If you are new to this industry or if you are not familiar with the different kinds of base materials used to make hair systems, you will find this article very helpful.
To make men’s toupee and women’s hairpieces, we usually use lace, skin (polyurethane), and monofilament. Different kinds of base materials have their own unique characteristics and are better suited to different environments and markets. In this article, we will not only tell you about different wig bases but also help you provide the correct ones for your customers.
First of all, we are going to introduce all the different kinds of wig bases. Maybe you have some customers who tell you that they want very thin, soft, natural, breathable, and durable pieces. With so many demands it can be hard to know what’s best for your customers. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to meet all of your customers’ requirements because some of their requests are contradictory as we will explain below. You should first start by giving a basic summary of the characteristics of the three main base materials:
- Skin is thin and soft but not very breathable
- Lace is breathable but not very durable
- Mono is durable but not very thin or soft
It is important to ask your customers what is more important to them. When you have their answer, it is a lot easier to find the most suitable hair replacement system for your customers.
So, how to then make the best choice? Read this article and you will then have a good understanding of the recommendations you can make.
Skin and PU
Skin and PU are made by glue but they are used in different situations. We use different thicknesses of thin skin – but all can still be considered thin skin – to make our stock pieces. If you are a new stylist who is just starting to attach hairpieces for your customers, thin skin is the best choice for learning how to attach hair systems to someone’s head because you only need to use glue which is easy to clean from the base with glue removal solvent. Since skin is thin and soft, skin hairpieces will not last a long time. If your customers want a more durable thin skin base then we would recommend 0.08mm super thin skin. Though it is thicker than 0.03mm, it can last 4 to 6 months and we can also add some holes to the 0.08mm super thin skin to make the hairpieces more breathable.
There are a few things that you need to be aware of when it comes to the different thicknesses of skin bases:
0.03mm ultra-thin skin
We can only use a maximum 6-inch hair with medium-light density (100%). 0.03mm is so thin that it cannot support a weight of hair greater than this.
0.06mm super thin skin
We can use a maximum of 10-inch hair with medium density.
0.08mm super thin skin
We can use a maximum of 12-inch air with medium-heavy density.
PU is usually used with other bases – on the back, sides or around the perimeter of the base – because it can reinforce the unit and make it more durable.
For example, our stock piece, the D7-5, has French lace on the top with PU on the perimeter and a folded lace front. If it only had French lace, the base would not be very strong. Once we add PU on the perimeter, the edge of the base is stronger and more durable. The advantages of adding PU are as follows:
- Makes the edge stronger and makes the hair system more durable
- Glue can be used which is easy to clean
- Looks very natural with other base material
Lace (French lace and Swiss lace)
These are made of very fine netting. Swiss lace is softer, thinner and more breathable than French lace. On the other hand, French lace is more durable than Swiss lace and it is still very soft and thin. It is better to use tape on lace because it is easy to attach. When you clean lace pieces, there is often some residue and sweat stuck on the base. The holes are so small that it is difficult to thoroughly clean them. French lace pieces can last 4-6 months if you clean them frequently and look after them well. However, you can only get 2-3 months out of Swiss lace.
Many customers love lace hair systems because they are very breathable. For people that live in warm climates or do lots of sports or exercise, lace is the best choice.
Mono(filament)
Fewer people know about mono than lace and skin. Mono can roughly be divided into two types: fine mono and superfine mono.
Mono lace includes welded mono (0.15cm), fine welded mono (0.,12cm), and superfine welded mono (0.11cm). The diameters of the holes are different: the holes of super fine welded mono are small whilst those of welded mono is large.
You still have to pay more attention when you make an order with mono bases: super fine welded mono can only support a medium-light to medium-density (110%), fine welded mono can only support a medium-heavy density (140%). For other kinds of mono, there are no limitations on the maximum density.
Mono has a similar appearance to lace but you will notice that the holes are different. Mono holes are square but the holes of lace are hexagon-shaped. The texture of mono is a little harder than lace.
Mono bases are very durable and that’s why they are strong enough to bear an extra-heavy hair density. We also add a transparent skin perimeter to most of our mono base hair systems which create a natural and realistic front hairline and make the edge stronger.
Other base materials (not very popular with most customers)
- Silk top
Silk top bases are the most comfortable base material. They are very soft and smooth to touch, especially Chinese silk which is better than a normal silk base. They have a very long lifespan – if you look after a piece well, it will last around 8-12 months. The base color is similar to our own scalp and the knots are very small. Other people will find it very difficult to tell that this is a hair system when worn. If customers tell you they want the best quality hairpiece, point them in the direction of a silk top.
- Integration
This is a very special type of base in that they are designed to be worn on top of existing hair. So, if your customers have some of their own hair and they don’t want to shave it off them, you should recommend an integration system. They can simply pull their own hair through the holes of the base and have it seamlessly blend with the hair of the integration base. At the same time, they can use clips or combs to fix the hairpiece without any glue or tape.
Some customers may have doubts that hair integration systems do not look strong than others because of the way they are made. You can reassure them because integration systems are made of nylon. Though there are many lines you see, integration hairpieces are strong enough to last for around 8 to 12 months.
- Anti-slip silicon
Anti-slip silicon is very suitable for customers who do not have their own hair or do not want to use tape or glue. This makes it a popular base material with cancer patients as this base makes wearing a hairpiece an easy process. Silicon is distinct in that it is thicker than normal skin but still very smooth and flat on the base. Customers will find it very comfortable to wear and it can last 8 to 12 months if properly looked after.
Secondly and now that you know about the different base materials, we are going to share which bases tend to be suitable for particular markets. We have more than 2,000 distributors and wholesalers and there are many hair salons and business owners who want to cooperate with us from all over the world so we have plenty of knowledge about what is popular where.
In Europe and the US, customers usually care more about an invisible front hairline and natural-looking hair. There are few people whose sole priority is durability so that’s why they want to wear very soft and thin hair systems that are also comfortable. Skin pieces are popular and this is especially true in Italy where customers there favor injected hair to get the most natural-looking hair. Spanish women prefer to keep their own hair so integration systems are popular in Spain.
For the subcontinent and the Middle East, things are different. Customers love lace or lace with PU pieces because the climate is very hot all year. They, therefore, need hairpieces that are very breathable. There are also a large number of customers who ask for long-lasting pieces. Some of them are prepared to wear French lace hairpieces which are very breathable but do not have a long lifespan. Others prefer mono bases. They tend to dislike skin because it is comfortable in hot weather.
In the African and Brazilian markets – just as is the case for the subcontinent and the Middle East – people favor lace units. Some people in Brazil prefer super thin skin units. Mono, however, is a very rare request.
Thank you for reading this blog. We hope it has helped you to understand different kinds of bases of hair replacement systems. Please explore our website: www.vietwig.com for more information or email admin@vietwig.com and our sales representatives will happily answer your questions.