Glossary
Hair industry glossary
The vocabulary sellers and salons use, translated into plain English so you can compare products on equal terms.
B
- Base
- The material a hair system is knotted into — lace, monofilament, poly or skin. It decides breathability, realism and lifespan.See also: Hair Patch Academy
- Bleached knots
- Knots at the hairline lightened so the hair appears to grow from the scalp rather than from a visible dark dot.
- Bond
- The adhesive attachment between a hair system and the scalp, using tape or liquid adhesive.
C
- Cap construction
- How a wig is built — full lace, lace front, monofilament top or machine wefted.See also: Hair Wig Academy
D
- Density
- The amount of hair per square inch, expressed as a percentage. 100–120% reads as natural for most adults.
F
- Front contour
- The curved front edge of a hair system, shaped to match the client's natural hairline.
K
- Keratin bond
- An extension method where pre-tipped strands are fused to natural hair with heated keratin.See also: Hair Extension Academy
L
- Lace front
- A wig with a sheer lace panel at the hairline for an undetectable front, combined with a sturdier back.
M
- Micro-ring
- A heat-free and glue-free extension method using small metal rings clamped over natural hair.
- Monofilament
- A fine mesh base material with hand-tied hair, allowing multi-directional parting and good durability.
N
- Non-remy hair
- Human hair whose cuticles are not aligned, which tangles faster than remy hair.
P
- Poly / skin base
- A thin polyurethane base that holds tape well and is the most durable option for daily wear.
R
- Remy hair
- Human hair with cuticles intact and aligned in one direction — the premium grade for wigs and extensions.
S
- Servicing
- Professional removal, cleaning, re-taping and refitting of a hair system, typically every 3–4 weeks.See also: Professional Academy
T
- Tape-in
- Extensions attached in wefted sandwiches with double-sided medical-grade tape; re-fitted every 6–8 weeks.
- Templating
- Taking a mould of the scalp so a custom hair system matches the exact contour and hairline.
- Topper
- A partial hairpiece that clips on top of existing hair to cover a thinning crown or widening parting.See also: Hair Topper Academy
- Traction damage
- Hair loss caused by sustained pulling, usually from clips or tension worn in the same spot.
V
- Ventilation
- The hand-knotting of individual hairs into a base — slower and more expensive than machine wefting, but far more natural.
W
- Weft
- A curtain of hair sewn or bonded along a seam, used in wigs and in sew-in extensions.