Wig Making: Frequently Asked Questions

Over the year's we have frequently been asked the following questions :

There are several reasons why creating your own custom Men's Hairpiece or Wig is better than purchasing a retail one, however, please continue reading for our reply to this question....

Men's Hairpiece and Wig Designing

Retail Men's Hairpieces or Wigs
The foundations used to create most retail Men's Hairpieces and Wigs are not normally designed to fit the customers bald pattern area. The Men's Hairpieces or Wigs are normally created using a small, medium, or large foundation. In order for the foundation to fit the customer many time the foundation must be made smaller when it does not fit well. This requires cutting the foundation along the outer edge to reduce the Hairpiece or Wigs size so it will fit the customers bald area.

It is obvious that most salon owners in the retail hair replacement business are honest, however, I have personally witnessed salon owners who regularly substitute stock pieces in place of custom pieces, while charging for a custom Men's Hairpiece or Wig.

Naturally, by altering a stock Hairpiece or Wig slightly to resemble the customer's original custom made piece, the salon owner is able to mis-represented the product, committed fraud, and reap huge profits from his misrepresentation.

Most unwitting clients never realize that the retailer made the switch on them and they end up paying big-bucks for what is really an expensive stock Hairpiece or Wig worth a mere fraction of the cost for a custom Hairpiece or Wig.

Hand Made Men's Hairpieces or Wigs
When creating your own custom Men's Hairpiece or Wig you are instructed in the MHRW Training Video how to design a perfect fitting custom Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig foundation. This is easily done by placing a ready made pre-shaped Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig foundation over the bald area of your head and drawing an outline of your desired custom Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig on to the foundation.

You are also instructed to draw an outline of your desired part and whorl in order to create a Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig with your desired hairstyle.

In order to design a perfect front hairline on your Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig, you are instructed to use an "A" or "AA" curve front contour toupee tape strip as the front hairline template. This is easily done by placing the contour strip on your forehead where desired, to create a perfectly position front hairline on the Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig being created, and drawing an outline along the front edge. Now, you simply place the foundation over your head and trace the outline, on your forehead, to the Hairpiece or Wig foundation.

Naturally, the front hairline process is done first and then to finish designing your desired Hairpiece or Wig you outline the sides and rear crown area last to complete the designing process.

"As you will clearly see, when you follow the instructions in the MHRW Hairpiece Training Video you are definitely creating a custom Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig."

Hair Used for Creating Men's Hairpieces or Wigs

RETAIL Men's Hairpieces or Wigs
Retail Men's Hairpieces and Wigs are both available with synthetic or human hair. There is very little difference in appearance between synthetic hair and human hair when it is new, however, when they age it becomes very apparent which is synthetic hair and with is human hair. The synthetic hair becomes stiff and brittle while the human hair fades and turns reddish in color.

It is easy to test what type of hair is present in a retail Hairpiece or Wig. You simply take a hair from your Hairpiece or Wig and place it in any type of fire (a match works fine). You can easily smell the difference between plastic hair and human hair.

While this works to check the difference between synthetic hair and human hair, there is no test for checking which type of human hair was used to create a retail Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig. There are two types of hair used for creating retail Hairpieces and most are made with Asian hair. The only way to eventually know which type of hair a retail Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig contains is to keep track of how quickly the hair fades or discolors. Asian hair is boiled in a chemical until all original hair color is removed and then it is dyed with an inexpensive dye that quickly fades in color. This is not economically fare to retail customers, however, it is very good for retail hair salons and clubs.

If you have already purchased a retail Men's Hairpiece or Wig you are aware that your Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig faded in color within 3 to 6 months with regular wearing and maintenance (shampooing). This is exactly the desired situation at most hair salons and clubs. The reason why is obvious, this forces customer's to purchase new Hairpieces or Lace Front Wig more often. Now you know the truth why hair salons and clubs regularly recommend ordering Men's Hairpieces or Wigs made with Asian hair.

You may find that most hair salons and clubs will deny the above comment, however, when you compare the cost difference between Asian hair and European Italian hair you will find that the cost for European Italian human hair is very little. Actually, the only real difference between Hairpieces or Lace Front Wigs is the hair they are made with; coincidentally, the amount of time required to create them with Asian human hair or European Italian human hair is identical.

European Italian human hair is a much higher quality hair that retains its color much longer compared to Asian hair. Naturally, a Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig made with European Italian human hair will reduce the number of Hairpieces or Wigs that are necessary annually. Although European Italian human hair is a little more expensive than Asian hair it inevitably does pay to purchase Hairpieces or Lace Front Wigs made with European Italian hair.

MHRW Men's Hairpieces or Wigs
When creating a Men's Hairpiece or Wig you are required to complete a Hair Supply Order Form (included with each MHRW Hairpiece Kit) and return (self addressed stamped envelope included) it with a sample of your desired hair before you begin learning how to ventilate hair. You have the option of order your MHRW Hairpiece Kit with synthetic hair, Asian hair, or European (Italian) hair. MHRW in turn mails your provided hair sample to a expert hair blender to order you a perfect color match and fashioned custom hair supply will be returned to you within 10 working days - so you can begin making your custom Hairpiece or Wig when received.

In order to satisfy our customer's; we recommend that they monitor how long it takes for their human hair to fade and become reddish (oxidizes). We want our customers to be satisfied and to continue ordering supplies for making and wearing the Hairpieces or Lace Front Wigs created. This can only be achieved by being perfectly honest with all customers and this is our long term objective... too satisfy everyone - not just a few!

"Naturally, the value of a retail Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig is determined by how the foundation is designed and by the hair used to create a Hairpiece or Wig. You get what you order at MHRW.com!"

Color Matched Hair for Creating Hairpieces or Wigs

RETAIL Men's Hairpieces or Wigs
Most retail Hair Salons and Clubs take a sample of the customers hair for color matching with the hair that is used for creating custom Men's Hairpieces and Wigs. However, some use color ring hair switches to match up the hair supply to be used for creating Hairpieces and Lace Front Wigs. Most are made offshore in Asian countries.

MHRW Men's Hairpieces or Women's Wigs
When creating custom Men's Hairpieces or Wigs it is of the utmost importance to use only color matched hair in order to achieve a perfect hair color match. Using color ring hair switches to match up the hair supply to be used for creating Hairpieces and Lace Front Wigs may not provide a perfect hair color match.

There are many customers who have complained to MHRW that the retail Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig that they had purchased from a retail hair salon or club do not match their hair color exactly and in a short time did not match at all do to fading.

"It's of the utmost importance that you use only color fast, high quality human hair when creating your custom Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig!"

Hair Density and Hairstyle

RETAIL Men's Hairpieces or Wigs
Most retail Men's Hairpieces and Wigs are commonly made with an excess amount of hair. The reason for this is to allow technicians to thin out the hair to match with the customers hair density. The Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig is then combed and styled (if necessary) to match with the customers hairstyle.

Often technicians are not well trained or they are just not very skilled at cutting in a retail Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig. Unfortunately, many technicians destroy the natural desired appearance of a retail Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig while cutting them in.

The main reason for not being able to cut-in a Hairpiece or Wig so it blends perfectly with a customers hair is because the only tool available for thinning out the hair is a thinning scissors. They have a 3-inch long set of cutting teeth (approximately 3/32" each in length and concurrently spaced) that are inserted into the hair for thinning. Once the hair is thinned out many short hair remain and they are usually very visible along the front hairline and part areas. This is a dead giveaway that you are wearing a Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig.

Naturally, once a Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig has been cut-in the hair will not grow back and therefore additional hair must be ventilated to the Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig revitalize the Hairpiece and satisfy the customer. Unfortunately, not many technicians can or are willing to continue trying to satisfy their customers. Instead customers are blown off with professional excuses or are told to make another appointment for additional work on their Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig.

Most customers give in and accept their poorly cut-in Hairpiece or Wig and eventually do not order a second Hairpiece or Wig.

MHRW Men's Hairpieces or Wigs
Hairpieces and Lace Front Wigs are simply hair tied to a Hairpiece or Wig foundation. In order to create natural looking, undetectable Men's Hairpieces or Wigs to look natural and blend perfectly with your own hair you must control the hair density and hairstyle while creating your Hairpiece or Wig.

Controlling the hair density is done by tying just 1-hair at a time along the front hairline and part areas; and by tying no more than 3 hairs-at-a-time outside these areas; and by spacing the hairs tied either closer together or further apart.

Controlling the hairstyle is easily done by picking your desired hairstyle from the MHRW Hairpiece Training Manual and tying the hair in the recommended direction shown in the illustrations. In order to control the hair direction you simply rotate the MHRW Wig Making Head Block to allow hairs to be tied in the required direction to conform with the hairstyle you have chosen.

"Both controlling the number of hairs and spacing each hair while tying them to the foundation allows anyone to create a natural looking, undetectable custom Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig."

Creating Tape Tab System for Your Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig

RETAIL Men's Hairpieces or Women's Lace Front Wigs
Retail Hairpieces and Lace Front Wigs are normally created with a tape tab system or they are left natural depending upon which attachment method is to be used for securing a Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig for wearing. Polyurethane tape tab systems are normally heat bonded to the underside edge of Hairpieces and Lace Front Wigs to allow for toupee tape bonding, however, bonding adhesives and extended wear adhesive systems may also be used for bonding Hairpieces and Lace Front Wigs for wearing. Silicon bonding adhesive is normally used for securing lace net front Hairpieces and Lace Front Wigs.

MHRW Men's Hairpieces or Wigs
When creating a custom MHRW Hairpiece or Wig creating the tape tab system is done by simply brushing our very amazing EasyTAB Tape Tab Compound to the underside edge of the Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig foundation.

When designing a Hairpiece or Wig foundation that is to be secured for wearing using Toupee Tape:

1. Designing the foundation to conform within the bald area of the scalp is recommended.

When designing a Hairpiece foundation that is to be secured for wearing using Extended Wear Bonding Adhesive the following procedure is required:

1. Designing the foundation to extend exactly a 1/2" past the sides and rear hairline areas is required.
2. Using the Extended Wear System requires applying a 1/2" Track Tape along the Hairpiece or Wig edge.
3. The 1/2" hair area, just past the hairline areas, must be cut to 1/8" long.
4. A Front Contour Toupee Strip is then applied to the front hairline area on the Hairpiece or Wig.
5. The Hairpiece or Wig is then positioned and secured to your scalp and then it is flipped forward over your face.
6. The Track Tape shield is removed and Bonding Adhesive is then applied to the Track Tape.
7. Once adhesive is applied; roll the Hairpiece slowly back over the hair while securing to 1/8" long hair.
8. Press firmly holding Hairpiece in place for 2 minutes to allow adhesive to bond to hair.

Cutting and Styling Hairpieces or Lace Front Wigs

RETAIL Men's Hairpieces or Wigs
Most technicians at Wig Salons or Hair Clubs are licensed barbers or cosmetologist, however, non are originally trained how to cut and style Men's Hairpieces and Wigs. In order for them to learn this craft they must attend a private school of which only provide training for learning how to cut, style, and repair Hairpieces and Wigs. Many technicians are not required to attend a school to obtain a job at a Wig Salon or Hair Club. The reason for this is because of high cost required for attendance. There are several schools in the United States of America that provide training, however, they charge a training fee ranging from $1,500.00 to $5,000.00 per student. The training fee does not include other expenses that may be incurred (lodging, food, transportation, etc.) while attending one of these schools.

Cutting and styling a Hairpiece or Wig to blend perfectly with each client is a very meticulous task, especially when there is such a vast variety of different hair colors, hair styles, and hair shapes for technicians to contend with among their daily customers.

This is where a technician can perfect a Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig to look natural or they can destroy it and make it obvious that you are wearing a hair system.

MHRW Men's Hairpieces or Women's Wigs
Once you have created your own custom (designed foundation), custom (color matched hair), custom (controlled hair density), custom (controlled hair style), custom (tape tab attachment system) Men's Hairpiece and Women's Wig... cutting in the Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig you've created is your last task.

In order to cut-in the Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig you created does not require attending one of the schools mentioned above. If fact, you have several options to choose from that will allow you to control the outcome of cutting in your Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig.

Option 1.
You can try cutting in your Hairpiece or Wig yourself, that's if you think you are up to the task.

Although cutting in a Hairpiece or Wig only requires cutting the hair on top of your head (that's your Hairpiece or Wig) we recommend choosing Option 2. or Option 3. for cutting in your Hairpiece... unless you have some skills at cutting hair.

Option 2.
You can use a Flowbee® Hair Cutting System to cut-in your Hairpiece or Wig.

The Flowbee® Hair cutting System makes cutting in a Hairpiece or Wig extremely easy. You simply attach the Flowbee® to your vacuum cleaner and cut-in your Hairpiece or Wig. You cannot make a mistake and it only takes a few minutes! Just make sure you choose a plastic cutting spacer that does not allow you to cut the hair too short.

Option 3.
You can arrange an appointment with a barber or hairstylist to have you Hairpiece or Wig cut-in.

"Should you decide on Option 3. do not make the mistake of choosing a place that also sells Hairpieces or Wigs. In most cases they are extremely jealous of those who create their own Hairpieces or Wigs and they have been known to purposely destroy Hairpieces or Wigs by doing a poor job of cutting them in."

Conclusion

If you are already wearing a retail Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig, I am sure you can relate to the information above. Also, I am sure that you have found it impossible to find a technician who can really satisfy your needs. You would think that after paying thousands for a Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig that you would be guaranteed of receiving a natural looking, undetectable Hairpiece or Lace Front Wig. I know! That has not happened and you are totally discussed and tired of being ripped off from these unprofessional Hair Salons and Clubs.

Please be assured that I did not ordinally get involved with creating Hairpieces because I desired being in this business. Originally, I just wanted to learn how to do the maintenance on my own Hairpiece because I was dissatisfied with the maintenance services provided at my local Wig Salon and I certainly did not like the way I was treated either. What really ticked me off was what I overheard a technician saying to a fellow technician when one of their customers entered their Salon.

This is what I heard :
"Here come's another one of my robots!"

Well, I don't know about you, but I really take offense at being considered a robot, and I certainly don't consider any of my customers to be robots!

We truly have simplified how custom Men's Hairpieces and Wigs are made. In fact one customer claims his 11-year old daughter did most of his Hairpiece for him! His wife loved the Hairpiece they made, but she also enjoyed spending the money they save by creating his custom Hairpiece as well.

The MHRW Hairpiece Kits have everything in them that is necessary for learning and creating one custom Men's Hairpiece or Women's Wig. After creating your first Hairpiece you can use the tools to maintain the Hairpiece you've created and you can create additional Hairpieces or Wigs for just the cost of a foundation and an ounce of hair.

MHRW Ready made Preshaped Hairpiece Foundations cost just $19.99 each; one ounce of color-matched European (Italian) hair cost just $132.00; and one ounce of color-matched synthetic hair cost just $27.00. As you can see you can create additional full size Hairpieces or Wigs for as little as $47.00 each.

For those of you who are not wearing a Hairpiece or Wig and this will be you first Hairpiece or Wig... I am sure you are a little skeptical about getting involved with creating and maintaining your own Hairpieces or Wigs!

Well, we can't say I blame you... I was pretty skeptical some 30 years ago too!

So, if you are not sure about learning how to create and maintain your own Hairpieces or Wigs... then go ahead and purchase a retail Hairpiece or Wig... and then... after going through what me and millions or others have gone through. But please, come back after you have learned the truth about retail Hairpieces or Wigs and take another very very close look at my MHRW Hairpiece Kits... They can definitely save you THOUSANDS on Hairpieces and Wigs!

If you do not buy a MHRW Wig Making Training Kit, then please bookmark our Web site and return to order supplies for securing your Retail Hairpiece or Wig for maintenance and wearing.

Thanks for taking your precious time to visit our Web site... I really hope that I have been helpful!

MHRW INTERNATIONAL