How to attach a hair piece

How the hair piece, or human hair wig, is attached to the head is very important. There are several different ways to attach a hair piece to the head. Different methods have different advantages and disadvantages. They can be attached to the hair, to the skin or a combination of both. However, no hair replacement method is permanent.

Generally, with a quality hair replacement with its proper attachment, one should be able to do normal daily activities and sports, including being outside in strong wind, rain or doing water sports.

There are three major types of hair piece attachments. These are

- clip attachments,
- temporary adhesive attachment and
- semi-permanent attachment.

We will outline the principles of each of the attachment methods with their advantages and disadvantages.

Clip attachmentsClip attachments are normally made from metal. They are the link between the hair and the hair piece. Fitted correctly, they hold the hair piece firmly in place.

Advantages: Clips are easy and quick to attach and detach. They hold the hair firmly in place and causes no to very minimal hair loss of your remaining hair. Clips do not come off in water.

Disadvantages: Clips are not as secure as semi-permanent attachment, i.e. if someone, like a baby, pulls your hair it could come lose. A minor issue is that some metal clips activate metal detectors at airports.

Temporary adhesive attachmentsTemporary adhesive attachment is basically double-sided scotch tape or glue. Again, it is link between the hair and the hair piece. Fitted correctly, it will hold the hair replacement firmly in place.

Advantages: The double-sided adhesive tape is easy and quick to attach and detach. Likewise, it holds the hair firmly in place.

Disadvantages: Again, temporary adhesive attachments are not as secure as semi-permanent attachment, i.e. if someone, like a baby, pulls your hair. Also, the glue may leave marks on your scalp that you need to clean. Some adhesives can come undone in water and if you tend to sweat excessively. Some people experience accelerated hair loss where the tape or glue is placed while others can experience an allergic reaction. As a precaution, get a sample of the adhesive or glue and wear it for a couple of days and see if you get any adverse reaction.

Semi-permanent attachmentsSemi-permanent attachments are, as the name implies, semi-permanent. That means that they do not come off easily. This has advantages but we do not believe these outweigh the disadvantages. Semi-permanent attachments can only be attached and removed by a hair stylist or technician when you go for maintenance. This is normally done every month, depending on the provider. The attachment can be kept in place by several options.

Glue. Glue, or some kind of liquid adhesive, is a popular method to keep the hair piece in place. Depending on the provider, this method comes by many names (bonding being the most popular), but the principle is the same.

Weaving. Weaving is another method of keeping the hair piece in place. Here, the hair of the attachment is latterly weaved, or sowed, with your own hair to keep it in place.

Surgery. Surgery here means taking small skin grafts from another place on the body. These are then attached to the outskirts of the balding area in the shape of small loops. Once the grafts / loops have grown in to the scalp, the hair piece is then attached using these loops.

Advantages: Semi-permanent attachment is the most secure attachment of a hair piece. Fitted properly, it should stay firmly in place in rain, heavy winds, when swimming as well as if someone pulls your hair. Surgically attached hair pieces do not need to be adjusted when your hair grows as is attached directly to the scalp.

Disadvantages: The main advantage with semi-permanent attachments is that they stay in place, almost despite whatever happens. However, this is also their main disadvantage. By being firmly in place and only removable by your hair stylist or technician at maintenance, it is not possible to clean the scalp underneath. This is unhygienic and damaging to your scalp and existing hair. By not having access to the scalp, all kinds of natural products will accumulate underneath, such as hair and skin cells that falls off naturally, oils and solids that comes from normal perspiration or sweating etc. Even thorough washing of the hair several times a day will not solve this problem. Some people experience accelerated hair loss where the adhesive is placed while others can experience an allergic reaction. As a precaution, get a sample of the adhesive and wear it for a couple of days and see if you get any adverse reaction.

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