Traditional Hairpiece or Toupee

This type of hair replacement system is your traditional hairpiece/toupee that men have used for years to cover up bald spots (many women are actually using them now rather than full wigs if their hair loss is confined to the top and crown of their heads.)

A hairpiece consists of natural or synthetic hair attached to a polymer (skinlike and/or meshlike) base. It is then attached using glue, tape or even clips or elastics (although these last 2 aren't very popular options).  

In the past many hairpieces were quite noticeable and acquired an embarassing stigma. However today there are many new materials and advancements in design so you can get a much more natural look. Many hairpiece manufacturers have now changed the name to 'hair system' to fight the negative stigma associated with the words 'hairpiece', 'rug' or 'toupee'.

In general there are 2 types of hairpieces: Stock/Standard and Custom.

Stock hairpieces are mass produced hair systems that are sold 'off-the-shelf'.  They only come in common colors and sizes. They are typically cheaper than custom hairpieces and may not produce the most natural looking results.

Custom hairpieces are much more popular and can look a lot better.  They are created individually and customized to your specific hair color and pattern of hair loss. Custom hairpieces often use better looking materials as well and can produce a better front hairline. However obviously they'll run you a lot more than a stock hairpiece.

Hair system attachment can last up to a month but most wearers prefer to use a daily wear adhesive so they can take their hair system off at night.

Hairpieces do require proper care and cleaning. If not, your color can fade or the hairpiece can wear out. Many people using this type of hair system often have up to 3 or 4 hairpieces.  Also, you have to keep your hair around the same length as the 'hair' used on the toupee or else things can look a bit off.

Another thing to consider is the health of your scalp.  Some hairpieces can be hot and cause you to sweat or feel irritated in your scalp area. There's also the adhesive you're dumping on your scalp everyday that may irritate your skin.

You can find a wide range of hairpiece suppliers on the Internet or even in your yellow pages. Usually with hairpieces you get what you pay for so spending a bit more can give you a better looking, more natural head of hair.