Let's take a look at the options that are available on the market today. Before purchasing a hair replacement, you should have a basic understanding of the two main concepts of "replacing" and "attaching" hair.

FIRST: One should be aware that there are 6,400 hairs per square inch of scalp (the number may vary depending on individual density). The average baldhead can consist of 30 square inches. Therefore, you can calculate the amount of hair needed: 6,400 x 30 = 192,000 hairs needed to fill in the average balding area.

SECOND: How will these hairs be attached? The most practical method of attachment is first attaching hairs to the thinnest possible base. This could be netting or skin-like material.

• a) The attaching of thousands of hairs is done in a factory by ventilators (Workers who knot 1 or 2 hairs onto a netting)
• b) for skin base usually made of silicon or polyurethane the hair is inserted into the base with out a knot (a knot is a more secure attachment but the knot is not as natural looking.

THIRD: It is then attached to your scalp in a semi-permanent method via:

• a) Hard bonding (this lasts approximately 3 to 6 weeks).
• b) Soft bond, like hard bond but can become gooey on certain types of skin
• c) Braids, this is time consuming
• d) Clips and Tape, a method for removing every night
• e) In some cases, the hairs can be attached directly to the existing hair, one or more at a time. The math on this doesn't quite work: Attaching one hair per second, 60 per minute, 3,600 hairs are attached per hour. It would take at least seven seconds for the fastest technician to attach one hair. For an average balding area where 192,000 hairs are needed, it would take 53.33 hours. Consider that this hair must be maintained, every time you comb, wash, sleep, swim, itch, brush or blow-dry. All of these activities cause hair loss. So in two weeks, you're back for another 10-hour appointment.

Compare the hair replacement to the hair on the sides of your head. You can see a slight difference, the light radiates from the scalp with your own hair, on the replacement the light is concentrated on the surface and the base is not as reflective The knots and base materials block out the light refraction, even if the knots are very small it is at least double sometimes triple the hair shaft size. This blocking of skin tones and light reflection gives a slightly opaque appearance at the scalp, it's as if you are wearing something under your hair.

THE HAIRLUCENT SYSTEM

In the Masterlink HairLucent System the hair and base simply reflects the light from the base illuminating the hair shaft making the hair life like. The light is concentrated on the hair not the base.

NON SURGICAL SKIN GRAFTS ARE POLYEURTHANE HAIR PIECES

Polyurethane or skin-like foundations can also cause this line of demarcation because the hair lies or falls differently from your own hair with which the replacement is being blended. The shorter the hair is cut, the more evident this line of demarcation becomes. Since these types of hair replacements look so flesh or skin-like, they are sometimes referred to as grafts; however, they are still classified as hairpieces or replacements. Problems: They don't allow for loss of moisture and keep the scalp moist, which are not an ideal condition and causes odors. Additionally, the skin-like or poly materials on the new, lighter hairlines can cause a mirror effect in bright lights alerting or attracting unwelcome attention, not to mention perspiring.

IMPLANTS, TRANSPLANTS AND SCALP REDUCTION

Over half of my clients have had transplants and what they lack, even with the latest mini micro grafts is a natural softness created by what I refer to as "peach fuzz". This fuzz falls out after the shock of scalp surgery and are also lost in advanced stages of balding leaving one with a shiny head. No matter how expertly the transplants are done, they are being implanted into a shiny mirror surface causing an artificial stick like appearance each surrounded by scar tissue slightly swollen giving a trans plant look. Curiously, none of my clients have ever gone back for a second mega session to complete the transplants. They continue to wear Masterlink hair replacements. Remember after getting transplants the hair can continue to fall out leaving the transplants to stand alone, not a pretty picture.

Implants, transplants and scalp reduction has four things in common: Surgery, the chance of infection, pain and no guarantee that this will help your problem.

Briefly, implants involve the surgical implantation of hooks or sutures directly into the scalp to which a hair replacement is then attached. The risk of infection is great, as is post-surgical pain.

Scalp reduction is the most radical of methods whereby an incision is made in the balding area. The scalp is then pulled closer together, reducing the balding area.

Transplants are the most popular of surgical hair replacement methods. Hair "plugs" are taken from other areas of the head and relocated to the thinning area. Again, there is no guarantee that the transplants will grow. Also, the chances of infection, pain and scarring are associated with this and the other surgical methods.

PROPICIA AND HAIR GROWING PRODUCTS

Don't waste your time and money. My clients have tried Propicia, Rogaine and Monoxides, one of whom owns a pharmacy and sells large quantities of these drugs. He says that he has never seen it grow hair on anyone -- man or woman. Additionally, these drugs must be taken for the rest of your life and they do have side effects. If you read the inserts, you will find that they include heart problems and a chance of developing cancer. Over-the-counter products that claim to restore hair by unclogging the follicles and allowing the hair to breathe and grow freely fall short of the promise. Hair gets its oxygen from blood and if you have ever seen any surgery on the scalp such as a transplant, it is quite evident from the perfuse bleeding that hair does not lack oxygen.

HAIRWEAVES

New hairweave or braiding methods that are woven from existing hair and nylon thread to form a foundation surrounding the balding area are becoming popular, but again where the braid begins and ends, you can develop bald spots due to traction alopecia. Over extended periods, the pressure causes hair to fall out.

Another problem associated with hairweaves is that anything under the foundation of the hair replacement must be compensated for in the cutting in and blending with your hair. In other words, if the hair is cut even, it develops a line of demarcation between the hair replacement and your hair.

WIGS AND TOUPEES

Wigs and toupees have been around for hundreds of years and if they are made with natural hair, colored correctly and made by a skilled craftsman, there is a possibility of creating an illusion of respectability.

But these hair replacements have inherent problems: Attachment is difficult, many are heavy and don't allow the scalp to breathe and most must be removed at night. These are problems that no one with an active lifestyle should have to contend with.

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