Factors to Consider When Choosing a Hair Topper
A hair topper is the perfect solution to thinning hair for women. The term refers to a clip-on wig intended to conceal balding or thinning spots by blending in with your natural style and color. Having beautiful hair can do wonders for anyone’s self-confidence, and using a hair topper is an affordable and simple way to help your hair look exactly how you want it to.
Since we all know that the quality of any hairpiece can make or break a look, shopping for hair toppers is a massive decision that you might never be truly ready to tackle on your own. It’s not impossible for anxiety to set in and prevent you from making clear, objective decisions, and navigating the vast world of different hairpieces is often intimidating.
Luckily, you don’t have to face it alone—we’ve created a complete buyer’s guide for finding out what hairpiece makes you look more youthful, confident, and beautiful. You’ll also learn to discern between the various hair toppers available on the market.
Keep reading for the best advice on purchasing hair toppers like an expert.
Step 1: Assess Your Hair Loss Problem
The first thing you need to do is assess the condition of your hair loss.
Knowing the stage you’re at will help you find out the perfect base. There are three stages of hair loss:
Beginning: The scalp may not be visible yet, but you’ll notice unusual hair growth at the tip of your crown. Those with mild balding should choose small-base hair toppers—a larger one will be too bulky and look unnatural.
Progressive: As the balding worsens, the scalp becomes more visible through the thin areas of your hair. Women at this stage of balding will need a medium-to-large base hair topper.
Advanced: At this stage of hair loss, you will need the largest bases available. In the worst case, some might have no choice but to wear a full wig.
Step 2: Accurately Measure Your Bald Spot
Measuring your bald spot is fairly simple, using a measuring tape to scale the widest points of your bald spots.
Pro Tip: Do this in between two mirrors so that you can see your crown from all possible angles.
Step 3: Select Your Preferred Base Type
Here are the three most common base types you’ll see on different hair toppers:
Silk Base
A silk-based hair topper is perhaps one of the most popular options in the market. Customers love it for its natural aesthetic. The knots are perfectly hidden, so you’re free to sport whatever hairstyle you like, and you can even add emphasis to your hairline without worrying about it being obvious.
Silk is also soft and comfortable to wear, and resistant against sweat, bacteria, and hair fall.
The only disadvantage of silk-based hair toppers is that you can’t easily lay it flat on the scalp, especially if you’ve been wearing it all day. You might notice the crown becoming bulkier at times. Silk also gets hot during the summer.
Monofilament Base
Monofilament base types, look similar to a natural scalp, which makes it an ideal option for women who want to part hair strands to the side. The reason it looks so natural is that every strand of hair is hand-tied to the soft, fine mesh material on top of the base.
Mono bases are generally comfortable. You can wear one for extended periods without feeling itchy, but it is not as breathable, so you might end up sweating more.
Step 4: Decide on Your Hairstyle
When choosing a hairstyle, consider the length and shape of your hair topper。What hairstyle do you dream of pulling off? You can choose between straight, curly, center-parted, and air bangs, among others. If you can’t decide between straight and curly, opt for straight hair toppers made of long, natural hair. You can just curl or straighten those strands as needed.
Step 5: Choose What Color to Use
A quick way to find out what hair color suits you is by assessing your skin type and color.
The best way to maximize your facial features is to choose hair toppers that complement the eyes instead of the skin tone.
Final Thoughts
That’s everything you need to know when shopping for a hair topper. Our top overall pick is the silk base. It’s perfect as a starter hair topper, silky smooth, versatile, comfortable, and available in a range of different colors, but others with more specialized needs may prefer other toppers.
Perhaps the best parting advice is to take your time in browsing your options. Check all the features, styles, and designs available and ease into a decision that suits your needs—for coverage, style, maintenance, tone, and comfort.