Double-drawn Hair: human hair is used to make alternative hair pieces. This hair has been cut on both ends (generally in a ponytail), so the whole bundle measures the same length and has clean-cut ends.
Double Monofilament Top: a layer of silk-like material on the inner side of the monofilament material of the wig or hair topper to provide comfort to the wearer.
Ear Tabs: the portion of the wig that sits in front of the ear and rests near the temple. Ear tabs sometimes contain a bendable wire to adjust to the shape of the temple. Be sure to keep the tabs tucked in instead of winging outward for a more natural look. If you have a lace front wig, make sure you use the ear tabs to adjust the placement of your wig instead of pulling on the lace material.
Ear to Ear: a measurement over the top of the head, from the hairline at the top of the ear than over the crown and over to the other hairline at the top of the ear.
Flat-ironing: the use of a heated tool to smooth, flatten and style human hair. This is a semi-permanent effect.
Front to Back: a measurement starting at the center front hairline, following down the head to the back hairline at the nape.
French Drawn (French knotting): 3 layers of material that allow the hand-tied hair knots to be hidden between the second and third layer of material. The wearer cannot feel the knots, and it provides the appearance of natural hair growth and is very comfortable.
Fringe (bangs): hair that hangs in the front of the face to frame the face. Can be swept off to one side or fall straight forward.
Hair Toppers: also known as top pieces. Hair toppers add volume and coverage to fine, thin hair on the top of the head.
Hand-Tied: refers to the way the hair is attached in a wig or topper. This can be done with both synthetic and human hair. Each strand of hair is hand knotted to the area using a ventilating needle. Hand-tied wigs or toppers look realistic because the hair has the same movement as biological hair. Fun fact: Creating a fully hand-tied cap wig can take one person up to 40 hours to make just one wig.
Heat-Friendly Synthetic Fiber: a type of synthetic fiber that is able to withstand temperatures up to 285° F.
Heat Tools: blow dryers, straighteners, flat irons, curling wands, and curling irons. We recommend setting your heat tools to no higher than 285° F when styling your heat-friendly synthetic, blended wigs, and human hair wigs.
Knot(s): how the hair is hand-tied and secured into the fine lace material of a lace front or monofilament top.
Lace Front: the front portion of a hair topper or wig where the hair is hand tied into a lace material, giving the illusion of naturally growing hair at the front hairline. Since the lace front is made with very delicate lace material, be mindful and treat it delicately.
Length: the actual measurement of the hair from the scalp to the tip ends.
Machine Wefted Wig/Wefted wig, Machine Back Wig: a term(s) used to describe a wig that has some or all construction made up of wefts sewn together.
Mannequin Head: made of styrofoam, rubber, or canvas and cork, mannequin heads mimic the head shape and are ideal to use for styling wigs.
Monofilament: a type of material used in wigs and toppers. Monofilament material is translucent and gives the appearance that the hand-tied hair is coming from the scalp and allows the wearer to redirect or style the hair in any direction desired. Since hair is hand-tied to monofilament, it is more costly due to the labor involved.
Multi-directional Knotting: a term used to describe how the hair has been hand-tied onto the base of a hair system or wig, allowing the hair to be styled in multiple directions.
Natural Hair Color: the natural level and tone of hair before any chemical service.
Neutral Tone: a possible undertone color of the skin – different from the color of the skin. To see your undertone, look at the veins on your wrist. If your veins appear to be a blend of blue, purple, and green in color, you have a neutral skin tone. Knowing what undertone you have to help you decide which wig color will look best on you is helpful!
Non-Remy: human hair collected from multiple sources that cannot guarantee that the root and tip ends travel in the same direction.
Occipital Bone: the bone found at the base of the skull.
Open Top: a wefted or machine-made wig with open ventilation throughout. The top portion of the cap does not have a second layer of material covering the wefts, so the wearer is cooler.
Parietal Ridge: the widest area of the head where the sides transition to the top. It starts at the temples and ends just below the crown.
Pixie Cut: a short haircut on a woman, sometimes a little longer on top, with short bangs. It often has a tousled look and many variations.
Polyurethane (PU): a synthetic resin often used in a wig or topper, allowing the base to be bonded to the head.
Wig Clips: (or pressure-sensitive clips): coated metal clips that are used to attach extensions, toppers, and wigs to existing natural hair.
Pull-through Base: The base of a hair topper or wig that has holes in the design between the wefts, allowing the existing natural hair to be pulled through and integrated into the piece.
Remy: human hair that has been collected uniformly so the cuticle layers all go in the same direction.
Return: the extra hair length left when the fiber’s finished length is attached via a sewing machine or hand-tied to the material of the wig or topper.
Single-drawn Hair: refers to the length of hair within a weft that has been cut from one end only, which means there are varying lengths of hair (i.e., 16” hair may have 12”, 14”, and 16”).
Steamer (wig steamer): a device used to change the style memory of synthetic fiber by emitting steam. Also recommended to use when smoothly excessive frizz from all types of synthetic fiber.
Style Memory: every synthetic wig has its “style” baked into it, whether curled or straight; once washed, it returns to its original style.
Synthetic Fiber: a petroleum-based synthetic fiber used to create wigs, hair extensions, or hair toppers and pieces. One of the original fibers in the alternative hair industry is a more cost-effective and lower maintenance option for human hair. Synthetic fibers are made to have style memory. Synthetic hair requires less maintenance and is more cost-effective than human hair.
System, “Hair System”: a term used to refer to a partial or full cap hair piece, wig, topper or extension of alternative hair.
T-pin(s): similar to a sewing pin, a t-pin features a perpendicular bar at the top so that the pin cannot puncture a surface completely. We recommend t-pins to secure your wig or hair topper to a mannequin head when blow-drying or heat styling. Note: when using t-pins, make sure not to puncture any lace or monofilament material not to damage the delicate material.
Textile-like Dye: dye used throughout the alternative hair industry; applied to human hair during processing in the factory to ensure that the color stays consistent. We do not recommend coloring or using any other chemical process over this type of dye.
Texture: the pattern of curl or feel of the hair, i.e., fine, medium, coarse.
Velvet Ear Tabs: the soft lining on the inside of the ear tabs of a wig, the portion of the wig that sits in front of the ear.
Ventilate (hair/fiber): the act of hand-tying hair or fiber to a wig or hair topper base; a specific tool/needle called a ventilation needle is used.
Virgin Hair: natural human hair that has not been chemically altered in any way.
Volume: a term used to describe the hair height from the head.
Weft: a sorted bundle of hair that is sewn together with several stitches to make a single “curtain-like” veil of hair.
Welded lace: thin synthetic fibers running in a grid pattern that is ultrasonically heated and fused together.
Wide-tooth comb: a comb with a wider spacing between its teeth, helpful for detangling any fiber. It is the ONLY tool recommended to be used on heat-friendly synthetic fiber.
Wig Band: a wig band is similar to a headband, made of soft, thin fabric. Wig bands can help reduce wig cap pressure and can keep your wig from sliding on your head.
Wig Cap Liner: Made of nylon, mesh, or bamboo, wig cap liners can help keep your wigs clean by creating a buffer between your wigs and the oils on your scalp. Liners also help ensure that your hair is secured adequately under your wig for a comfortable wearing experience.
Wig Stand: Made of plastic or metal, wig stands are easily assembled to mimic the shape of the head. Wig stands can be used for short and long-term storage of wigs. We also recommend letting synthetic wigs drip dry overnight on a wig stand after washing since they allow air ventilation.