Tips to Stay With Hairpieces and Extensions

Living with Hairpieces and Extensions
To a large extent, both hairpieces and synthetic hair extensions can be treated like "normal" hair although special shampoos and shampooing techniques may be required. The best rule of thumb is to be gentle. Hairpieces can be yanked off and when an extension comes out,

it normally brings some of your own hair with it.

Care Tips for Hairpieces

Regular shampooing is just as essential to the maintenance of a hairpiece as it is to the care of natural hair. Shampooing can be rough on the hairpiece and its adhesive, however, so there are some general guidelines to follow. Wet your hair first and then pour your shampoo into the palm of your hand, not directly on to your head. Lather the shampoo into your naturally growing hair first, then move upward into the hairpiece. Resist the urge to scrub the hairpiece! Instead pat the shampoo until it is evenly distributed. When it's time to rinse, do so with the water streaming in one direction over your head to avoid tangling.

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Eventually every hairpiece will have to be removed from the head and individually cleaned. Methods will differ slightly by base material and adhesive, but there are some general steps common to all hairpieces. Once the hairpiece has been removed appropriately and any remaining adhesive material cleaned from the unit, dish washing liquid is normally used to clean the base material followed by a mild shampoo on the hair itself. The hairpiece should be allowed to dry thoroughly before it is reattached to the scalp.

Many men who wear hairpieces are simply not comfortable removing the unit and cleaning it. There are many hair care professionals who will perform these tasks at the same time they trim your existing hair and check your scalp for irritation from the adhesives. Going to a professional may not only preserve your piece of mind, but lengthen the usable life of your hairpiece.

Care Tips for Extensions

Every two to three days hair that has been thickened with extensions should be washed and treated with a moisturizing conditioner to help prevent breakage. It's a good idea to make sure there are no tangles in your hair before you begin to shampoo. A popular shampoo for both men and women who have extensions is Nexxus Keraphix for its moisturizing properties.

Brush and comb your hair gently to avoid pulling the extensions. If at all possible, do not use a blow dryer. If it is necessary to use a blow dryer, put it on the lowest setting possible and do not allow your hair to overheat. Also, make sure that you are cleansing your hair all the way down to the scalp so that bacteria do not have a chance to form on the surface of your skin.

Synthetic Hair Implants

Synthetic hair implants are worth mentioning in this discussion only for their lack of success and for the associated risks. The procedure is currently banned in the United States. Attempts to implant synthetic hair over the past thirty years have almost always failed. The procedures cause infection and scarring severe enough to require a standard hair transplant to disguise the subsequent disfigurement.

Medications for Hair Replacement

In recent years both oral and topical medications to prevent further hair loss and to stimulate growth have gained in popularity. The results are not consistent but some users do see a successful reduction of their balding symptoms. Hair loss resumes, however, when the medication is discontinued.

Rogaine

The topical cream Rogaine (minoxidil), is safe for use by both men and women at a strength of 2%. (The 5% solution should only be used by men.) The cream is applied daily to promote hair growth and to guard against further hair loss. Rogaine has shown good temporary results in slowing or stopping male pattern baldness.

Propecia

Propecia is an oral medication suitable for use by men only. It is a 1mg dosage of finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor which blocks the formation of DHT from testosterone. An over-production of DHT is believed to be the cause of male pattern baldness. Again, hair loss will resume when the medication is discontinued.

Conclusions

Non-surgical options like hairpieces and hair extensions or "weaves" are affordable hair replacement techniques for men who do not want to explore surgical procedures. While both hairpieces and extensions involve maintenance and care, they are non-invasive and can appear so natural as to be indistinguishable from natural hair. Talk to your hair care professional about these options as they are available from a wide range of hair replacement services.

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