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Hair Toppers For Thinning Hair: A Guide To Everything I've Learned Along My Androgenic Alopecia Journey
So you're considering a hair topper but aren't sure what to look for? I was in this exact place a few years ago. My hair loss had progressed to a point where I just needed a solution beyond hair extensions....
In my mind I had created a stigma around wearing wigs and toppers... I don't know if you've ever felt that way...But I felt like wearing one was almost like this big acknowledgement that my hair loss was that bad. And I wasn't really ready to accept it. Looking back I wish I had been kinder to myself and eased up on the pressure I was putting on myself to be "normal."
Flash forward to now and I wear hair toppers all the time. I'm wearing one now as I write this post in a coffee shop. It's probably one of the best things I personally could have done for my confidence. If you're on the fence and feeling overwhelmed then allow me to drop some knowledge. In this post I'll cover the following:
What are Hair Toppers
Hair Topper base material
Hair topper hair type
Hair topper density
What color to choose?
Where to buy
How to blend with your hairline
Hair Toppers for Thinning Hair: So What is it...?
The way I would describe: Hair toppers are hair pieces that add volume to your hair once you clip them in. The hair topper may come with a comb in adittion to clips or even a fabric band to keep them secure on your head. They come in different sizes so they can be tailored to your area of thinning.
For example if you just have thinning on the crown then they have hair toppers for that area... Or thinning just along your part line...Guess what... They have toppers for just that area as well.
But how are they different from wigs? Wigs conceal all of your hair...When wearing a wig your bio hair is under a wig cap.
I like wearing hair toppers because I still have a good amount of my bio hair so I'm able to seamlessly blend them with my bio hair.
They also have hair toppers which add a ton more coverage for individuals who may experience diffuse thinning...But in my opinion hair toppers are not as bulky as wigs.
Hair toppers also come in different levels of density so you can tailor your look. The hair can be synthetic heat defiant hair, or human hair. I mainly purchase human hair because I find it is more realistic looking. This post will focus on human hair toppers.
Hair Toppers for Thinning Hair: Base Material
This is the part that blew my mind... When I first started learning about this stuff I had no idea what I was reading descriptions about when reviewing the different toppers I was interested in.
Monofilament or mono top: This is what I started with. They are generally less expensive than silk toppers. (More on those below). But a mono top was my way of gettingg my feet wet.
These have a sheer lace like material where each individual fiber has been hand knotted. You are able to change the parting on the hair topper where ever the monofilament is located on the hair piece. (See my examples below).
In the image below you can see how sheer the base is for this topper.
Silk base hair toppers: These hair toppers are not sheer like the monofilament. But these are the most realistic and typically most expensive. The silk looks like a real part at the top of your head. I always feel the most confident wearing this type of hair topper because of how undetectable it looks.
Lace front: Both mono and silk toppers can have a lace front like the image below. This is awesome if you have a thinning hairline. The hair on a lace front topper is hand-tied on to the lace.
You may need to trim the sheer lace and customize it to your hairline. You may also want to use an adhesive to ensure the edges of the lace don't lift. For this I use Got2B glued.
There are plenty of youtube videos that review how to do this. Essentially I apply a few coats to my skin and then wait a few minutes until it's a little tacky feeling. Then I press the lace against where I applied the glue. (Remember the lace is fragile. So you always want to be careful).
For more tips on how to hide a thinning hairline check out my blog post HERE.
Hair Toppers for Thinning Hair: Hair Topper Density
So how thick do you want your topper? What I've found is that different companies have different definitions when it comes to the density percentages they list in their product descriptions. So watch out for that...
Here's an example: Below are photos of two hair toppers I've purchased from two different companies. The product descriptions for both were listed as 130% density. So be aware that the definition of density may vary between vendors.
In my opinion density is all about personal preference. I have diffuse hair thinning and I love a high density hair topper (130%). I personally buy more full coverage hair toppers and I always purchase high density. Why? In my opinion I just love how the fullness looks. I also always get my hair toppers customized. I take them to my hair stylist and she shapes them and thins them for me if the hair is too thick in some areas. This gives the piece a bit more movement and body. She does this all while the hair topper is on my head.
If you are just starting out and have minimal thinning or just thinning in a certain spot like the crown area...maybe you want to go for a lower density piece.
Hair Toppers for Thinning Hair: How To Position Your Hair Piece
I first prep my bio hair by parting it the way I want to wear it. If you read my blog you know my hairline is thinning... Shakes fist angrily
Once my hair is parted I'll add concealing powder and hair fibers to the front of my hair line to make it fuller using the products below.
I diffuse any excess build up of powder and fibers with this brush below that looks like a tooth brush. I like it because it has really coarse bristles. The tiny comb also makes it super convenient for pulling my bio hair out from underneath the topper.
I'll also add a texturizing powder to the areas of my bio hair that will hold the clips. This makes things feel way more secure...This way my thin bio hair doesn't just slip through the clips.
Once my hair is prepped I will like the topper up with my part or position it slightly to the left or the right of my actual hair part.
If I position the topper part to the right of my bio part I will pull my bio hair from the right side to disguise the front of the topper. Then I go in with fibers again to conceal the area a little more. There are lots of great youtube videos on this as well.
Bio hair concealing thinning hair line
Hair topper blended with hairline
What color to choose?
This can be tricky... So here's what I've done...Since hair toppers still expose some of your bio hair I try to match the base color of the topper with my bio hair since I blend it with my hairline.
Some hair topper and wig companies will sell color rings. Or you can order a few sample colors and they'll make you pay for shipping costs. I purchased a brunette color ring from uniwigs. There were so many shades of brown I was getting overwhelmed lol... So the color ring has been really helpful.
Alternatively you can buy a hair topper that's lighter than your desired color and bring it to your hair stylist or wig shop and ask for them to customize the color for you. This can add up though in terms of cost. Also, keep in mind it is always easier for them to dye the human hair piece darker than to go lighter. For color customization I use: Strut Hair Solutions.
My bio hair has lighter ends than my base color. For my hair and hair pieces I really like a dark brown baalyage. This look has softer, more natural-looking highlights throughout my dark brown base. I think it gives my hair more dimension and movement.
Below is what I purchased and how this was then customized for my desired look with coloring and cut.
Hair Toppers for Thinning Hair: Sizing
When figuring out what size to order it really depends on the amount of coverage you're looking for. The toppers I purchase are generally 8 x 8. But this is because I like more coverage. When I've purchased smaller sizes I've also found difficulty in getting the cap to lay flat against my head. It kind of poofed up.
Measure the sides of your head and from front to back. I'd allow some room on both sides (about an inch) to attach the clips to your bio hair.
