Newbie Looking For Advice On Hair Replacement

[Jeeves]

Hi folks. New to the site and concept of hair replacement and could do with some answers to things I can't seem to get my head around. I'll number them for ease of reference should any of you have the time and inclination to reply. Thanks in advance.

1. I shave my head like many and would like to carry on shaving it but just have a partial on top. So I'd have a very short back and sides with a lot on top. Is this possible and do I need to remove the 'piece' every time I shave my head? I hear of guys keeping their system on for quite long periods and wonder how viable it is to keep taking it off and putting it back on with the gluing and taping? I shave my head twice a week.

2. One site I went to (supportive of DIY) wanted customers to send in a lock of hair for colour matching. How do I do this when I never let my hair grow more than a millimetre or two! I'm grey btw.

3. Re the DIY approach: who do I get to cut it? Can it be any stylist or does it have to be one that has experience with replacements?

Much appreciated guys. I'm 55 and have been reasonably happy being bald as I've always had a baby face but am losing this quality now! Seems an odd time to start all of this but there you go. I'm in the UK btw.

Jeeves

 

[Noah]

Hi Jeeves, welcome.

1. This style is possible, and I have seen a few examples of it recently which looked really good. You wouldn't need to take the system off to buzz your growing hair - just clip the system hair up out of the way and do what you normally do. To keep your scalp and system in good condition I would suggest taking it off at least once a fortnight. I do mine every week. It feels good to have the system clean and with a nice tight fresh bond.

2. Some of the Internet suppliers will sell or lend you a colour ring with all the different shades on it, and you can pick the one closest to yours. Actually with gray hair it's maybe not such a big issue, because natural gray hair has different tones on different parts of the head anyway.

3. I think it's best to use a stylist with some familiarity with replacements. Any stylist who has been through hairdressing school will have done a course on "postiche" - the industry term for wigs and hairpieces - so they should know the techniques, but obviously some will have paid more attention than others. You will likely be luckier at a hair salon geared towards women than at an old-fashioned man's barber.

Best of luck
Noah

 

[Jeeves]

Thanks Noah. I appreciate you taking the time as do all of the other people on this site who experience your support. Seemingly, reading other posts, you're always ready to offer advice to all which is no mean quality. Best.

 

[Jeeves]

Hi Jeeves, welcome.

1. This style is possible, and I have seen a few examples of it recently which looked really good. You wouldn't need to take the system off to buzz your growing hair - just clip the system hair up out of the way and do what you normally do. To keep your scalp and system in good condition I would suggest taking it off at least once a fortnight. I do mine every week. It feels good to have the system clean and with a nice tight fresh bond.

2. Some of the Internet suppliers will sell or lend you a colour ring with all the different shades on it, and you can pick the one closest to yours. Actually with gray hair it's maybe not such a big issue, because natural gray hair has different tones on different parts of the head anyway.

3. I think it's best to use a stylist with some familiarity with replacements. Any stylist who has been through hairdressing school will have done a course on "postiche" - the industry term for wigs and hairpieces - so they should know the techniques, but obviously some will have paid more attention than others. You will likely be luckier at a hair salon geared towards women than at an old-fashioned man's barber.

Best of luck
Noah

Noah. My first reply is below but I had a secondary thought and wondered if you had the answer? If I had a hairpiece made and didn't want to use it full time just yet (I'm a teacher and would never consider turning up in front of a class of kids with a replacement on!), BUT am forming a band and will be the front man and wish to use it for performances, what would be the best way to keep the piece on for the short term? I'm presuming tape but being new to the world of replacements, am unsure of the least aggressive way to secure it.

 

[Noah]

So you would be applying it on top of your natural (albeit thinning) hair? For short-term use like that, the best solution might be hairpiece clips around the sides and back, and some light tac tape at the hairline. I am assuming you have a bit of recession at the front, so you would be bonding the hairpiece hairline to a spot which is currently hair free. Walkers 3-mil tape is the best tape if you are going to expose the hairline.

Hairpiece clips are quite detectable if anyone runs their fingers into your hair, and if used continually they can cause traction alopecia, but if you are just using your piece for a few hours a week for performances I guess neither of those issues is a problem.

 

[grincher]

1. Personally, I reattach every 2-weeks to keep my scalp clean and the piece fresh. I wouldn't recommend going longer. You can lift the hair from the piece as you shave as I do.

2. You can ask for hair colour samples to be sent (usually there is a cost) or pick off a chart. Some people will colour the piece and their own hair at the same time as with stock units.

3. While anyone good with hair can cut in, its best with someone familiar in this line. Your supplier should have some salons, although it is a specialist task so you may need to travel.

I don't recommend clips for anything than short spells as it will stress your native hair and not be as secure as a bond from what I have seen and heard. They can be felt too. You can get short life (2-3 day) tape which you could apply on the day of performance and remove shortly after with a releaser.

 

[Jeeves]

Many thanks Grincher. I appreciate you time and insights.