Modern Hair Systems
These days hair replacement systems go by many names. Some people call them hairpieces, others prefer hair systems or hair replacement systems. And of course, we can't forget about the old fan favorites: wig, toupee, and rug. The non-surgical hair replacement industry is one dominated by catchy marketing and fancy names meant only to disguise the fact that what they're really selling are the same cosmetic hairpieces men and women have been wearing for ages.
Putting all those silly names to the side for a moment, the question remains: are the hair replacement systems being made today really any different from the shaggy toupees your grandfather was so fond of wearing? The quick answer is yes. A specific explanation of what actually makes them better is a bit more complicated. The advancements over the years have been subtle. But in hair replacement, it's the subtleties that make all the difference.
Anatomy of a Hair System
There are 3 main parts that make up a hair system. First is the type of base material used, second is ventilation (how the hair is attached), and the third part is the hair itself. All are equally important and -- if not chosen and manufactured properly -- could lead to dire consequences in regards to appearance.
Materials
Hair system base materials are broken up into 2 categories: lace or polyurethane. Each material typically comes in a variety of thickness and coarseness levels. The thinner the material, the more delicate your hair system will be. But to get the most natural look possible, you will want to choose a thinner material.
Ventilation
Ventilation refers to how the hair is tied or otherwise attached to the base of your hair system. The method of ventilation you choose will depend mostly on the type of material used. However, the most popular is knots. In this intricate process, each individual hair is tied to the base using either single, double or multi-strand knots. Again, the smaller the knot is, the more natural it will look, but the trade-off is durability.
Another popular technique being used today is called "bleaching knots," which means that after the hair has been tied and secured to the base, the knots are all put through a delicate bleaching process to remove all color pigments. This helps reduce the "doll hair" look and makes the hair look as though it's growing right from your scalp.
The Hair
The third and final part of any hair replacement system is the hair itself. Because it's the most visible, the hair is thought by many professionals to be the most important part of any hair system. Your choices here also fall into 2 main categories: real human hair or artificial synthetic hair.
Both types of hair have advantages and benefits. Synthetic doesn't do very well under extreme heat but will retain color much better than human hair. However, many hair wearers believe there to be no substitute for real human hair. It has been said that the way light reflects off synthetic hair "just doesn't look right." But if you have a high grey percentage in your hair, synthetic is ideal.
No matter what you call them, the fact remains that hair replacement systems have come a long way in recent years. The basic parts are still the same as they've always been, but your options have expanded. To get the very best results possible, it comes down to your own choices and how well you educate yourself.