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HISTORY

Historically, bald men and women, and even those who are not bald, have been wearing Hairpieces (also known as; toupees and wigs) for hundreds of years. In the past, wearing a Hairpiece was considered to be very fashionable, however, today they are worn to enhance ones appearance by covering baldness or for other cosmetic or medical reasons. In the past, Women's and Men's Hairpieces were very much like the wigs and Hairpieces of today; some even contained long hair styled with curls and some wore a fashionable ponytail.

Wigs and Hairpieces have changed very little over the years, however, what has changed drastically is the reasons for wearing them. Hundreds of years ago, men wore a Hairpiece like men wear a hat today. Men's Hairpieces, in the old days, were really wigs. They were made to cover the entire head including the sides and rear areas. Naturally, they were very hot and uncomfortable -- just like most hats are today. Most men never wore their Hairpiece while at home, customarily they only wore them in public places, at work, or during special occasions.

U.S. wig and Hairpiece merchants of the past, who created Men's Hairpieces, called themselves wig makers; today, they call themselves hair technicians. Unlike the wig makers of the past, todays hair technicians don't create Men's Hairpieces because they don't know how and they can purchase them for far less than they could create them. The reason for this is directly related to current world economics -- forigen country labor is much less than in the United States of America.

RETAIL COST FOR A CUSTOM MEN'S HAIRIECE
Bald and balding men spend millions annually on custom toupees, front partial's, and rear-crown filler Men's Hairpieces. Quality custom Men's Hairpieces can cost up to $4,000 each and that does not include maintenance charges. A semi-permanently attached Hairpiece can cost from $600 to $1,500 annually for maintenance charges on a custom Men's Hairpiece.

The materials (human hair and a ready-made Hairpiece foundation) needed to create a custom Men's Hairpiece (here in the USA) cost less than $100. The hair needed for creating a full-size Men's Hairpiece only cost around $80 and a foundation cost less then $15 each. With a MHRW Hairpiece Kit creating a custom Men's Hairpiece is possible for under $100 each and several hours of your spare time. Plus, you can also save plenty more (money) by doing the regular maintenance on your Hairpiece as well.

HAIR
Today human-hair Hairpieces are more popular than synthetic-hair Hairpieces. Unlike Hairpieces in the old days, today's custom Hairpieces can be created with either synthetic or human hair, or both. Synthetic gray hair is commonly used to create custom Hairpieces for older men. Most custom Men's Hairpieces are created with color-matched human or synthetic hair to insure that the hair color matches closely with the customers hair. Naturally, the reason for this is to create natural-looking Hairpiece that color-matches with the customers hair.

The hair currently being used to create most custom Men's Hairpieces is processed Asian human hair. Asian hair is naturally very dark (black) in color. To change the hair color it is boiled to remove the color. After the hair is colorless, it is recolored to match most natural human hair colors from blond to dark brown hair colors. To make the hair look fresh and natural appearing again -- a hair preservative is applied, however, processed hair is very susceptible to fading. The truth is: Each time processed hair is shampooed -- it fades minutely and in time it will require recoloring once again. When necessary new hair can be applied to the Hairpiece to freshen up its appearance as well.

Shampooing a Hairpiece should be done only when it is truly necessary. Hair salons and clubs readily encourage their customers to shampoo their Hairpiece frequently. The reason for this is obvious, they are able to sell new Hairpieces to customers, every twelve months or sooner, more often.

FOUNDATION MATERIALS
The original foundation materials once used for creating Men's Hairpieces were coarse, flat, and much less durable than the lightweight materials now used for creating MEN'S HAIRPIECES. To create a perfect-fitting contoured Hairpiece foundation required several hours of time and excellent sewing skills as well. Today, most custom MEN'S HAIRPIECES are created with a synthetic material that is easily pre-shaped to fit the contour of anyone's head.

COLOR-MATCHING

HAIR SUPPLY FOR A CUSTOM MEN'S HAIRPIECE
Color-matched synthetic or human hair, or both may be used to create a custom Men's Hairpiece. In order for a manufacturer to create a custom Hairpiece that will match a customers hair, he will need a sample of the customers hair. The manufacturer creates the hair-supply, needed to create the Hairpiece, by simply blending several colors of hair together until the hair-supply matches perfectly with the provided hair-sample.

MEN'S HAIRIECE TEMPLATE
In order to create a custom Men's Hairpiece:

1. The technician creates a template of the bald area where the Hairpiece must fit.

2. After the template is created: It is sent offshore to a manufacturer who creates the Hairpiece as specified.

3. When the technician receives the Hairpiece: They simply cut and style it to bend with the customers hair.

Naturally, only licensed barbers and cosmetologists (technicians) are permitted to work on customers in this particular field. As a result, competition is limited, however, the cost of a custom Men's Hairpiece is not.

MEN'S HAIRIECE MANUFACTURERS
After receiving an order (along with special instructions and a hair-sample) for a custom Men's Hairpiece:

1. The manufacturer creates a plaster mold from the Hairpiece template.

2. The plaster mold is then used to create the custom Hairpiece foundation for the Hairpiece that was ordered.

3. Color-matched hair is used to create the Hairpiece.

Naturally, the template, instructions, and hair-color sample are return along with each completed Hairpiece in order that the hair salon can identify his customers Hairpiece.

PREPARING A MEN'S HAIRIECE FOR WEARING
Preparing a new Hairpiece for wearing routinely requires thinning of the hair on the Hairpiece in order to make it blend with the customers hair. Thinning of the hair is commonly done using a special scissors called the thinning scissors. This type of scissors has 20 or more cutting-teeth that are spaced approximately an eight inch apart along each of its two blades. Each time the scissors is closed together hair is severed in small groups containing several hairs. Naturally, removing hair with a thinning scissors is easy, however, once removed from the Hairpiece the hair does not grow back like the hair growing from an individuals head.

This is the normal procedure with most hair salons and clubs, however, it is not the best way to obtain a natural-looking, undetectable Hairpiece. It is best when the Hairpiece is created with the proper hair density when originally created.

ATTACHMENT METHODS
Men's Hairpieces may be secured for wearing using a temporary method or semi-permanent extended wear bonding attachment method. The temporary method requires bonding the Hairpiece to your scalp using toupee tape or to your hair using toupee clips or snaps. The extended wear bonding attachment method requires securing the Hairpiece to your hair along the bald hairline.

TEMPORARY ATTACHMENT METHODS
Toupee Tape is the most popular method of securing a Men's Hairpiece. It's fast, convenient, comfortable, and easy to use:

1. You simply remove the protection paper from one side of the two-sided sticky tape and secure it to the existing tape-tab areas on the underside edge of your Hairpiece.

2. Remove the remaining protection paper, then position and secured the Hairpiece to your scalp by simply pressing down firmly at the tape-tab areas.

Toupee Clips and Snaps are two very popular devices that may be used for securing a Men's Hairpiece. However, they are less comfortable than the toupee tape and adhesive methods. Toupee clips or snaps are sewn along the underside edge of the Hairpiece at the tape-tab areas or where hair exist in order that they may be firmly secured to hair. To secure and remove Hairpiece you simply lift the edge of Hairpiece and either close or open each clip or snap to secure or remove the Hairpiece.

Liquid Adhesive is another popular attachment method.

To securing your Hairpiece for wearing:

1. Simply brush liquid adhesive along the underside edge of the Hairpiece foundation (at tape-tab areas only).

2. Position Hairpiece as desired.

3. Press (at tape-tab areas) and hold Hairpiece in place for 1 or 2 minutes (until adhesive bonds firmly to scalp)

To remove Hairpiece:

1. Simply brush adhesive solvent where adhesive is applied.

2. Wait several seconds (until adhesive softens) and remove Hairpiece.

SEMI-PERMANENT METHOD
Semi-permanent Method of attaching a Men's Hairpiece is now very popular thanks to calculating Hair Salon's and Hair Club's. They encourage customers to use this attachment method vigorously compared to using a less expensive, less damaging temporary Hairpiece attachment method. For retailers the semi-permanent attachment method is very positive, however, for customers it's mostly negative -- judge for yourself:

A. The Customer:

1. Customer's are forced to wear their Hairpiece 24 hours a day, without the option of removing it -- when desired. (That means you must wear your Hairpiece while sleeping, during showers, and while swimming or enjoying your favorite sports.)

2. Customer's must have the Hairpiece removed, repaired (when necessary), and reattached every 4 or 5 weeks. (The reason for this is because the Hairpiece is secured to your hair; and as your hair continues growing -- the inevitable happens your Hairpiece becomes looser and looser.)

Caution: The thread/wax-glue preparation, used to secure the Hairpiece to your hair, greatly accelerates hair loss along the balding hairline where the Hairpiece is attached.

B. The Retailer:

1. Wearing a Hairpiece while sleeping causes enhanced hair damage of which greatly diminishes its longevity compared to the temporary attachment methods.

2. Frequent shampooing of a Hairpiece quickly diminishes its longevity. (It causes human hair too fade and makes synthetic hair brittle, matted, and unmanageable.)

3. Retailers charge from $55 to $125 for regular maintenance (repairing, cleaning, and refitting every 4 or 5 weeks) on a custom Men's Hairpiece.

Semi-permanent method of attaching a Men's Hairpiece:

1. A plastic thread is weaved into your hair -- along your bald hairline.

2. A special wax-glue is applied to the hair and thread.

3. The Hairpiece is positioned on to your head.

4. The Hairpiece is sewn to the thread/wax-glue preparation to secure it in place.

CUTTING AND STYLING Men's Hairpieces
Cutting and styling a Men's Hairpiece is not a major problem for hair salon technicians, however, they are licensed barbers or beauticians. Keep in mind that most barbers are only trained to cut hair, and that beauticians are only trained to cut and style hair. Neither are trained how to design and create custom Men's Hairpieces. When become technicians at a hair salon, they must learn everything about designing, fitting, cutting and styling, and even how to add hair to a Men's Hairpiece when necessary.

HAIRPIECE MAINTENANCE
In order to keep your Hairpiece looking natural periodic maintenance will be required. How often the maintenance is required will be based upon how often the Hairpiece is worn and the environment in which it is worn. When a Hairpiece is semi-permanently attached it is a must to have it serviced every 4 to 5 weeks for both technical and personal hygienic reasons. When secured for wearing on a daily basis; maintenance must be based upon how often worn; its exposure to the elements; and how well it is cared for. Basic Hairpiece maintenance requires regular hair shampooing and conditioning. Since hair is the essence of a natural-looking Hairpiece, it must be cared better than most people maintain their own hair. Excessive shampooing of a Hairpiece causes the hair to fade and break. To remedy this problem it is recommended that you only shampooing a Hairpiece when necessary. Adding new hair to a Hairpiece may be necessary to restore its natural appearance.

Routine maintenance on a semi-permanently attached custom Men's Hairpiece can cost from $55 to $125 each time it is serviced at a hair salon or club. Most hair-salons and clubs, in the United States and Canada, commonly charge $25 or more an hour for Hairpiece maintenance. Some Men's hair salons and clubs offer Hairpiece maintenance contracts to customers ranging in price from $55 to $100 monthly. These contracts are usually valid for one year and may include a reduced retail price of a new custom Men's Hairpiece.

CUSTOM MEN'S HAIRPIECES
It is customary for balding men not to have identical size heads and hair patterns nor do they all experience similar male baldness patterns. Therefore, in order to obtain a Hairpiece that will fit and look natural, most choose a custom-made Hairpiece. Custom Men's Hairpieces are designed to fit perfectly. The base is designed to contour and fit the bald area perfectly. The hair must used to create the Hairpiece is color-match with hair your provided hair sample. The hair shape (straight, wavy, curly, or kinky) can be made to matched with your own hair using a permanent hair treatment or by regular wet-set hairstyling, if desired.

There are two types of custom MEN'S HAIRPIECES:

Full-size custom Men's Hairpieces are designed to fit the entire top crown area (from front-to-rear and side-to-side) of the head.

Partial custom Men's Hairpieces are designed to fit partial bald areas of the crown. Some are made to fit only the front hairline area of the head; while others are made to fit just the rear-crown (bald-spot) area of the head.

STOCK MEN'S HAIRPIECES
The alternatives to purchasing a custom Men's Hairpiece, is buying a stock Men's Hairpiece. Stock Men's Hairpieces are not created like a custom Hairpiece. They are produced (manufactured) with color-coded hair and must be altered to fit the customers bald area. It is common for stock Hairpieces to be created on an extra large Hairpiece foundations in order that the Hairpiece can be reduced in size to fit the customers bald area. Naturally, the contour of the Hairpiece will not be exact and altering the Hairpiece to fit may be necessary. Stock Hairpieces are available in a small, medium, or large sizes in order to accommodate everyone.

RETAIL CUSTOM MEN'S HAIRPIECES
Full-size custom Men's Hairpieces vary in price from $1,000 to over $5,000 per Hairpiece. Custom Men's Hairpieces also vary in price from one hair-salon to the next. What is charged for a custom Hairpiece is usually based upon the quality of the Hairpieces being sold and the credibility or reputation of the salon. As the saying go's "You only get what you pay for!" However, in this business "What you pay for is not always what you get!"

Here is an excerpt from a recent Farrell Hair Replacement e-mail promotion :

WHOLESALE & RETAIL COST FOR MEN'S HAIRPIECES
The wholesale cost for a stock or custom Men's Hairpiece is much less the retail price that Hair Salon's and Hair Club's charge for their Hairpieces. Hair Salon's and Hair Club's pay from $49 to $180 for stock and custom MEN'S HAIRPIECES, however, these Hairpieces are not manufactured here in America. Most of them are made off-shore in countries where hourly labor rates are from 10¢ to 50¢ an hour. As a standard in the marketplace, it is common knowledge that a mark-up of 100% is normal, however, Hair Salon's and Hair Club's enjoy mark-ups as high as 5000%. Most claim that advertising, service, and regular operating cost are very high and that they must mark-up their products to cover them.

PRODUCT (MEN'S HAIRPIECES) DURABILITY
Most MEN'S HAIRPIECES are basically identical when it comes to durability. However, how long a Hairpiece lasts is basically related to the method of which it is secured for wearing.

Semi-permanently attached Hairpieces usually last around 12 months. Temporary attached Hairpieces can last for several years -- depending upon how well they are maintained. Naturally, most hair salon's or club's passionately recommend the semi-permanent Hairpiece attachment method for the obvious reason: Customers must ware their Hairpiece 24 hours a day. That means they are forced to sleep, bathe, exercise, and work while wearing their Hairpiece. Naturally, this causes the Hairpiece to deteriorate very rapidly and customers are forced to purchase a new one around every 12 months!

RETAILER PROCESSING
Once the retailer receives a new custom-made Hairpiece, a qualified technician must prepare it for attachment. Next, the Hairpiece is attached and then it must be cut and styled to blend naturally with the customers hair. This is where most retailers tend to miss the mark. The reason for this is because not all technicians (like all barbers) are not equal at cutting and styling a custom Men's Hairpiece. Another big problem is customers do not know how to properly maintenance their Hairpiece between visits to the Hair Salon or Hair Club from which they purchased their Hairpiece. Hair Salons and Hair Clubs as a rule do not provide training or Hairpiece maintenance advice to customers. Their standard advice is: "Treat your Hairpiece like you would your own hair and come in for regular maintenance every 4 or 5 weeks!"

To find a Men's Hair Salon or Hair Club in your area, check the yellow pages (in large to medium size cities).