wig v. toupée

Image courtesy of NerdNirvana.org A wig is a full head of synthetic or natural hair used as part of a costume, as a symbol of social status, to signify one’s office (as worn by judges and barristers in Commonwealth nations), or to hide baldness.

A toupée is a small hairpiece designed to conceal partial baldness. A wig completely covers one’s real hair, but a toupée wearer’s hair remains visible around the sides and back of the head. While toupées are often considered to be a male accessory, women experiencing hair loss may wear them as well.