Toupee or Not Toupee

A toupee is an artificial hair piece for men. Not all men wear toupees, however. There are many options to disguise hair loss including wigs and hair restoration methods. Most people don’t actually understand the difference between a wig, a hair piece, and a toupee. Although very similar, these disguises for baldness each have a purpose.

Wigs

Wigs have been hiding hair loss for centuries. Made of real or artificial hair, wigs cover the whole head and are taken off at night. They’re typically not worn in the shower or during intense physical activity. Wigs are commonly used by chemotherapy patients and by people who want a temporary wild, crazy hairstyle.

Hair pieces

While wigs are designed to cover your entire head, hair pieces have various coverage options. The style and coverage are customizable based on each individual person’s needs. Unlike wigs, hair pieces are more durable and can be worn throughout the night and while showering. Hair extensions and toupees are specific types of hair pieces.

Toupee

Toupees are a popular hair piece option to hide baldness on top of the head. They’re especially common with men hiding male pattern baldness. One of the benefits of wearing a toupee is that they’re designed for a natural look. A special double-sided tape or toupee glue discreetly holds the hair piece in place. The cost of your toupee depends on the quality. The price ranges from around $100 to $1,000. In addition to the hair piece itself, you will also have to consider maintenance costs and the price of necessary accessories, like a wig stand. If you’re worried about what other people will think, remember that hair loss is really common. Famous faces who are rumored to wear hair pieces include President Donald Trump, Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck and Chuck Norris.

Maintenance

Stylists will usually shave any remaining hair on your scalp before attaching the hair piece. Experts recommend buying two hair pieces so that you can switch off wearing one and maintaining the other. You don’t have to wash your hair piece every time you wear it, every 10 to 15 wearings is frequent enough. Use a soft brush to thoroughly work the shampoo through the hair strands.

To keep your hair piece looking natural and soft, condition it regularly. If you have a synthetic hair piece, make sure to get shampoo specially designed to protect those fibers. If you have a hair piece made with human hair, it tends to be more fragile but will look more natural.

Hair restoration

If all of this sounds like a lot of work, there’s another option. Surgical hair restoration transplants existing hair follicles for a natural-looking solution to hair loss. With hair restoration, you’re growing your own new hair. You can wash it, workout in it and sleep on it like normal. While the results are great, hair transplants can be expensive. If you’re not sure how to handle your thinning hair, consult with a hair restoration specialist and see what works best for you.