When purchasing any product, everyone hopes it has multiple functions and features, and the same applies to buying a toupee. It’s quite normal for men to wish for a hairpiece that is both durable and looks natural. However, unfortunately, the truth is that toupees cannot achieve both a natural appearance and durability simultaneously. Why is that? Let’s go on.
The Most Important Factor: Base Thickness
The fundamental contradiction between the natural appearance and durability of a hairpiece lies in the thickness of the base. The thinner the base, the more closely it matches the scalp, making the hair look as if it is growing naturally from the skin. However, thin bases are less durable and prone to wear and tear. For example, a 0.03mm ultra-thin skin hair system, although offering an extremely realistic look, has a fragile base that lasts only about one month.
Compared to a thinner base, a thicker base will be more prominent on the wearer’s scalp. Thicker bases, such as monofilament, offer greater durability and can last longer, but they sacrifice some of the natural appearance.
Ventilation Methods
Ventilation methods play a crucial role in the natural effect of a hairpiece. Common ventilation techniques, such as V-loop and injected ventilation methods, help conceal the knots and mimic the natural flow of hair, making the hairpiece appear more realistic. However, the cost of this natural appearance is that these ventilation methods make the hair more prone to shedding, shortening the lifespan of the hairpiece.
Lace-based hair systems often use knotting techniques that can extend the durability of the hairpiece to a certain degree. However, the presence of knots reduces the overall naturalness. To make the hairpiece appear even more seamless and natural, you can choose to bleach the knots. Bleaching will help make the knots nearly invisible, resulting in a very natural effect. You might think that this achieves both a natural appearance and durability, but the fact is that, since bleaching is a chemical process, it shortens the lifespan of the knots and weakens the hair.
Conclusion
In short, men’s hairpiece cannot achieve both maximum durability and the most natural appearance at the same time because the design of the base inherently contradicts these two characteristics. Thin bases and advanced ventilation methods typically offer a more natural look but lack durability. On the other hand, thicker bases provide a longer lifespan but sacrifice some of the naturalness. Therefore, what we want to emphasize is that if you desire both a natural appearance and longevity, you must make a compromise—either prioritize one over the other.