There are so many different terminologies used to talk about wigs that even when you are a regular shopper, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. This is why we built this guide.

The ultimate wig terminology & glossary guide

You'll never have to spend hours researching for some new terms. We will make sure that we keep this list updated with the latest terminology that I am sure will come every year.

If you would like us to include something in this list, please contact us or leave a comment below. With a little help from everyone we can help many new wig shoppers that might be feeling a little lost.

Let’s start with the different types of hair that one can find on the market:

Brazilian Hair: it is a type of real human hair normally sold in bundles or as a ready-to-wear wig. It is the main type of human hair available in South Africa and is a great choice for those seeking volume, soft waves and incredible shine. We offer a range of Brazilian wigs for sale.

Peruvian Hair: This is another type of human hair available in South Africa and around the world. They are popular for their versatility and rich texture.

Malaysian Hair: It is also human hair and normally associated with Remy bouncy curls.

We have mentioned twice Remy hair while explaining the terms above. Do you know what does it mean? Let us explain below:

Remy Hair: This is a term used for human hair, which means that the cuticles of the hair are aligned in the same direction as if the hair was growing from your own scalp. This type of hair is smoother and present the least amount of tangling.

Virgin Hair: a human hair that hasn’t been exposed to any harsh chemical treatment and therefore still has intact cuticles. 

Raw Hair: it is human hair from a single donor that hasn’t been processed and didn’t undergo a chemical treatment

Synthetic hair: It is an alternative to human hair. It is more affordable than real human hair and it holds pretty well any hair style

Heat-Resistant Synthetic hair: it is the most advanced type of synthetic hair available, which can be washed and heat-styled with the help of a blow-dryer or flat iron. The cheaper options of synthetic hair available on the market can’t handle the heat. All LolaSilk synthetic wigs are heat-resistant and therefore you will be able to style them the way you want.

Next, we will list the types of caps that you will find:

Lace wigs: this means that the craftsman made use of Lace to build that wig. Lace is very commonly used to mimic a human scalp, but in order to achieve the ideal look & feel, all the strands of hair need to be tied manually to the lace which is a time consuming type of activity and that is why lace wigs are normally very expensive.

Machine made or No-Lace wigs: this is what we call wigs that have no lace.

Lace Front wigs: this type of lace is added to the front part of the cap, from ear to ear and normally measures 13inches x 1inch. If you have a lace front wig, all your hairline that normally is visible when you are wearing a wig will have a more natural look and you will be able to make a half up-do.

T-Part Wigs: This is a variation of the lace front wigs. It means that not only the wig is a lace front but also that it has a part line made with lace as well.

4x4 or closure wigs: these are the wigs that have lace on the top part of the cap and the lace measures 4inches x 4inches. This type of cap will allow you to part your hairline in different places along the lace.

Full frontal or 13x4 Wigs:These wigs are a combination of a Lace front plus a closure wig, which means that the lace part of the cap will be applied to entire front part of the wig. The measurements are: 13inches from ear-to-ear versus 4inches to the back of the hair. This type of wig gives you more flexibility to decide where do you want to wear your part line and also to build the most amazing half up-dos, or even platting the hair.

360 Wigs: The lace of this wig will go all around the wig and not just on the front part. This cap is ideal if you love ponytails because it will look natural from all different angles.

Full Lace Wigs: This type of wig is made entirely with lace, but be prepared to pay a very high price for something like that. Full lace wigs have a very natural flow of the hair because the strands are placed exactly in the same way the hair grows from a scalp.

Capless Construction: this is a type of cap that has open wefted base all over, with no closed fabric sections on the cap. The effect of this type of cap is a lighter and cooler wig. The majority of LolaSilk wigs are built like that and the only fabric added is the lace.

Flex Combs: Small, lightweight, flexible combs normally placed on the sides and back of the cap for increased security.

Adjustable tabs: A wig's adjustable tabs are the elastic straps used to alter the circumference fitting and size.

There are also many different types of lace that you will find available on the market:

Normal Lace or Brown Lace: this is the most common type of lace used to produce wigs and the most resistant one. It is also called French Lace.

Transparent Lace: It is the same as the regular lace but in a transparent color. Depending on the colour of your skin you might prefer a tinted lace, which is what we called the “normal or brown lace” above.

HD Lace: this type of lace is meant to perfectly blend in with the color of the scalp. However, this would not be the best choice for you if you have only recently started wearing wigs. HD lace wigs are very expensive and also very delicate and soft, thus requiring a lot of care.

Swiss Lace: it is a superior fabric used to make wigs that is imported from Germany. The material can be tinted to suit a range of skin tones and has a slightly beige color. Swiss lace is more transparent and delicate than other lace bases, so it has to be handled carefully.

The last session of our glossary will be dedicated to wig styling:

Wig Glue: a type of adhesive or glue/spray that will help to hold the lace part of the wig in place. Not all lace wigs will need glue to be installed, but if you are looking for melted lace looks you will probably be using this type of product

Melted Lace: this term is used to describe a type of wig installation where the lace is completed disguised and you can’t even see that the person is wearing a wig.

Flat hair: it is a styling technique where the stylist normally uses a hot comb plus fly away gel/stick to make the hair completely flat on the scalp.