Wigs have experienced significant improvements in just the last couple of years. Customers now have more options for different styles than ever before. Perhaps more importantly though, you can also select from a wide variety of underlying designs. Specifically, there are varying types of wig cap constructions to choose from. Oftentimes, a wig is only as good as it is comfortable on your head. A wig is no good to you if it’s too uncomfortable to wear every day. Learn about the different types of wig cap constructions you can choose from in order to decide which one will work best for both your personal needs and unique preferences.

Human Hair and Synthetic Hair Wig Caps

One of the first, fundamental elements you should consider when deciding which type of hairpiece or wig you want is natural, human hair versus synthetic hair. Synthetic hair offers the benefits of typically being less expensive and is known to hold its form better than natural hairpieces. Human hairpieces, while typically more expensive, usually offer a more natural and realistic look, feel, and movement. Natural wigs can also be styled more easily than synthetic pieces. What’s especially helpful is that you can select from a wide variety of wig cap constructions regardless of whether you choose natural or synthetic wigs.

Click here to take a look at our human hair wigs!

Click here to take a look at our synthetic hair wigs!

Wig Cap Base

The base of the wig is referred to as a cap. It’s easy to think that the most important element of a wig is the way it looks on the exterior. However, the fit and comfort of the wig, how it feels directly on your scalp, makes a big difference. It could be the most elegant, natural looking wig, but it does you little good if the wig cap isn’t right for you and is too uncomfortable to wear for any significant amount of time.

Take a look at our mono-filament lace front wigs!

If you’ve previously tried a wig but didn’t like the way it felt, you should definitely give them another try. That’s because newer wig cap construction is much lighter in weight, which makes them significantly more comfortable to wear than they used to be. Not only that, but wig cap construction is also much more durable now, which means you will get more for your money since your wig will hold together longer and give you more use out of your wig. Even if the actual hair of the wig still looks great, it does you little good if the cap falls apart, which would lead to the hair shedding and falling out. Getting a higher quality wig cap will help prevent this. Beyond comfort and durability, newer and higher quality wig caps are also able to present and hold the wig hair in a much more natural and realistic manner.

You'll also want to protect your hair using our extensive collection of wig cap liners!

Traditional/Base/Open (Capless) Cap

Perhaps the most affordable option is a traditional cap, sometimes referred to as an open cap or base cap.  Wigs with this cap construction feature hair styled to a specific cut and style, and a closed lace layer at the crown. Often these caps have open wefting allowing for more circulation of air, but the durable and affordable cap construction does not allow visibility through the cap.  While the additional ventilation is an advantage, often the lack of versatility prevents many from choosing a traditional cap. The term Open Cap or Capless is used by many and thought to mean a lack of a cap exists on the wig.  This is not the case, as a capless cap merely trades the closed lace layer at the crown (see on traditional or base) for a vertical lace lace strips with open spaces between the wefts. The example on the left highlights the features of an open cap.

 Check out our capless wig collection here!

100 Percent Hand-Tied Wig Cap

One of the most popular types of wig construction is the 100 percent hand-tied monofilament cap. This type of construction allows each hair to move freely, which grants a much more natural look. It’s important to note that there are certain types of construction that offer a combination of both hand and machine tide caps. While these are typically less expensive than completely hand tied options, they do offer a slightly less natural look and appeal. Therefore, make sure to read the wig cap construction description carefully if 100 percent hand tied or hand knotted is what you want. The example to the left highlights a lace front, single monofilament hand-tied cap.

View our hand tied wig collection right here!

Monofilament Wig Cap Construction

Monofilament caps are yet another popular option that deliver a very natural look. They offer parting versatility because the mesh material succeeds in giving the appearance of hair growth coming up from the scalp. Monofilament also allows for individual, hand-tied hair. This means you can part and comb your wig hair in different directions according to your specific taste. You can find varying options of these caps, with monofilament in just certain parts, allowing for particular parting, in combination with synthetic or real hair in other parts of the wig for a professionally blended look. If you have an especially sensitive scalp, you may wish to opt for a double monofilament wig since they are softer than single monofilament. For the most comfort, you should likely choose to get a double monofilament, 100 percent hand tied cap. The example to the left highlights a double monofilament cap.

View our collection of double mono filament wigs here!