| Toupees and wigs are often used as interchangeable | | | | matter of cost. Some synthetic hair can look quite |
| words but their history and purpose have been quite | | | | realistic and at a far cheaper cost. This area is not so |
| different. Wigs were originally used in ceremonies for | | | | much of a problem if the toupee is to cover the |
| such things as religion and other cultural events. They | | | | whole of the head as very accurate matching to the |
| therefore have a long history. They were usually | | | | original hair is less important. |
| very obvious and may have been strikingly different | | | | The next problem involves the scalp view through |
| in style to natural hair. Toupees on the other hand | | | | the hair piece. The wearer doesn't want the toupee |
| are specifically designed to try and disguise the fact | | | | to be spotted on close inspection. The solution for |
| that the wearer has a certain amount of hair loss. | | | | this is for the base material to be designed of very |
| These are the methods used in this disguise. | | | | fine lace which is then also colored to match the |
| They include hair pieces that are designed to cover | | | | scalp. The actual scalp can then be viewed through |
| up small areas of hair loss and larger ones designed | | | | the fine lace matrix. Only very close examination |
| to cover the whole of the head. Wigs have been | | | | would reveal the actual lace. |
| used by people to cover their baldness but they are | | | | The hair line at the front of the head is the next |
| often seen as the cheaper alternative. | | | | problem. Getting this to look natural is again quite |
| Toupees therefore have to merge with the person's | | | | difficult. The lightest lace is used at the front of the |
| natural hair to make a single head of hair so that the | | | | hair piece and very fine hairs are attached to this so |
| natural and replaced hair can not be distinguished. | | | | that the hairline merges with the rest of the toupee |
| Indeed the big fear of wearers is that they might be | | | | and they get a so called scalloped look. |
| identified as wearing a hair piece. There are therefore | | | | One of the biggest fears that a toupee wearer has |
| particular design problems and a great deal of | | | | is that the whole thing will come off their head. |
| thought that has gone into solving them. | | | | There are various solutions to this including special |
| A lot of the original ideas came from Hollywood | | | | sticky tape and glues. Scientists have designed special |
| make up artists who where trying to make realistic | | | | glues for this task that don't harm the skin, aren't |
| hair pieces for actors. The first thing that has to be | | | | visible and of course securely attach the hair piece to |
| considered is matching the replacement hair with the | | | | the scalp. One of the most secure ways is to weave |
| original hair of the person. To this end, there are | | | | the hairs on the toupee with the remaining hairs of |
| choices between synthetic and real human hair. | | | | the person. This will not come loose but, as with |
| Clearly human hair comes out on top here and it is | | | | other hair weave techniques, it can initially feel a little |
| possible to match the colors, coarseness and curliness | | | | painful and it can put a strain on the existing hairs |
| to other people's donated hair. Obviously it is a | | | | possibly making them more likely to be pulled out. |
