Let me tell you my experience since I recently got into this world.
I did not do a whole lot of research which is so unlike me. Honestly, I saw these TikTok videos (yes I’m 35 years old and I watch TikTok!) of men getting hairpieces and it looked so uhhh what’s the word... modern? It did not look like what I think of when I envision a toupee, wig, hairpiece.
I immediately called the company that this certain guy was promoting to find someone local who supplied that brand and found one an hour away. I spent right at $1000 for everything which I will tell you right now is very high, butttttt honestly I don’t regret it because it got me into seeing the behind the scenes of what I was trying to learn to do myself. I honestly think it was worth it at first just to see it in real action. I have had my unit 2 months and although it did not start out smooth at all (bad first unit), I have learned so much from the members here (huge shout out to Noah) which has given me the confidence to do all the maintenance myself for the last month. I don’t know even with Noah and the forums help if I would have felt as confident if I had not seen my salon do it a few times first.
I can tell you now after only 2 months I am going to order my own unit next and have a remote cut in and save myself about $700 for literally the same thing I get locally.
I hope this somewhat helps. I just wanted to give you my perspective since I was in the exact same boat you are in now.
It was so overwhelming to me at first trying to learn everything and I still learn everyday something new.
Good luck with it all. It really is not as daunting as it may seem eight now.