Doubts before buying a hair prosthesis (PART I): Density, Length and Size

Hi everyone, I'm Dámaris López!

Today I want to answer some questions that came to my mind when I was considering using a topper or hair prosthesis for the first time. I hope my experience is useful for those who are in a similar situation.

SIZE: At first, I wondered what the terms "8x8" or "6x6" meant. I wasn't quite sure what they referred to. Now I understand that it is simply the size of the base of the topper, measured in inches. This is not related to the size of your head as I initially thought, but to the extent of the area affected by hair loss.

In my case, as I suffer from androgenic or androgenetic alopecia, my hair loss is mainly concentrated on the top of my head. For that reason, I need a piece that covers that whole area.

Generally, an 8x8 inch topper is enough, or maybe a 7x8 inch one. These pieces usually have a central section designed to imitate natural hair growth, making it look natural no matter how you comb it.

Toppers also have clips around the edges to hold them in place. It is important that the clips are not too close to the center, since this area is more sensitive and could cause discomfort. By placing them around the piece, this problem is avoided.

My topper has 7 clips, although I rarely use all of them unless it is very windy and I fear it might fly off. Many people prefer to rotate the clips so as not to always use the same ones, thus avoiding possible damage or discomfort in specific areas of the scalp.

LENGTH: Another of my doubts was about the length of the hair on the topper. Mine is 40 centimeters, which is equivalent to 16 inches. It had been a long time since I had had my hair this long, as I have always worn it short. Since my natural hair reaches this length, it seemed like a suitable transition. I went to the hairdresser to have the cut adjusted, and now the topper blends well with my hair, adding an extra layer. A longer length would seem strange to me in my case.

DENSITY: Hair density is also an important aspect. Sometimes they mention medium or high density, such as 120%. The best thing is to ask about the amount of grams of hair the topper has. My topper, for example, has 150 grams of hair, which is a considerable amount.

The more hair the topper has, the higher its cost. This way you know exactly what you are paying for. If they tell you it has a density of 150% but then you see that it has little hair, it shouldn't cost that much money.

These are the three main doubts I had at the beginning, and I hope that sharing my experience has been useful to you.

Ciao!