Topper or Toupee?
Whats the Difference?
As a hair replacement business, we are asked this a lot. So first let’s break down what each of these hair loss solutions are, then discuss the similarities and differences.
A Toupee, this word has such negative reactions as it reflects to a time when hair systems were either clipped in or removed each night. Many people associate this with something very noticeable and unreliable. Over the last few decades, we have amended the terminology from Toupee to Hair Piece, Hair Unit or Hair System.
These products are generally worn by clients like a “second skin” and they are bonded to the scalp with either tape or glue, so the wearer can sleep, gym, shower and enjoy their hair for up to 30 days, then remove it, clean and rebond.
Toupees, or Hair Pieces have largely been marketing to men with hair loss and are pu or polyurethane, lave, mono or a blend of the above in their construction and come in 5 inches of hair that can be cut. Most of these are constructed with Balaiji Remy Hair.
Toppers are traditionally used by women, to clip in, sew in, or bond on top of their hair, so it sits behind the hairline. They can be used to give additional volume or as a hair replacement option, many Australian women with female pattern baldness and alopecia utilise toppers as a hair loss solution.
They are very similar to hair extensions or also wigs, but where hair extensions are designed for the sides and back of the scalp, and a wig is designed for the entire scalp, a topper is designed for the top of the scalp.
Right.... Replique Founder, Scott, swaps between Toppers and Hair Units, depending on the length and hair type he prefers. At Replique we can create the ideal hair loss solution for you with over 100 colours, curls, body waves and lengths.
Toppers come in a range of sizes, most popular is 5 inches wide x 7 inches from behind the hairline to the back of the crown.
Our female clients in our Brisbane and Sydney salons prefer a topper that is fully bonded to the scalp, in the same manner that we bond a male hair piece, while others prefer to have it glued onto their hair, allowing them the security of a semi-permanent hair loss solution.
Essentially Men’s Hair Pieces and Women’s hair Toppers are very similar, both are successfully used to give the wearer an amazing fuller head of hair.
At Replique we use Toppers and Hair Pieces in both male and female hair replacement with our amazing “Second Skin” and Breathable bases.
The main difference between the two isn’t so much the base, it is the hair. Most of our male clients prefer to have shorter hair. Our Hair Pieces come in over 100 colours and are approximately 5 inches in length and then cut to the desired length and styled. We use Balaji Remy Hair as it is durable and very similar to European hair but much more affordable.
Our toppers come in lengths from 9 inches to 18 inches and we use Balaji Remy Hair, Brazilian, Chinese and European Hair, depending on the clients’ needs.
Toppers and Hair Systems can also have similar lifespans, the more hair then the longer they last. We try to get 6 to 12months lifespan out of Replique Hair Units and toppers.
As a company focused on innovation in the hair replacement sector, we are excited to see industry developments over trhe last few years. With “stick on hair” or “glue on hair” becoming the norm for most men looking for a non-surgical hair replacement option, and in more recent times toppers being glued directly onto hair, as opposed to the skin, is also an exciting advance in the hair replacement industry.
So are hair pieces exclusively used for men and toppers used for women? Absolutely not! We have a lot of female clients who want shorter haircuts, and so they use a hairpiece, while an increasing amount of male clients are enjoying the versatility of longer hair, and so are wearing Replique Toppers.
It really comes down to the length and type of hair that will make each client happy. Whether it is marketed as a Topper or Hair System, whats most important is that we meet the clients expectations and give them back the amazing hair that they deserve.
