Please consider supplemental hair for hair loss

[PuertoVallarta]

I have worn supplemental hair (extensions, toppers, full wigs) for many years due to hair loss that started in my 20s.

I didn't want to hijack the other thread about hair loss treatments, but I feel like I've been down that road of trying every vitamin and treatment (confession: I never did minoxidil because it was expensive back when I was still fighting before I just got on with my life and my wigs) and nothing worked. I just wasted time and money walking around with my scalp showing and heart hurting.

I wear a full wig every day of my life now and I have great hair every single day and I'm happy. Nobody sees my scalp except boyfriends, and I look ten years younger than I would with stringy, straggly thinning hair.

Some people will always balk at wigs. But I love mine, so if you have any questions, I would be happy to help. I am also part of a huge community of women online who happily wear hair and can point you in the direction of support sites.

More power to you, but don't extensions actually damage hair?

Thank you OP, I've been trying to find where I can buy one from without any success. Can you advise?

Yes, extensions damage hair. I don't use them anymore. My hair loss is genetic, so I don't blame the extensions for causing my hair to fall out, but they surely did not help it.

Dear Landed, I like simplywigs.co.uk (I hope it's okay to link to commercial sites?) because they carry major brands that have lots and lots of reviews online and especially on YouTube.

I sometimes order from America or China. China is hit or miss. America is expensive but voguewigs.com often has free international shipping campaigns.

YouTube is full of great information. Even Simply Wigs have a YouTube channel.

I have worn almost all the brands listed under "top brands" on SW site and they are all safe bets.

Fantastic thread. Thank you for sharing this. I'm not at the topper/wig stage yet but I can imagine there's people out there who will find this really useful. It's reassuring to know that they're options out there for the future.

My hair grew back but while I was losing it I did find a lovely wig shop, Treloggan Wigs in Portsmouth who were so caring and knowledgeable. Just knowing that I could go down this route if it came to it was very comforting at a difficult time.

Thanks OP, as I said on the other thread, I'm having a last ditch attempt with minoxidil but at the rate mine is falling out I suspect there are wigs in my future, so it's helpful to hear positive stories. Can I ask a practical question - if you aren't completely bald, what's the best thing to do with your remaining hair? Buzz cut? And what's the best type of wig for a natural looking hair line and parting? I felt a bit overwhelmed when I looked. I'd also love to know about support sites. Fine to pm me if you don't want to post all that detail publicly :) thanks again.

Lovely post OP. There was a wonderful program on R4 recently about the use of wigs... but I'm blowed if I can remember when / what it was called?

I agree op! I wear a hair system, which is basically a wig but sewn into my hair, and it's the best thing I ever did!

ilovecherries, you can keep your hair and just tuck it under the wig. A wig cap is fine, but they are too tight on me. A loose ponytail pinned up is better IMO.

Lace fronts and monofilament tops have the most realistic hairlines. In some brands, especially Jon Renau, I don't like to wear rooted blondes with lace fronts, because I don't like the dark hair at the hair line. Raquel Welch puts the lighter color right in front so the knots don't show. I like that a lot.

Great thread. Any recommendations for a fringe / something to add volume at the front? I don't have hair loss thankfully but have always had really crappy, fine, thin hair and I'm tempted by something to give a bit more coverage at the front but am worried it would look really obvious.

I hope someone can recommend you. I've never used anything like that.

Hello Puerto
thank you for posting this and it all makes sense
i hope you can offer some advice
I am going through menopause and my hair looks dreadful stringy etc
It makes me look dreadful and very upset as you can imagine
the parting is my main problem- roots show after only 2 weeks yet if i try to match with home colour it looks worse
perhaps a topper could be the answer perhaps? i do not know anything about this and hope you can help
t i a

Yes, I think a topper would help, girl.

The main thing I like about my helper hair is that I look put-together and well-groomed which I just couldn't when my hair was stringy and sparse.

There are many sizes of toppers and I have only ever worn those with a large base like Noriko Milan. It is synthetic and basically covers all your hair.

If you want something smaller, look at maybe a Fortune Wigs Kippah?