Monofilament Wig | What is it? Cost? How to Wear? How to Care?

These days, there are so many kinds of wigs on the market that it can be hard to discover them all and decide which wig is best for you, depending on your hair needs.

Amongst the different wig types, monofilament wigs are largely popular for many reasons, both among people who need them for medical purposes and those who buy them for their natural appearance and smooth styling.

If you have been curious about monofilament wigs, this guide will help you know all that you need to know about these wigs. It will also help you make a good decision where they are concerned. 

Let’s begin with the most basic question – “What is a Monofilament Wig?”.

What Is a Monofilament Wig?

The first step to understanding a monofilament wig is to understand what monofilament entails. 

Monofilament refers to a kind of wig cap construction that has a sheer, fine-layer transparent material inserted into the crown or parting, and hair strands are individually tied to this material to look like natural hair.

Monofilament wigs are wigs made by tying hair in sections into the top part of a wig cap usually made by a monofilament material. 

The individual hair strands are tied in a way that they look just like natural hair growth.

Monofilament wigs give the most natural and realistic appearance of the scalp and hair, and also make all kinds of movement possible. It supports a styling versatility that gives the wearer freedom to style or part the hair in nearly every way you can think about.

From the definition, you can already tell why people love the monofilament wig, but let’s go on to explore whether or not a monofilament wig is good for you.

Monofilament Wigs from Premium Brands

  1. Top Smart Lace Front & Monofilament Synthetic Hair Toppers by Jon Renau
  2. On Point Lace Front & Monofilament Part Synthetic Wig by Raquel Welch
  3. Shilo Wig Color Marble Brown – Noriko Wigs

Are Monofilament Wigs Good?

Before answering the question, an interesting piece of history tells that monofilament wigs were first introduced in the late 1990s to help people who suffer serious or total hair loss. 

Beyond that, monofilament wigs continue to lead many wig cap designs as a top-notch choice for people of all hair types and styling needs, especially people with sensitive scalps and thinning hair.

Here are several reasons why monofilament wigs are beyond good, and why they might continue to be a favorite of the wig-wearing community for a long time.

  • Monofilament wigs have no rivals when it comes to the comfort of the wearer. They are perfect for all women, especially those with sensitive scalps. The polyester or nylon fabric cap is soft, breathable, and lightweight, which makes it easy to wear for the longest time without scalp irritation or discomfort.
  • Monofilament wigs have a natural appearance because of the way the wig gets attached to the transparent mesh layer to showcase the wearer’s scalp. This natural design makes it look like the hair is growing out of the scalp.
  • The construction of monofilament wigs supports the freer movement of the hair fibers while maintaining and supporting its natural look. Your monofilament wig will move just as smoothly and naturally as your real hair would, and it’s all thanks to how the wig was constructed.
  • Monofilament wigs support multidirectional styling, which means that wearers have unlimited styling options. You can part or style your hair in whichever direction you choose without losing its natural and gorgeous appearance. So, if you own a monofilament wig, you can choose to explore any style that excites you every day without any worries.
  • Monofilament wigs can withstand heat styling, which means you have more freedom to curl, stretch, dry, or fix your wig anyhow you deem fit without worrying about exposure to heat.

Top Rated Monofilament Wigs

How Do You Wear a Monofilament Wig?

Wearing a monofilament wig has a similar process to wearing other kinds of wigs, although you have to be especially careful with the crown area to avoid damaging the sheer material at the top. 

How to wear a monofilament wig?

Here are the simple steps to wear a monofilament wig:

  • Hold the wig open with both your hands and shake it properly so that all the strands relax. 
  • Then, take the wig towards the back of your head and put it on with the front resting on your forehead just above your eyebrows. 
  • Take some time to adjust the back of the wig on the nape of your hair. By now, you should have already positioned the elastic at the back of your wig to the tightness that suits your head size and shape. Ensure that the band holds the wig tightly from behind. 
  • Feel for the clips or combs at the sides of the wigs if any, and hold them tightly then arrange your wig so that it sits on your hairline directly. Move it left or right as the case as necessary. When it sits in the right spot, you can tighten the clips in place. If there are no clips, then just adjust the wig until all sides sit right.
  • If there is a band or lace in front that hasn’t been treated properly, you can carefully trim it around your hairline so that it blends with your natural hairline. Otherwise, you can get a hairstylist to help you trim off the material if you don’t think you can do it well. 

How Do You Care for A Monofilament Wig?

Every wig needs some tender loving care, and monofilament wigs are no different. If you own a monofilament wig or plan to own one, you’ll need to have all the care tips at the back of your mind.

When you care for your monofilament wig properly, you will improve its lifespan and ensure that it remains natural and beautiful for as long as you use it. Below are a few tips:

  • When washing your monofilament wig, always have the base top side up whether you’re washing or rinsing. 
  • Avoid swishing your wig forward and backward in the water when washing. This action can cause the knots holding your hair strands to pass through the base to the other side of the wig. That could totally ruin your wig and its strands.

How Do You Make a Monofilament Wig Look Natural?

Monofilament wigs are already so natural and elegant, can they be any more natural? The answer is yes! They are constructed to go as far as you want them to, as it concerns delivering an unmistakable natural appearance.

Also, depending on the expertise of the person who constructed them, the hair knots can sometimes be seen in the areas where there are partings. 

Because the hair strands are hand-tied to the lace or mesh base, the knots can be seen. No matter how tiny, these knots are still thicker than the natural hair strands and the individual hair strands on the wig. What you get as result is that the paring areas can look dotted.

Although these knots are not always obvious, people might notice when they pay close attention, so the goal is to hide them so that nobody notices the knots on your monofilament wig. With that, you could be looking at a nearly 100% natural-looking wig. 

A 5-Step Process to Achieve the Most Natural Monofilament Wig

Step 1: 

Get a foundation or concealer that matches your skin tone. Get a foundation buffing brush that you’ll use to apply the concealer/foundation.

Recommended Products:

  1. Foundation: COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Liquid Foundation
  2. Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Liquid Concealer
  3. Foundation brush: Flat Top Kabuki Foundation Brush

Step 2: 

Turn the wig inside out and apply a fine layer of concealer or foundation along the parting. Be careful so you don’t apply excess products during this step.

Step 3: 

Use your buffing brush to buff the concealer or foundation around the area by using circular motions.

Ensure that sufficient amounts of the concealer or foundation adhere to the length of the parting inside the cap. Don’t stop until the concealer/foundation is evenly smoothened over the parting line. 

Step 4: 

Apply talcum or translucent powder over the concealer or foundation to set it properly and also ensure that it doesn’t rub off. You can skip this step, but it helps to deliver the smooth look you’re working towards. 

Step 5: 

Now, you can turn the wig the right way. Place it on your head, and you’ll be greeted with a beautiful wig appearance that’s free of knots. The parting will be the most natural part you have seen, and it will look exactly like the shade of your face. 

Apart from concealing the knots, you can make your monofilament wig look more natural by the way you style and position it. If you’re a newbie to wearing wigs, you could wear monofilament wigs wrong and mess up the natural appearance. So, the way you wear the wig is also important.

Lining up your wig properly is essential if you want your monofilament wig to look more natural. It is important to take time when putting on your wig so that you position it well, and you can then choose to part it anyhow you like.

4-Step Process to Line Up Your Wigs Properly

Step 1: 

Put on your wig and place it on your forehead making sure it is sitting right above your eyebrows

Step 2: 

Put the wig on all the way down and let it slide down until it touches the nape of your neck.

Step 3: 

Slowly shuffle the wig until it touches your natural hairline.

Step 4: 

Secure the wig properly at this point however you ought to. Then, feel free to part or style it however you want.

How Long Does a Monofilament Wig Last?

The lifespan of a monofilament wig will depend more on the hair material used to make the wig. So, the lifespan of a human hair monofilament wig will differ from that of a synthetic monofilament wig. Also, proper or improper wig management will affect the lifespan of your wig.

For instance, a synthetic monofilament wig is a less expensive option for people who want to enjoy the benefits of this wig while on a budget. Such synthetic wigs have a lifespan of one year or less.

On the other hand, human hair wigs are more expensive and longer-lasting and could last up to 3 years depending on your maintenance habit. 

However, it is important to note that monofilament wig caps don’t extend the lifespan of the wig, but simply make styling easier and more natural. 

Can You Change the Part on A Monofilament Wig?

Yes, you can! And you can do this easily too!

Unlike some other kinds of wigs, you won’t have any issues changing the part of a monofilament wig because it has a monofilament top.

As we described earlier, individual hairs are knitted to this top. These hair strands can be parted in any direction you choose. So how do you change the part on your monofilament wig?

 It’s really easy! Follow the below steps!

  1. Get your wig a little damp by spritzing the parting area with some water, as well as the new place you want to part.
  2. Comb the hair towards the position you want the new part and ensure the strands follow in a straight line or look uniform, depending on the style you plan to achieve.
  3. After combing your hair in position, blow dry it, and it will stay in place. Feel free to spritz more water or use hairspray if some hair strands don’t cooperate right away.

For monofilament wigs that have synthetic materials, you can change the part into what you want it to be, using a fine-tooth comb, some natural heat, and water. 

Follow the below steps to change the part on your monofilament wig that has synthetic material:

  1. Use the comb to remove the initial part of the wig.
  2. Rub your hands against each other until they are warm, and then hold them down on the part for 15 seconds. This move is perfect for synthetic monofilament wigs that shouldn’t be exposed to heat styling. The heat will allow you to set the synthetic fibers in the new direction with ease.
  3. Then, create the new part using your comb. You can also apply some water if necessary, but allow it to air-dry instead of using a blow-dryer. 

How Much Does a Monofilament Wig Cost?

The cost of a monofilament wig often depends on several things, including the cost of the monofilament material, the kind of hair used to make the wig (synthetic or human hair), and the cost of constructing the wig.

As expected, synthetic monofilament wigs are on the cheaper end. For instance, you can find synthetic monofilament wigs ranging between $100 and $300.

Human hair monofilament wigs are on the higher end and range anywhere from $900 to $3000.

Monofilament wigs from popular brands like Raquel Welch and Jon Renau are more expensive and run into several thousand dollars, while you can find the not-so-popular brand selling their wigs at a cheaper rate, somewhere between $800 and $900.

As for monofilament wig caps, the average mesh or monofilament cap costs anywhere from $10 to $20.

It is important to note that customized monofilament wigs are often more expensive than already-made wigs, so if you want a monofilament wig to be created just for you, then you’ll need to find out from the hairstylist how much that would cost.

Top Raquel Welch Monofilament Wigs

  1. On Point Lace Front & Monofilament Part Synthetic Wig by Raquel Welch
  2. Chameleon Hair Topper Color R1416T BUTTERED TOAST – Raquel Welch Wigs
  3. Nice Move Lace Front & Monofilament Part Synthetic Wig by Raquel Welch

Top Jon Renau Monofilament Wigs

  1. Haute Lace Front & Monofilament Synthetic Wig by Jon Renau
  2. Top Smart Lace Front & Monofilament Synthetic Hair Toppers by Jon Renau
  3. Zara Petite Lace Front & Monofilament Synthetic Wig by Jon Renau 

Final Words:

Now we know why monofilament wigs are the favorite of people globally. It offers the most natural look and is very easy to style in many different looks because the hair strands are hand-tied individually, allowing the hair to swivel at the base easily.

If you are suffering from severe or total hair loss, or you have sensitive skin or scalp, monofilament wigs are the best option for you.