There are a whole lot of terms used in the wig world that are not commonly used in the daily vernacular. We’ve prepared a short glossary of the most commonly used terms in the world of wig-making that a potential client looking for wig stores in Miami may come across.
3/4 Wig
A type of wig that is meant to sit a few inches back from the wearer’s hairline. The front of the wearer’s own hair is then brushed back over the front of the wig to conceal the edge and make the wig look natural. 3/4 wigs are best if they are a very good colour match to the wearer’s own hair colour and texture. Natural hair wigs will always blend best.
Baby hairs
Fine, delicate hairs along the hairline of a wig help conceal the edge of the wig.
Cuticle
A term used to describe the shaft of a strand of hair. Natural hair wigs have cuticles that look like scales or shingles on a roof. Cuticle hair refers to hair that has been harvested with all the shingles going in the same direction. This allows the hair to lie smoothly and prevents tangling. Hair that still has cuticles (not chemically removed) lasts longer and readily takes colour and style. When looking for wig stores in Miami, be sure to ask if the natural hair wigs have their cuticle intact.
Extensions
Small lengths of hair that are added to the wearer’s own hair, usually to add volume or length. There are many varieties, including clip-in, sewn-in, glued-in, or braided-in. Some are clipped in only for a few days, while others are bonded to the hair for a month or more.
Fall
Any partial hairpiece with long, hanging hair.
Foundation
A head-shaped base is made of wig materials and laces that hair is attached to make a wig. Both synthetic hair wigs and natural hair wigs are sewn into a foundation. As synthetic hair is lighter than human hair, a foundation made from synthetic hair can be considerably lighter as well.
Hairpiece
Any piece of artificial or human hair that does not cover the entire head.
A toupee, wiglet, postiche, fall, or 3/4 wig are all examples of hairpieces. Wig stores in Miami often specialise in one or more of these.
Human Hair
Hair from the head of a human. Hair is generally categorized into three racial types: Afro, Asian, and Caucasian. Natural hair wigs can be made of one or a blend of these three racial types.
Lace-front Wig
A wig that had the original hard front cut off, replaced with fronting lace, and had its hairline knotted into the lace. This term can also refer to a wig that has been custom-made from scratch with a hand-tied lace front.
Medical Adhesive
A clear adhesive that is used to glue down wig lace when spirit gum is not a strong enough option.
Monofilament Top
A type of wig made with a translucent, monofilament material on the top that the hair is knotted into. This fabric gives the appearance of a scalp underneath the hair, assuming the wearer has no hair. Also called monotop wigs.
Occipital Bone
The bone that makes up the back and base of the skull. A well-defined occipital bone tends to make full wigs fit and stay in place better.
Postiche
Any piece of false hair.
Remy/Remi Hair
Human hair that has been harvested from root to tip with all the hair going in the same direction. It is finer and silkier than most processed human hair and is more expensive. Asking wig stores in Miami if they carry Remy hair is a great way to know if they are well-versed professionals in the wig-making industry and not just retailers.
Roots
The part of the hair that is attached to the scalp.
Synthetic Hair
Plastic fibres that are made to resemble hair. It is the cheapest and most versatile material that wigs are made of. Some other names for synthetic wig fibres include modacrylic, kanekalon, and elura.
Tips
The part of the hair shaft that is farthest away from the scalp; the ends of the hair.
Toupee
A hairpiece meant to fill in the top section of a balding head. Suitable for men and women.
Toupee Clips
Small rubberized snap clips that grab onto a very small amount of hair are often used to secure toupees. These clips can also be sewn to wefts of hair to create clip-in extensions.
Ventilating
The act of knotting hair to a wig lace to give the appearance that the hair is growing directly out of the head. Also called knotting or tying hair. This is a very specialised skill that most wig stores in Miami do not offer. Ask if the business has an onsite wig workshop that does hand ventilation when choosing from all the wig stores in Miami.
Virgin Hair
Hair that has not undergone any type of processing (cuticle removal, perming, dying, etc.). This is often, but not exclusively, used in natural hair wigs.
Weft
Hair that has been woven together on strings to form strips of hair. Wefts are used to make hair pieces or to quickly fill in wigs. This can be done by hand or by sewing machine.
Wiglet
A type of hairpiece that consists of a small circle of hair mounted on a round base. They are used to fill in thin places in a hairstyle or to add a little extra volume to the style.
