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Hair Restoration - Cosmetic Hair Thickeners and Wigs


Cosmetic Hair Thickeners, Wigs, and Hair Pieces

Here is a short description of the two main cosmetic solutions to hair loss, and their relative advantages and disadvantages:-

  • Hair thickener sprays
  • Wigs

Cosmetic Hair Thickener Sprays, available in many colors, are powders that cling to normal hair electrostatically and look like hair fibers to people who don’t know you are using them. You can use them to cover small bald spots so long as you have hair to comb over the spot. Spray-on hair is not suitable for completely bald people or even people with a large bald spot – you will end up looking as if you have painted your spot. Sweat may also disrupt spray-on hair.

Wigs: Wearing a wig can be rather demoralizing. When a wig is attached to your head with glue or tape, your remaining natural hair may need to be shaved. If it has slits to pull your natural hair through it, the strain on the hair can cause it to fall off. You might sweat and itch and be in terror of it falling off.

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But, on the positive side, wigs are versatile. They are available in different kinds to suit almost every need: full wigs to cover a bald head, hair pieces to cover a bald spot, wigs with a lacy base for those who want to show their hairline, wigs with a breathable synthetic ‘skin’ base for those who want something durable, and hair pieces shaped as braids or buns or secured in one end to thicken your own braid or bun.

You can get wigs in almost any color you want (pinks and purples and greens are for parties), curly or straight, in natural human hair or synthetic fibers. Human hair in a color similar to your original hair will look most natural. Or you can buy a blond wig and dye it to match your natural hair or eyebrows. For older people, wigs in salt-and-pepper or gray or white look more natural than dark hair.

You need to take care of your wig to keep it looking good: wash it with mild shampoo and conditioner like normal hair. Your hair care consultant will tell you if you need a special cleaning solution. Dry it on its stand and wait till it is dry to brush it. In most cases, you can color it at home. If your wig is woven into your hair you may need to go to the hair club or salon for styling and cleaning and tightening.

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Ready-made wigs for totally bald people are available, but for best looking results, wigs can be made to order. You can also order a personalized hairpiece to cover a bald spot. Compare prices before you buy, because wigs of a comparable quality may cost more or less depending on where you buy it. You may choose to join a hair club to take care of your wig, but it is often easier and cheaper to take care of it yourself.

If nothing seems to work, remember there are lots of men – and women too – who are bald. Those who have a strong sense of self and a positive attitude cope better with balding (as they do with everything else). Wigs or hairpieces, or hair restoration with medicine or surgery – you go for them only to make you feel good. If they don’t make you feel better, accepting your baldness and working around it may actually be liberating.

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