A monofilament top is a wig cap construction where individual hairs are hand-tied to a sheer, skin-toned mesh panel at the crown, creating the appearance that each hair grows directly from the scalp.
The monofilament top works because the mesh is thin enough to mimic skin tone beneath it, while the hand-tied knots allow each hair strand to move in multiple directions rather than lying flat in one pattern. This makes the part line look natural from close range. The monofilament panel typically covers the crown and part area only, with the rest of the cap built from less expensive wefted construction to manage cost.
- Monofilament top panels are usually 3–5 inches in diameter, covering the crown and part area.
- Hand-tied knots on a monofilament top allow 360-degree hair movement, unlike sewn wefts.
- Monofilament tops are available in full-mono (entire cap), top-only, or lace-front-plus-mono combinations.
- The monofilament mesh is typically made from nylon or polyester and is nearly transparent against most skin tones.
- Wigs with a monofilament top generally weigh more and cost more than comparable wefted caps.