Wig fibers are always hand-tied to this cap material. This feature provides comfort and breathability, as well as a very natural hairline, allowing skin color to show through and giving the illusion of hair growing from skin. It also provides greater styling flexibility at the part.
Velvet Band
Velvet Band - thin A narrow, soft velvet-like band, 1/4" to 3/4" in width, stitched inside the front edge of the wig, across the forehead area. The thin velvet band provides softness next to the skin. Perfect for sensitive scalps.
Velvet Band - wide An extra wide, soft velvet-like band, 1" to 1 1/4" in width, stitched inside the front edge of the wig, across the forehead area. The thin velvet band provides softness next to the skin. Perfect for sensitive scalps.
Velvet Band - seamless The extra wide, soft velvet-like band has reduced stitching to offer greater comfort. This provide ultimate softness next to the skin. Perfect for sensitive scalps.
Velcro® Adjustable Strap Elastic straps with Velcro closures are located on the right and left sides of the wig behind the ear tabs. The adjustable straps allow you to adjust the wig's circumference up to 1" smaller for a more comfortable fit.
Wefting
Left/Right Wefts at Crown A band of short fiber wefts, which are sewn vertically across the crown of the wig, extending down the right and left sides of the crown area. This feature is sometimes combined with hand-tied fibers to camouflage the wefts. It can be featured in open-cap or lace top cap wigs. This feature provides a natural-looking crown and allows fibers to fall naturally at the crown to both the left and right sides.
Thin Wefting Wig fibers are sewn to a single layer of thread versus two layers used in regular wefts. This increases ventilation and provides a lighter, more comfortable wig with less volume.