Lace front vs hand-tied: which cap construction to order

The three constructions, in plain terms

A lace front places a fine mesh across the front hairline, so hair appears to grow from the scalp and the parting can be moved. A hand-tied cap ties hair into the cap by hand across the crown, which lets the hair fall naturally in any direction and makes the parting look less constructed. A machine-back cap is sewn on a machine at the back and sides, which is faster to make and costs less, while the front can still be finished by hand.

What each one is for

Lace front suits customers who style the hair away from the face, part it differently between wears, or need the hairline to be convincing in daylight. Hand-tied suits a wearer who wants the crown to look unconstructed, and it is the construction we build for medical wear where the wig is on all day. Machine-back suits volume at a lower price, and it is the right answer when the customer never sees the crown.

What it does to cost and to lead time

Hand work is the cost. The more of the cap that is tied by hand, the more hours it takes and the longer the production run. That is why the same length and colour can differ in price between two constructions, and why the construction belongs on the quotation next to the price.

How to specify it in one line

Name the construction, the lace size, the length, the colour code and the weight, and ask for all five back in writing. If a vendor cannot return those five items in a written confirmation, the price is not yet a specification, whichever construction is named.

Check it on one piece first

Construction is the hardest thing to judge from a photograph and the easiest thing to judge in the hand. A single piece can be ordered as a sample, quoted at the lowest listed price for that model, with the freight at your cost.

Questions we get on this

Is hand-tied always better than machine-back?

No. Hand-tied costs more and takes longer to make, and it earns that cost when the crown is visible or the wig is worn all day. If the crown is never seen, a machine-back cap does the same job for less.

Does a lace front mean I can part anywhere?

It means the front hairline is on a fine mesh, so the parting can be moved across that front section. How far it moves depends on the lace size, which is why the lace size belongs in the written specification.

Can I order one piece to compare constructions?

Yes. A single piece can be ordered as a sample, quoted at the lowest listed price for that model, with the freight at your cost. Wholesale orders start at 3 pieces per model.

Order one piece and compare

Construction is the easiest of the specification to judge in the hand and the hardest to judge from a photograph. A single piece can be ordered as a sample, quoted at the lowest listed price for that model, with the freight at your cost. Wholesale orders start at 3 pieces per model.