Wig Terminology: Confusing Wig Terms Explained

Wig terminology can often be confusing.

Ever heard of lace front wig or human hair and wondered what they meant? Are they different to virgin hair?

Well frankly, it can be difficult for some women to make sense of all these terms.

And if you want to start wearing wigs you’re going to start hearing terms like “synthetic fibre” and “U-Part wig” flying around.

But don’t worry, they’re pretty straightforward.

Below, I’ll group and explain some of these terms so that the next time you hear them, you can easily nod along with understanding. In fact, you might even start using some of them yourself!

But first of all, why the wig trend?

Why Do So Many Women Love Wigs?

If you’ve never worn wigs, then you probably have no idea how useful they are for women these days – especially working women who have to juggle so many things that they’d pay a lot to take making their hair off that list.

Wigs offer exactly that – and you don’t have to pay a lot.

I’ve already explained in this other post why so many women wear wigs.

Wig Terminology: Here Are Some Wig-Related Terms

If you’ve been confused about some wig-related terms, take a look at the list and explanations below.

1. Wig terms related to hair type

Human hair

It’s a wig featuring real human hair, which gives it the most natural look and feel.

Human hair wigs are made of either 100% human hair or blended with synthetic fibres.

They can be heat-styled and chemically processed due to the strength and integrity of the real human hair fibres.

Synthetic fibre

Synthetic fibres are man-made fibres designed to mimic human hair.

You can’t usually heat-style synthetic wigs and you cannot chemically process (colour, perm, relax, etc.) them.

Virgin hair

Virgin hair is essentially the gold standard in human hair for wigs.

It’s still human hair used in a wig, but human hair that has never been chemically processed – either while on the donor’s head or afterwards.

Remy hair

Remy hair shares the top spot with virgin hair.

It is a wig made with real human hair fibres all running in the same direction when collected from donors. This is because the donor packs the human hair in a ponytail before cutting.

This method of collection is essentially what makes remy hair different, and it’s also why it’s so valuable. Because the hair is all running in the same direction, it hardly gets tangled and can be treated just the same as any natural human hair.

2. Wig terms related to securing the wig

Cap

The wig cap is the base material of the wig where the synthetic or human hair is attached. It is essentially the foundation of the wig and it is used to style the hair.

The cap is usually made of elastic material so that it can fit different head sizes.

The woman below is wearing a wig cap without the hair attached:

Oftentimes the cap comes with an extended nape/neck, which is an added extension at the lower back part of the cap that covers the hairline and keeps it from sticking out.

Wig liner

A wig liner is a stretchy cap worn over natural hair before wig application in order to hold the hair flat and keep it securely contained.

Wig sizes

The wig size is the size of the cap, which can range from mini petite to large. The size of the cap determines how the wig will fit on your head.

Proper wig sizing prevents slipping and keeps the wig securely attached.

3. Wig terms related to appearance of the wig

Wig Density or Density Percentage

Wig density is essentially how much hair you have on the wig. It’s expressed in percentage. The higher the density percentage, the fuller the wig will look.

The density percentage can be as low as

60%, which is extra light

And as high as

180%, which is extra heavy

The middle ground is 120%, and that’s the density that most people opt for because it most closely resembles the hair density of the average human head. Wigs with 100% up to 180% density are common though.

Lace front wig

The lace front wig is a wig with a piece of nearly-transparent lace that is placed at the hairline position of the head.

It creates the appearance of a natural hairline and gives an extremely realistic look.

Full lace wig

The full lace wig is a bit similar to the lace front wig, but it has a base made completely of lace that fits the whole head. You will need to wear a wig cap and then paste the entire wig down to your head.

It requires a stronger bond than the lace front, so you might need help putting it on.

Just like the lace front, the full lace wig gives an extremely realistic look.

Hand-tied wig

Hand-tied wigs are made by individually tying every strand of hair or fibre into a soft wig cap.

Don’t worry, it’s not you doing this knotting. It’s the producer.

They’re really difficult to produce, so they don’t come cheap.

Their advantage? The way they are created allows for each hair to move freely in every direction, creating a completely realistic appearance. It also allows you to style your hair anyhow you want without a single cause for concern.

Options include hand-tied front wigs where only the forehead area is hand-tied and 100% hand-tied wigs where all hair fibres are knotted to the cap for the most natural look.

Here’s a hand-tied wig being produced:

HD lace wig

HD lace wig is a lace wig base covering that appears transparent and undetectable, allowing the wearer to have an exposed, natural-looking hairline or part during wear.

It is also known as invisible, transparent, or undetectable lace wig.

Skin part

Skin parts are wigs with a parting line at the front.

This skin parting is artificially made but appears like natural scalp skin, giving the wig a more realistic appearance.

U-Part wig

U-Part wigs are also known as 3/4 wigs.

They are partial wigs featuring U-shaped caps that clip in place and allow you to wear your natural hair through the opening in the top centre.

U-Part wigs are mostly used to boost fullness in thin hair.

What other wig-related terms can you think of?