CAP (WIG CAP): The base or foundation of a wig onto which hair is attached using several different methods. Caps are made with various materials and come in small, medium, large and custom sizes.

CAPLESS WIG: A type of wig cap which has vertical lace strips onto which wefts of hair are horizontally sewn. The open spaces between the wefts are the reason this is called a "capless" wig.

COMB CLIP: Clip sewn onto the underside of a wig or toupee that is used to secure the piece to the wearer's hair.

CRANIAL PROSTHESIS: Medical term used to describe various devices used for replacement of hair on the head. A cranial prosthesis can be fabricated in many ways using a variety of materials. Cranial prostheses can be full or partial and must be clearly identified as a full or partial cranial prosthesis on a prescription from a physician in order to claim insurance benefits. In layman's terms, a full cranial prosthesis is a wig, and a partial prosthesis is a toupee or hairpiece.

CUSTOM-MADE WIG: Any combination of  materials used to construct and create a wig per specific instructions from the wearer. An affordable luxury.

CUTICLE: The exterior surface of the hair which protects the inner hair shaft.

DEMI-WIG: A hairpiece designed to cover some of the crown and sides and all of the back of the hair. This type of wig cap is also called a fall or 3/4 cap wig.

DENSITY/THICKNESS/VOLUME: The amount of hair in a style; may also be referred to as thickness or volume.

EUROPEAN HAIR: High quality human hair which is harvested from a person of European or Caucasian ancestry. This type hair is used for custom made wigs because of the exceptional strength, quality and beauty, and is also used by manufacturers of high quality stock human hair wigs.

FALL: A partial hairpiece which is attached to the back part of the crown to add length to the wearer's hairstyle. The wearer can use a headband or comb their naturally growing hair into the hair of the fall.

FOUNDATION: Another name for a wig cap.

FRENCH TOP: A high quality translucent material to which individual hairs are hand tied. The finished product closely resembles a natural scalp with hair growing out from it. The crown of a wig made with a French top is not restricted to parting the hair in one constant area. A French 2" part is only 2 inches wide and allows for a natural part only in that section.

HAND-TIED: A wig or hairpiece into which the hair has been knotted by hand.

INTEGRATION WIG: A specially constructed wig with spaces to allow the naturally growing hair to "integrate" with the wig to add fullness. The wig is made with wefts spaced at various distances (customized to the wearer's needs) and the wearer's own hair is pulled through the open wefts and integrated with the wig.

LACE FRONT: A hairpiece or toupee which is made with a mesh insert in the front, into which individual hairs are hand-tied. This is designed to create a realistic looking hairline. The lace front usually has extra un-ventilated mesh so that the front can be custom-ventilated or trimmed to resemble an actual hairline. When properly worn with special adhesive, the hairline can be so realistic looking as to be virtually undetectable that it is not the wearer’s own growing hair.

LONG WIGS: Hair length falls below the shoulder, usually 18 inches or more from the crown

MEDIUM LENGTH: Hair length falls from the jawbone or chin level to the shoulder, usually 10-16 inches from the crown.

MONOFILAMENT or MONO TOP: Fine, translucent silk, nylon or polyester mesh  into which individual hairs are hand-knotted to create the illusion of hair growing out of the scalp. When hair loss is extensive, the natural scalp color is revealed through the monofilament top. The wearer is not restricted to a specific part are if the wig has a full monofilament top,

NAPE: The area at the back of the neck, just under the little bone that protrudes at the base of the skull.

NATURAL TOP: Construction of wig top (crown) that creates the illusion of naturally growing hair. May also be called a monofilament top, or a French top, skin top or polyurethane top.

OCCIPITAL BONE: The little bone that protrudes from the bottom of the back of the skull. The nape of a wig fits just below this bone.

PART: Refers to where the hair is separated and combed into opposite directions. Hair can be parted anywhere on the crown of a full monofilament top wig or hairpiece. Monofilament wigs can even be styled in the latest fashion craze...a zig-zag part!

PETITE WIG: Wig cap constructed to fit those with small size heads, usually about 20" to 21" in circumference.

REMY HAIR: Refers to human hair which has been harvested from the donor and carefully maintained in the direction of the natural growth pattern when made into a wig. In other words, the cuticle of each hair is kept in the same direction as is growing hair. Because of this additional attention to detail, Remy Hair is used for high quality wigs.

SHORT WIGS: Hair length above the chin line, usually 6-10 inches in length.

TAPE/TOUPEE TAPE: Double sided tape used for securing a wig or hairpiece to the scalp in areas of total hair loss. Caution should be used to place the tape only on the tape tab area of the wig cap, so as not to pull on the wig cap material.

TAPE TAB: Material which is sewn or bonded to the underside of a wig or hairpiece providing a place for attachment to the scalp with tape, or the use of glue.

THICKNESS/VOLUME/DENSITY: The amount of hair in a style; may also be referred to as volume or density.

ULTRA-PETITE WIGS: Extra-small caps for heads with a circumference of 19" to 20", generally classified as a child size wig.

UNDER-VENTED: High quality wigs and hairpieces feature under-vented hairlines and sides.  This is a technique of hand tying hair just under the front and side edges of a wig to simulate the naturally occurring small short hairs growing at the hairline..

VENTILATION: The technique used in tying or knotting hair by hand into the cap of a wig or toupee to simulate the look of growing hair. A fully hand tied wig requires 60-90 hours of labor to complete, which explains the cost of this type of wig.

VOLUME/DENSITY/THICKNESS: The amount of hair in a style; may also be referred to as thickness or density.

WEFT: A long string which has hair sewn onto it. This string is then sewn horizontally onto the vertical lines of a wig cap.