.jpeg "Emma Jeffery")
Hair loss can be an uncomfortable experience. You might have tried every available solution to regrow your hair and feel frustrated you’re not seeing the results you were promised. The unfortunate truth is that while some hair loss solutions work for some people, they do not work for everyone. Human hair toppers, on the other hand, offer guaranteed instant results.
At Daniel Alain, we’ve helped thousands of women find the perfect hair piece for their specific needs. Over the last 20 years making human hair wigs and toppers, we’ve guided women as they navigate their hair loss experience and provided compassion, understanding, and professional expertise. We understand that hair loss is often a traumatic and lonely experience, and we aim to be by your side every step of the way.
Buying a Daniel Alain human hair topper is a significant investment, and you want to make sure you buy the right one for you. If you’ve looked on our website, you will have noticed there's a wide variety of options available, and you might be feeling overwhelmed by the number of decisions you’ll have to make.
In this article, we will discuss the 5 main features of three of our most popular human hair toppers. Taking these features into consideration as you choose your topper will help you achieve the most natural look and maximum security for your particular needs. If your hair loss journey has led you to consider our human hair toppers, we hope this information helps you make the right choice wherever you ultimately decide to purchase from.
Who is a hair topper right for?
Hair loss can be complicated, unpredictable, and different for everyone. While we recommend having a thorough consultation with a wig and topper specialist to determine if a topper is right for you, let’s outline some causes of hair loss in women who wear our human hair toppers.
Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss and affects millions of women in the US alone. Androgenetic alopecia causes hair loss primarily on the top of the head, and women suffering from it may notice a widening of their part line and an increasingly visible scalp.
Telogen effluvium causes hair loss brought on by a stressful experience such as illness, childbirth, or surgery. It can be acute and last less than six months or chronic and last much longer. Someone experiencing telogen effluvium will notice hair loss or hair thinning mainly on the top of the head.
Hair loss caused by radiation therapy used to treat some kinds of cancers can be temporary, or in some cases, permanent. High doses of radiation often mean the hair is less likely to grow back. Radiation can cause the hair to thin over the entire scalp or leave bald patches of hair loss.
While a wig provides overall coverage of the scalp, our human hair toppers will attach to the head with clips and will blend in with the color, length, and texture of the bio hair. Unfortunately, a topper isn't right for everyone. Not only does there need to be existing hair, there also needs to be adequate hair around the front hairline and sides of the head that's strong enough to support the clips of the topper. People with severe hair loss or hair that is very thin may not be able to wear a topper effectively.
Feature #1: Topper Base Size
A hair topper is designed to provide coverage where you need it the most. When looking for the best Daniel Alain hair topper for you, you should make sure the base of the topper is big enough to cover the problem area.
Our range of toppers starts with the smallest size, the Petite topper, which measures 2.5” x 5.25”, and is perfect for someone who wants to add volume to their existing hair or is just starting to notice some thinning.
Our Trend topper measures 5” x 6” at the base, (6” x 7.5” is also available by special order). The Trend topper is a great option for someone who wants to add volume to their existing hair and is experiencing stages 1 or 2 of hair loss, with a widening part or overall loss of density.
The base of our Style topper measures 6” x 6.5” (and 6” x 7.5” by special order) and is a good choice for someone who is experiencing stages 2 or 3 of hair loss. The Style topper’s base is wide enough that the clips will secure to the side of the head rather than the top.
How do you know which base size is right for you?
Knowing which base size is right for you all comes down to taking accurate measurements. If you decide to work with one of our experienced consultants by booking a free consultation, or with one of our retail locations, we can assist you in finding the best fit for you.
And remember, accurate measuring brings more advantages than simply covering your hair loss. Being accurately fitted for your human hair topper will also give you comfort, security, and the most natural look.
“To determine how large the topper’s base should be, you should measure from side to side, and then from the front of the hairline toward the back of the head, to the point where the hair loss exists,” Pat Wrixon, founder of the Salon at 10 Newbury in Boston and hair replacement specialist.
Feature #2: topper Hair Length
Unlike a wig that covers the entire scalp, a hair topper needs to blend in with the existing hair. The more seamless the blend, the more natural the topper will appear. Many women wear our human hair toppers and nobody would ever know it was there.
The hair length of the topper you choose will be determined by the length of your existing hair. One of the benefits of human hair toppers is that they can be trimmed and styled just like bio hair. Most women will have the human hair topper cut by a stylist so that it blends perfectly with their hairstyle.
Our Petite and Style toppers are available in 3 lengths, and our Trend topper is available in 4 lengths.
“If the topper hair is too short, you will see the existing hair coming through the piece. If it’s too long, it will be thin at the ends. Either way it will be noticeable,” explains Pat. “The secret is to decide what length and style you want to keep your existing hair, and having the topper trimmed to blend in.”
Feature #3: topper Hair Color
The color of your topper has to match your existing bio hair perfectly for it to look the most natural. While we offer a huge range of color options to help you find the closest match, there may be times you’ll need to customize your topper to match your hair color perfectly.
Our human hair toppers can be colored just like real hair. We recommend talking to a professional stylist who is experienced in working with human hair wigs and toppers and asking about adding a root to give depth and dimension, low lights, high lights, or even hand painted highlights with a balayage. The most important thing is to find an overall look that blends seamlessly with your bio hair and feels most natural to you.
Our Petite, Style, and Trend toppers are available in 16 different colors, from rich dark brown to light ashy blonde and even red. We also offer highlighted and rooted options that help give the hair depth and dimension.
Feature #4: topper Hair Texture
In addition to hair length and hair color, matching the texture of the topper to your existing hair will give you the most natural look. “Unless the hair loss is so severe that it isn’t going to show under a more substantial topper, you want to look for a topper that has the same texture as your bio hair,” suggests Pat.
“If you’re not used to having a lot of hair, some toppers can feel overwhelming. Looking for a topper with low to moderate density will make sure it feels natural to you.”
Our toppers are made from 100% fine, European human hair which is extremely rare and highly sought after. At Daniel Alain, we have access to the world’s largest (and only) private reserve of premium-quality European hair, and our toppers are softer, smoother, and more lustrous than other brands that use thicker, coarser hair.
Feature #5: Lace Top vs Silk Top
The construction of the base will be an important consideration as you choose your topper. Our Petite and Trend toppers feature a lace top that, while lightweight and breathable, does not give the illusion of a natural part. If you’re inspecting a lace top piece closely, you will notice that it does not look like a real scalp along the part line, especially on darker pieces.
An alternative to the lace top is a silk top. A silk top piece such as the Style topper has a true scalp appearance along the part line and looks exactly like a real head of hair. A silk top is constructed using several layers of material and can be warmer and less breathable, especially in hotter weather. A silk top is thicker than a lace top and will need to sit behind a natural front hairline. If you don’t have a lot of hair at the front of your face, a Style topper might not be right for you.
Although we have a variety of human hair toppers to choose from, we hope this checklist of considerations helps you get started on the path toward choosing the right one for you. We know that hair loss can often leave you feeling desperate for a solution, but feeling educated and informed about your options can empower you to make the right choice.
If you decide that a Daniel Alain human hair topper is the solution you’ve been looking for, reading about the best hair toppers for thinning hair can further help you in your decision-making. Alternatively, you can book a consultation with one of the experienced consultants at Daniel Alain. We are eager to help guide you to find the right human hair topper for you.