When you compare wigs, there's often more written about the cap than about the hair: monofilament, mono top, silk base, machine-sewn. These words describe how the hair is attached – and that decides both how natural the wig looks and how it feels to wear.
This article is about the top of the wig. If you'd like to read about the front edge – lace, closure and frontal – that's covered in a separate article.
Machine-sewn cap
The hair sits in sewn wefts – hair weft running in rows around the cap. It's the sturdiest and most affordable construction, and it gives a lot of volume for the money.
The downside is that the hair has a fixed direction. You can't part it wherever you like, because the wefts would show. If you wear your hair down with the same parting every day, it makes no difference.
Monofilament
A fine, semi-transparent mesh where every single hair is hand-tied. Because the hairs sit individually, the hair can move in any direction, and the mesh lets your own skin tone show through, so it looks as though the hair is growing from your skin.
That's also why monofilament is so often recommended for hair loss: the mesh rests softly against the skin with no seams. See our Mono Top wigs.
Mono top
A middle ground that many people settle on. Monofilament where it shows – on top – and machine-sewn wefts further back where no one looks.
You get a movable parting and a natural-looking top at a lower cost than a fully hand-tied wig. For the vast majority, that's enough.
Silk base
A double layer where the knots are hidden between two layers of fabric, so only the hair strand itself comes through on top. The result is the most convincing imitation of skin there is.
The trade-off is that the base sits slightly higher than lace and feels a little firmer. We compare the two with video in Lace Closure vs Silkbase Closure.
How to choose
All our caps work well, and which one suits you depends on how much of your own hair you have and how often you wear the wig. Most people choose HD lace or mono, because they look the most natural where the hair parts and rest softly against the skin. If you still have your own hair and only wear a wig now and then, a machine-sewn cap is perfectly fine.
Not sure? Book a free consultation and feel the difference in your own hands rather than guessing from a product photo.
Frequently asked questions
Are the knots less visible in a silk base?
Yes. In a silk base the knots are hidden under the top layer, so they don't show at all. In monofilament and lace they appear as tiny dark dots, which can be softened by bleaching them.
Which cap is coolest in summer?
Monofilament with open, machine-sewn sections at the back gives the best ventilation. A fully hand-tied cap is denser, and silk base is the warmest because it's made of two layers.
Can you change the cap on a wig you already own?
Yes, if the hair is in good condition. We can transfer the hair to a new cap with Cap Renewal. It's most common when the cap has worn out, but it's also done to switch to a construction that suits your skin better.
Which cap is best for hair loss?
All our caps work for hair loss. Most people choose HD lace or mono, because they look the most natural where the hair parts and rest softly against the skin. See our Mono Top wigs, or book a free consultation and we'll help you choose.
Can you part a mono top wherever you like?
Yes, as long as the parting stays within the monofilament section on top. Further back the hair sits in machine-sewn wefts with a fixed direction, so a parting there would show the wefts.