The eight to twelve thin, yellowish marginal spines are up to 10 millimeters long.

The terminal pseudocephalium is formed from dense, brownish wool and bristles.

Its pericarpel and flower tube are covered with brick-shaped scales and long, dark yellow hairs.

The first description as Pilocereus fulviceps was made in 1897 by Karl Moritz Schumann.

The specific epithet fulviceps is derived from the Latin words fulvus for 'yellowish brown' and -ceps for 'headed' and refers to the color of the cephalium.