The different types of wigs

In today’s society, wearing wigs is becoming more popular than ever. Women in particular are drawn to wearing wigs, and celebrities, including Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Jenna Jameson, Tyra Banks, and Britney Spears, have fueled the popularity of faux hairpieces by sporting wigs in their everyday lives.

Of course, most people who wear wigs do so due to severe hair loss caused by aging or a variety of diseases. Women who undergo chemotherapy treatments and experience hair loss also frequently wear wigs. But in addition to hiding baldness, people are starting to wear wigs for fashion reasons. Wigs offer an easy way to change up a style or put on an already perfectly cut and styled hairstyle. Also, some religious and cultural practices require the use of wigs.

Regardless of why people (and women in particular) wear wigs, there are a variety of different wigs that vary in material and fit that people should be aware of before purchasing a wig for themselves. Above all, if you are looking for a wig, you will want one that feels comfortable and looks natural.

Standard Cap Wigs

First of all, if you are thinking of buying a wig, it is important to know the different parts of the wig. And apart from the hair, the most important part of the wig is the cap. The cap is the base of the wig that is placed on the head and is what the hair is attached to. There are a variety of different caps that are used on wigs, including the standard cap, which is the most common and affordable type of wig cap. In a standard cap, the hair is machine sewn onto the cap. The layers of hair on the cap are pre-designed in a particular style, and the cap’s crown is often teased or curled so that onlookers cannot see through the hair and see the cap. People like these standard cap wigs because they give the hair a boost that makes the hair appear more voluminous.

Monofilament Wigs

Another type of cap is the monofilament cap that incorporates a thin piece of material on the crown that is made of nylon or polyester mesh. The mesh is breathable and features an illusion of skin, and due to its mesh, the wearer’s scalp is partially revealed, which is beneficial because the base of the wig naturally reveals the scalp just like normal hair does. With a monofilament cap, the revealed scalp is the wearer’s natural skin color.

People love these types of wigs because they look so natural and are versatile. They can be styled in different ways because each hair in a monofilament cap is individually hand tied at the crown so the hair can be brushed or parted in any direction. The monofilament cap is also soft and more comfortable to wear than other types of wigs.

Capless wigs

Some wigs are capless as well. These wigs are lighter than cap wigs and are not as warm when worn. Instead of a cap, they have vertical lace straps, with gaps between the straps, making them one of the most breathable types of wigs.

Human hair wigs

Wigs also vary greatly in material. Some of the best wigs are made from human hair. Human hair wigs are the most natural looking wigs, but they are more expensive than wigs made from synthetic materials. With human hair wigs, the hair can be cut, styled, dyed, or permed like natural hair. There are basically four different types of human hair that are used in wigs, and they are Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, and Caucasian, so people of different ethnicities can find a wig that is perfect for them. But because they are made from real human hair, these wigs also need to be cared for as the result of natural hair, which means they need to be shampooed, blow-dried, styled, and conditioned. Essentially, these wigs offer all the benefits and work of having real human hair.

Synthetic wigs

Wigs can also be made from a variety of other materials, such as horse hair, wool, feathers, or buffalo hair. But aside from human hair, the most popular types of materials used in making wigs are synthetic fibers. And many of the higher quality synthetic wigs are almost indistinguishable from human hair wigs. And synthetic wigs offer the benefits of being easier to care for and cost less than human hair wigs. However, they are not designed to be styled and can be damaged if a person uses curling irons, hair dryers, or hot rollers to style them.

Lace wigs

Lace wigs are a particularly popular type of wig because it provides a more natural look than many other wigs. Most of the time, this is the type of wig that celebrities often wear. Lace wigs are full wigs that have some mesh lace glued to the front of the wig just beyond the hairline. The wig’s mesh cord is tailored to the wearer’s head and is clipped and glued (temporarily) to a person’s skin just around the hairline. The hair in the wig prevents anyone from seeing the mesh cord, and it is the cord that allows the hair to part naturally on a person’s head.

Vacuum Wigs

Vacuum wigs are another popular type of wig that are custom designed to fit the wearer’s head. First, a plaster cast of a person’s head is taken so that professionals can create a wig that provides the proper fit and produces suction on the head. Vacuum wigs have a silicone base on which the hair is injected. Because the base is solid, these wigs can be quite warm and it may take some time to adjust; however, their custom design and high level of detail make vacuum wigs some of the most expensive wigs on the market, as well as some of the most sought after.

So whether you are looking for a wig to cover baldness or simply to change your hair style, knowing more about the different types of wigs available can help you determine which type of wig is right for you.