GLOSSARY OF HAIR TOPPERS & WIGS TERMS

Hair Toppers, wigs and hairpieces are an amazing option if you are looking to switch up your style or if you are looking to disguise hair thinning and hair loss. If you’re new to the world of wigs & hair toppers, you may be unfamiliar with the insane high number of hair toppers and wig terms out there. This is why we created this hair toppers and wigs glossary to help you familiarise yourself with the different styles, cap constructions, fiber types and much more as you start to discover what kinds of hair topper or wig is right for you.

Any missing word you may want me to add, please, contact me and I will make sure to include it in the glossary!

Letter	Term	Definition
A	Adhesive	A type of glue or bonding agent used to secure wigs, hair toppers, or hairpieces to the scalp or skin.
A	Alternative Hair	A term used to describe a hairpiece, hair extensions, hair toppers, or a wig.
A	Alopecia Areata	A patchy type of hair loss due to an autoimmune condition. Commonly starts with small round bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total body hair loss.
A	Alopecia Totalis	Total hair loss on the scalp due to an autoimmune condition.
A	Alopecia Universalis	Hair loss all over the body due to an autoimmune condition.
A	Androgenetic Alopecia	Hair loss due to a genetic predisposition.
A	Anti-Slip Gel	A product used to prevent wigs or hairpieces from slipping or shifting on the scalp.
A	Asian Hair	A type of hair used in the construction of human hair wigs and hairpieces. Asian hair is thicker and coarser than European hair.
A	Average Cap Size	The average cap size typically measured in inches: Around the Head – 21 ½ – 22, Front to Back – 14 ¼ – 14 ½, Ear to Ear – 13 ½.
A	Average/Large Cap Size	The average/large cap size typically measured in inches: Around the Head – 22 ½”– 23”, Front to Back – 14 ¾ – 15, Ear to Ear – 13 ¾ – 14.
B	Baby Hair	Small flyaway strands of hair, often curly at the base of the frontal hairline, adding to a realistic look and camouflaging the wig edge.
B	Bleached Knots	Knots put through a bleaching process to make them nearly invisible, appearing to grow from the scalp.
B	Blending	Mixing multi-colors of fiber to achieve realistic color graduations in wigs, hairpieces, or extensions.
B	Bonding	A process by which a hairpiece is glued onto the head temporarily.
B	Bundle	A pack of hair extensions.
C	Capless Wig	Similar to a standard cap design but without a closed lace layer at the crown, offering maximum ventilation and the ability to pull natural hair through.
C	Capless Construction with Lace Front	A combination of capless construction for lightweight wear and a lace front for a natural hairline.
C	Chinese Hair	Naturally straight and sleek hair used in wigs, ranging from off-black to dark brown, but not easy to hold curls.
C	Color Rings	Tools displaying possible hair colors for easy identification and selection when ordering.
C	Clip-On Hair Systems	Hair systems secured with sewn-on clips onto existing hair.
C	Cicatricial Alopecia	A rare condition resulting from inflammation that damages and scars hair follicles, causing permanent hair loss.
C	Closed/Traditional Cap	Original machine-made wig construction with an interior lace material sewn to the crown.
C	Clip-In Extensions	Wefts of hair with attached clips for easy attachment to natural hair, adding length, volume, or highlights.
C	Closures	Small pieces used to close a sew-in weave or create a natural-looking part in a wig.
C	Crown Topper	A hairpiece designed to cover the crown area of the head, adding volume to thinning or flat hair.
C	Coarse	A specific type of hair texture characterized by a large diameter.
C	Cuticles	A fundamental component of human hair, serving as a protective outer layer and securing the hair shaft within the follicle.
D	Double Drawn	The process of hackling single-drawn hair to remove shorter strands, creating a fuller bundle of hair.
D	Double Monofilament	A double monofilament material that eliminates scalp irritation, with hair individually knotted for versatile styling.
D	Density	The number of strands of hair on a hairpiece or wig.
D	Dip-Dyed	A two-tone coloring technique in wigs and hair, with hair dark at the roots and gradually transitioning to lighter shades toward the ends.
D	Double Knots	Knotting hair to the base, considered the strongest and most durable type of knot, but more visible than other knots.
E	Ear-To-Ear Lace Front	A lace front extending from one ear to the other, providing a larger area for natural parting.
F	Fall	A partial wig used to add length and coverage while allowing ventilation and a secure fit.
F	Fillers	Partial hairpieces, not full wigs.
F	Full Fall	A partial wig placed on the crown of the head, blending with the front hair.
F	French Lace	Delicate and sheer lace often used in lace front wigs and toppers.
F	French Top	Light fabric lining (e.g., silk) placed under the cap area to simulate the color and appearance of the natural scalp.
F	Frontal	A large, ear-to-ear area of lace used to mimic an entire hairline.
G	Glue Remover	A product used to safely remove wig adhesive or tape residues from the scalp and wig/topper cap.
G	Grafting	A hair restoration/transplant technique involving the implantation of hair follicles into the scalp.
H	Halo Wigs	Hair extensions secured with an invisible wire, adding length and volume.
H	Hat Falls	Also known as Chemo Caps or ½ Wigs, these have a bare cap on top attached by elastic pieces, giving the illusion of a perfect fit.
H	Headband Wig	A wig designed to be worn with a headband for quick and easy styling.
H	Heat Resistant Hair	Special fiber blend that allows the use of heat appliances such as blow dryers, hair straighteners, and curling irons.
H	Heat Tools	Tools like blow dryers, straighteners, flat irons, curling wands, and curling irons.
H	High-Density Wigs	Wigs or hairpieces with a high volume, making them fuller and more challenging to maintain than lower-density options.
H	Human Hair Blend	A combination of human hair and synthetic fiber in various ratios (e.g., 25%, 35%, or 50%), offering versatility in styling.
I	Indian Hair	Hair sourced from India, similar in texture to European hair but more affordable, stronger, and durable.
I	Injected Hair	Hair injected into a thicker skin base at an obtuse angle, allowing combing in any direction.
I	Integration System	A system allowing natural, growing hair to be combined with a hair replacement system, adding volume and fullness without shaving the head.
I	Invisible Knots	Knots tied in a way that makes them nearly invisible, creating a more realistic look (often achieved through bleaching knots).
I	Invisible Hairline	A virtually undetectable hairline, often achieved with lace front wigs.
K	Kosher Wigs	Wigs not containing hair from India, manufactured under Rabanut supervision to verify no Indian hair usage.
K	Knots	How hair is hand-tied and secured into lace material in lace front or monofilament top wigs.
K	Knot Bleaching	The process of lightening knots on a wig to reduce their visibility.
L	Lace Front	A wig with a mesh insert in the front, with individual hairs hand-tied to create a realistic-looking hairline.
L	Lace Wig	A wig constructed with a lace cap or lace front for a natural appearance.
L	Lace Parting	A wig or hair topper featuring hand-tied hair on a lace material to create a realistic-looking scalp and part.
M	Machine-Made Wigs	Wigs made from wefts of hair that are sewn together by a machine.
M	Medical Cranial Hair Prosthesis	A specially designed wig for medical hair loss patients, offering comfort, a natural appearance, and special features.
M	Mannequin Head	A head-shaped form made of materials like Styrofoam or rubber, ideal for styling wigs.
M	Memory Cap	A wig cap that replaces wide stretch lace with a material that molds to the shape of the head, providing a lighter, more secure fit.
M	Monofilament	A wig or hair topper base made of fine mesh, with hair individually knotted for versatile styling, available in full or partial monofilament caps.
M	Mono Part	Wigs featuring a soft monofilament construction along the part line, with hand-tied fibers for a realistic hair growth appearance.
M	Mesh Cap	A cap constructed with thin, micro-mesh, stretchy fabric, with hair 100% hand-tied, and a second layer of mesh sewn over the crown area.
M	Micro Knots	Tiny knots used to secure individual hair strands to the wig base for a natural appearance.
M	Multi-Directional Knotting	Hair hand-tied onto the base of a hair system or wig, allowing styling in multiple directions.
M	Multidirectional Part	Higher-quality skin, silk, or mono top that can be combed or parted in any direction, similar to natural hair.
N	Nano Ring Extensions	Hair extensions applied using tiny nano rings for a discreet look.
N	Non-Remy	Human hair collected from multiple sources without guaranteed alignment of root and tip ends, often with partially removed cuticles to prevent tangling.
N	Non-Surgical Hair Replacement Products	Any type of wig, hairpiece, cranial prosthesis, etc., used without surgical intervention.
O	Open Ear Tabs	Flexible material at the ears, allowing adjustment and contouring of the wig around the temple area.
P	Paddle Brush	A brush used for detangling and styling wigs and hairpieces.
P	Paraben-Free	Products without parabens, preservatives often used in cosmetics and hair care, which can impede moisture evaporation and lead to frizz.
P	Permatease	A technique involving crimping hair near the base of a wig to add volume.
P	Polyurethane (Poly)	Transparent plastic material used as a hair system base, with different levels of thickness for realism or durability.
P	PU (Polyurethane)	Another name for polyurethane, often used to refer to a thicker type of polyurethane used around the perimeters of bases for added sturdiness and bonding.
P	Polyurethane Ear Tabs	Used on the sides of a wig cap to adhere to tape or glue for stronger security.
P	Processed Hair	Chemically treated hair with the cuticle often removed to allow hair to lie flat without tangling, sometimes bleached and colored.
P	Pre-Made Wig	A ready-to-wear piece that is ready to be worn out of the box.
R	Ready-to-Wear Wig	A wig or hairpiece that comes pre-styled and is ready to wear without additional customization.
R	Rat Tail Comb	A comb for precise parting of wigs or sew-in weaves.
R	Raw Hair	Unprocessed hair that has not undergone chemical manipulation.
R	Remi/Remy Human Hair	Human hair with cuticles aligned in the same direction to prevent tangling, used for high-quality wigs, extensions, and hairpieces.
R	Rooted Wig / Hair Topper	A wig or topper with a darker root area to mimic natural hair growth.
R	Returns	Shorter hairs tied throughout a wig or lace top topper to represent the natural look of flyaways or lessen underside density, unrelated to damage.
S	Silk Top	A strip of fabric, often silk, along the part where hair is threaded to create the appearance of hair growing directly from the scalp.
S	Single-Drawn Hair	Hair within a weft cut from one end only, resulting in varying lengths within the weft.
S	Skin Top	Sometimes referred to as Silk Top, a feature creating a natural-looking scalp where hair is threaded on a thin, skin-like base.
S	Silicone Wig Grip	A band or cap with silicone lining to prevent wig slippage.
S	Standard Cap	The most common and affordable cap design with open wefts in the back and sides for ventilation and a closed lace layer at the crown.
S	Synthetic Fiber	Fiber types such as polyester, acrylic, and modacrylic used to create synthetic wigs, known for low maintenance and affordability.
S	Synthetic Lace Front Wig	A wig with a lace front made of synthetic hair, offering a natural look at a lower price point than human hair wigs.
S	Synthetic Wig	A wig made of synthetic fibers, designed to mimic the look and feel of natural hair.
T	Tape Adhesive	Adhesive strips used to secure wigs and hairpieces to the scalp temporarily.
T	Tape Tabs	Double-sided tape used to attach wigs and hairpieces.
T	Thinning Shears	Specialized scissors with notched blades used to reduce hair thickness, add texture, or blend hair seamlessly.
T	Topper	A hairpiece designed to cover a specific area of thinning hair, adding volume and coverage.
U	U-Part Wig	A wig with a U-shaped opening at the crown, allowing natural hair to be left out for blending with the wig.
U	Underhair	An additional layer of hair used in wigs and hairpieces to create volume and thickness.
V	Virgin Hair	Hair that has never been chemically processed or treated, often used for high-end wigs and extensions.
W	Weave	A method of hair extensions where natural hair is braided and wefts of hair are sewn onto the braids.
W	Weft	A track of hair extensions made by sewing strands of hair together at the top.
W	Wig Cap	The base of a wig, designed to fit on the head and secure the hair in place.
W	Wig Grip	A band or cap designed to hold a wig in place without the need for glue or tape.
W	Wig Stand	A stand designed to hold and display wigs when they are not being worn.

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