French top wigs are a definite throw back but are making a huge come back as the manufacturers have figured out how to make them faster and more economically than in the past. A French top wig is basically a machine or hand tied wig with a special French top added. The French top has an esthetically pleasing appearance that literally looks as though hair is coming straight from the scalp.



The French Top consists of several layers of material with the top layer being a synthetic silk type material that has the appearance of skin because of its tight weave. The hair is ventilated / tied into a lower layer and the hair is pulled through the top layer of synthetic silk one hair at a time for a truly natural appearance. Another method has the hair injected into the synthetic silk, one hair at a time, and then the hair is laminated to the underside of the lace using a soft adhesive material that will not bleed through the material and will allow the hair to move naturally on the head. The is then connected to the balance of the wig and finished off for a smooth natural appearance. The French Top can also be downsized to just a part area but the technique has not been done for entire wig as the hair does come straight out of the material and would not lay down correctly on the sides and back. The French Top and Part has been around for many years and they were originally made by wig makers only. The technique has been done in mass production but the intricacies of the work prohibited it from being done in mass. The French Tops and Parts are all strictly hand made one at a time.

Recently we have see the French Tops showing up in the Jewish market for the wigs worn by the Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish women who by tradition and for religious reasons always have their heads covered. There are few wig makers who still work making the French tops and parts but those that do are not at a loss for work. The single hand made French top is still a beautiful work of art and the person who has the honor of owning and wearing one will proudly admit what it is if asked.

For the rest of us, we may need to stick to the ready made wig with the French Top or Part added and the consumer will know it as soon as they see it. You cannot believe how realistic the French Top and Part can be and with the they are not only lovely to look at but extremely comfortable on the scalp with the smooth silk like underlay which is some times finished with a quilted effect. Look for this in a top quality wig shop and note the fine workmanship and usually very good quality hair that is used for the wig. This is the ultimate for any wig wearer.