Wigs and Hair Toppers

Some people lose a lot of hair over a short time period due to a condition such as alopecia or from the effects of chemotherapy. Other people may experience gradual thinning of their hair due to age or a medical condition. Whatever the reason for hair loss, many first time buyers wonder what type of hair replacement system would best suit their requirements. Is a hair topper the best choice, or would a full wig be more appropriate? It can be useful to see a comparison of the products available, however first it is important to understand what both a wig and a hair topper are:

 

What are the features of a hair topper?

• A hair topper is a hair piece that clips to existing hair, the function is to conceal hair loss or to add extra volume to the wearers own head of hair
• A hair topper is usually the same colour and style as existing hair (it is worn as an enhancement)
• A hair topper can be styled by a hairdresser once it is in place, this can help it to blend well
• Hair toppers are made with clips attached (usually 2 or 4). These can slid into existing hair and are then snapped into place
• Hair toppers are also known as crown extensions
• Hair toppers can be made from synthetic hair, human hair, or a blend of both

View our full range of hair pieces and toppers.

 

What makes a wig, a wig?

• A wig is a complete head of hair
• The base of a wig is called the cap, to which hair is attached. The cap can be made from different material types.
• Hair is attached to the cap either by hand, or it can be machine sewn on
• The cap is placed directly onto the head (over any existing hair). Depending on how much hair the wearer has, wig clips or special wig tape can be used to offer a more secure placement
• Wigs come with different types of wig caps. Each type of cap has different features, e.g. lace front to allow for hair to be styled off of the forehead (natural looking hairline)
• Wigs can made made completely with human hair, fully synthetic or a combination of both human and synthetic hair types

View our full range of women’s wigs and men’s wigs.

Take a look below for a side-by-side comparison of wigs and hair toppers:

 

Wigs vs. Hair Toppers: Which should you choose?

It can help to see the features of both wigs and hair toppers as a comparison, so that you can work out which type you should choose.

 

	WIG	HAIR TOPPER
Provides full head coverage	✔	✖
Has a cap which covers the whole head	✔	✖
Provides selective/partial coverage	✖	✔
Requires existing hair, to be clipped onto	✖	✔
Can be made from human hair, synthetic hair, or a blend	✔	✔
Available in different colours	✔	✔

 

As you can see, wigs and hair toppers have both unique and shared features. Whilst you may be able to wear both, there may be reasons why one is more suitable. You can work through this by asking yourself the following questions:

What is my budget? A hair topper will usually cost less than a full wig due to less time and materials being required.

How much coverage would I like/need? If you are completely bald, or would prefer full coverage, a wig would be a better choice. If you would like to add volume/enhance your existing hair then a topper may be appropriate.

What level of breathability do I require? Wigs are full coverage (the cap goes over your whole head), which means that they have more of a ‘presence’ on your head. At certain times of the year you may become hot whilst wearing one. One way to manage this is in your choice of cap type – as some are lighter and more breathable than others..  A hair topper is much smaller therefore doesn’t feel as heavy on the head. Due to their size and lower level of coverage, hair toppers are more breathable.

How much time do I want to spend styling my hair? A wig can be prewashed and styled, then stored until you wish to wear it. It can then be put on in seconds and you’re ready to go. Most synthetic wigs come pre-styled which makes the process even quicker! A hair topper will require clipping in and restyling each time you’d like to wear it.

If you would like more advice or help with choosing a wig or a hair topper, please feel free to contact us. We have hair experts available to help from 8.30am-4pm via telephone and we are always happy to answer your queries through email.