Ha, that's funny. I was thinking of replying to your post yesterday, but then I thought you seemed to have made up your mind that a "wig" would not be for you. I also got the impression from your repeated use of the term "wig" that you were mocking guys who resort to prosthetic hair. Most of us prefer "hair system" or "hair piece".
But since you ask for my perspective on your concerns, here goes:
'the constant maintenance' - well, I guess that's true. I probably spend 1 hour 20 minutes or so a week taking mine off, cleaning it, and putting a fresh one on. I think that is a reasonable investment of time for what I get out of it. On top of that, I check the hairline every morning and if I am going out in the evening, or if I find myself alone in the restroom at work at lunchtime (say 5 minutes a week in total). Also, there is some time spent ordering new hair systems and glue etc - maybe 45 minutes every 3 or 4 months.
'the method of gluing it to the scalp' - Some new guys worry about this, but I think it is a red herring. Provided you use the water-based glues that I use, and alcohol to desolve them, you should have no problem. They are no harsher on your scalp than hairgel, and people have been using these glues for decades without a problem. This comment doesn't apply to the acrylic hard bond that Hair Club-type places use. I would be a bit concerned about using these over the long term, although I emphasise I am no medic.
'I lead an active lifestyle, and I sweat a lot, both during a workout and during the summer. Under these circumstances, I fear that the adhesive would loosen' - I can only give you my own experience on this. I don't spend a lot of time in the gym, but I am a keen competition cyclist - road racing and mountain biking - and I live in a part of the world that is very humid for part of the year. It is a seriously sweaty business. I always make sure I have a fresh attachment before events, but I have never had an issue with my unit coming loose. It actually surprises me that it isn't a problem, but there it is. The glues which are available nowadays for hairpieces are excellent. The sweat goes up through the lace, which is a light airy mesh, and the glue stays where it is. It is almost certainly true that the glue becomes less strong. For obvious reasons I have never tried tugging on my unit immediately after a race when I am hot and sweaty, but I have pulled it off in the privacy of my bathroom during a hot shower. It isn't so weak that it just lifts off, but equally you wouldn't want someone to give your hair a hard tug in that situation. But once you cool down it returns to full strength. I guess most wearers in that situation have a cap with them for after sweaty situations like that.
'not to mention the itching and irritation on a bare scalp' - I don't really suffer from that. The lace is the same consistency as pantyhose but without the stretch, so it is not irritating. I think most cases of itch and irritation are either (1) people keeping the unit on too long a la Hair Club and sacrificing their scalp hygiene, or (2) an allergic reaction to a particular adhesive, for which the remedy is use a different adhesive.
'Also, I cannot imagine being with a woman and having to announce to her that I am wearing a wig. I've heard that they are detectable enough by touch that a man must tell their woman that they are wearing a wig' - No, that is not true. There are definitely men's hair pieces available today which can (with a bit of care, it must be said) be made undetectable to dates. I have physical relationships for 3 or 4 months during which I haven't disclosed about my hair. This is really the game-changing difference between the toupees of the 1970's and a state-of-the-art modern hair system. The 70's toupee required a suspension of disbelief by the wearer and the people around him - everyone could really tell he was wearing, but there was a common understanding that no one would mention it. Nowadays the materials used to make hairpieces, the manufacturing techniques, and the glues to hold them have changed all that, and a wearer can genuinely keep his wearing to himself, which makes it doable for a younger guy in the dating market, as many of us are.
That said, however undetectable they are, if you are to live a normal life you will one day have to fess up to the one you love, so if that is a deal breaker for you it is better that you don't go down this path. I have done the big reveal a few times now, and I can only tell you that it is nowhere near as big a deal as you imagine beforehand.
Hope this helped.
Noah
