Your hair system is very customizable. This offers great flexibility, but if you are new to hair replacement, it can be difficult to determine what type of system is best for you. We always recommend you use as much of your growing hair as possible for the most natural look. If you’re able to use some of your growing hair, a partial hair system is a great option for you. However, if you feel that your growing hair on the sides and back of your head has become thin enough to make blending with a system difficult, it may be best to go with a full cap.
If you have no growing hair on your head, a full cap system is your best choice. The less hair you have to shave, the easier it is to wear a system that covers your entire head.
To achieve a natural look with your hair system, proper blending is vital. However, as mentioned above, if the density of your growing hair on the sides and back of your head is thin and makes it difficult for you to blend properly at the transition line, we recommend using a full cap.
If you have diffuse hair loss, your hair may be thin all over, giving no clear indication of where to start and stop a partial hair system. This type of loss can also create issues with blending, making a full cap a better solution. People often attempt to compensate for thinning on the sides and back by wearing a heavy density and longer hair length, relying on it to cover the thin hair. When wearing the system, they worry that the thin area on the sides and back is exposed. Not only do they limit the hairstyles they can wear, but the difference in density can be visible in windy or wet conditions.
Although this is uncommon, some clients transition to a full cap because they struggle to match the color or texture of their hair system to their growing hair.
If there are times or situations in which you do not feel like wearing a hair system, a full cap gives you the option of sporting a completely bald look, which is a fashion choice for many men. For example, if you are traveling and don’t want to bring your entire hair care regimen along, you can go without your full cap for a bald or shaved-head look.
When wearing a hair system, we recommend you shave the attachment area for a stronger bond. Hair regrowth can cause quite a bit of itching underneath your system, so we recommend keeping the system as small as will work for you. In addition, as your hair grows back, it will begin to push up into your base, causing the bond to weaken and your system to lift.
Besides the lifting caused by regrowth, lifting of the system at the nape of your neck may be a concern as well. Constant movement (such as turning your head) affects the bond at your nape because movement stretches the skin in this area. If you decide to go with a full cap, you may need to touch up the bond at your nape between attachments.
A full cap does cause some limitations with hairstyle. Very short haircuts, or tapering on the sides and back of your head, are difficult to accomplish with a full cap. If you have some growing hair, a partial hair system may be a better fit for these hairstyles, because the system can be blended into the short lengths of your growing hair.
Although attaching a hair system by bonding with tape or liquid adhesives is the most common method used by clients, some people just aren’t ready to shave to accommodate their attachment, and prefer to attach their system with clips. If you prefer to use clips, it may be difficult to do so with a full cap, because there usually isn’t enough hair to clip to. If you have alopecia totalis or universalis (no hair growing on your head), you may prefer a silicone grip base that does not require adhesive. Please speak to a hair replacement consultant for more information.
It’s normal to have some confusion or questions as you settle on a size for your hair system. If you feel unsure, we’re here to help. Take photographs of your growing hair and the area of hair loss to share with us, and contact your hair replacement consultant.
