Answers to Our 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a hair piece or are in the market for one, chances are you have or have had plenty of questions about your hairpiece. Here are the top 10 most frequently asked questions we've heard and their answers, direct from David Hansen.

1.  A tape-on system seems like a lot of work.  How long is this going to take me to put on?

Actually, it's barely any work at all! Our hair systems have thin strips on the inside that show you exactly where to put the tape. We also can sell you pre-cut tape and curved tape that is specifically designed for the front part of your hair piece.  Just take the old tape off at night, put your hair piece on a block at night, and in the morning, put the new tape on and pop it on your clean scalp. We also show you a step-by-step and allow you to practice putting it on when you come in to pick up your piece, so you are comfortable with securing the piece on your own head.  Even our most hesitant clients are now able to spend less than 5 minutes on their hair each morning!

2.  Do I need a lot of special supplies for my hair piece?

Nope! The minimum recommended supplies are: Canvas or Styrofoam Block (and holder), Straight Pins, Hair Pick, Tape, and Spray Bottle. We sell all these and other styling tools and products at our Chicago location.

3.  Can I swim in it?

This is one of our most frequently asked questions with the most ignored answer. You should NOT SWIM IN YOUR HAIRPIECE! Hair pieces can be expensive, and the salts and minerals in ocean water, lake water, and swimming pools will damage the hair in the piece. With proper care, a hair piece can last up to 10 years. A hair piece that takes constant use, such as in swimming pools, showers, and while sleeping, on average will last between 3 months and 2 years. SO DON'T SWIM IN IT.

4.  So I shouldn't sleep in it, either?

No! Sleeping will cause the hair to mat and trying to brush out tangles will cause the hair to pull out of the base. As the piece loses hair, it will become patchy and have bald spots in it.

5.  How often should I clean it?

Every 3-4 weeks. We will clean your piece when you come in for a haircut; it is included in our service.  If you can't make it in that often, fill a basin or sink with warm water, remove your piece, and wash gently with sulfate-free shampoo. Try to keep the piece flat while washing and rub the shampoo in a wide circle-hard erratic scrubbing can mat the hair. If the shampoo does not lather, wash it again. Rinse the hair, roll it in a towel to remove the excess moisture, and pin it to the block to dry. We'll show you how when you come in!

6.  Will people be able to tell this is fake if they get to close to my head?

Our custom hair pieces are just that-custom. We believe that hair pieces should fit like contact lenses- a perfect fit, comfortable, light, and measured specifically for you. The light flexible base, combined with a perfect hair sample match and superior ventilation, will blend in completely with your scalp.  Our custom hair pieces are COMPLETELY UNDETECTABLE. And they are so light and breathable, even you will forget it's there!

7.   Can I use styling products?

There are a few specific styling products that are gentle enough for a hair piece, but everyday styling products like hairspray and gels will dry out and damage the hair piece. We carry several of the highest recommended hair piece-safe styling products that you can purchase during your next visit.

8.  How long will it stay on?

Depends on the adhesive. Bonding will last 2-3 months without removal. It doesn't require you to take it off, however, it will force you to sleep, shower, and swim with it on. See questions 3 and 4.  A tape-on method has to be taken off every night, but if the tape is new and your head is clean and oil-free, the tape will last without any problems all day long, and will only come off when you take it off.

9.  How long will it take to get a hair system?

From the time we take your measurements and head mold, it takes between 4 and 6 weeks for your piece to be complete, sometimes sooner if your piece is smaller.

10.  What if I don't like the style of my hair piece after I wear it a few days?

You have several options. Put your piece on the block, pin it down, and spray with water. Use the pick or a brush to re-style the hair. Custom pieces allow each individual hair a full range of motion, so you can wear it in any direction you want. If you still are not satisfied and require a new cut, just bring it back in and we'll fix it until you love it.

Do you have any questions for us about hair pieces, hair loss, or our business?  Post them below and we will answer them in our next blog!!

How to Extend the Life of Your Hair Piece

Custom hair pieces are made with precision and superior materials, so they can be pricey. However, this can be a very worthy investment if you take proper care of your piece.  A well made piece can cost about $1500-1700. If it is also cared for, cleaned regularly and stored correctly, it can last for up to 10 years. When you break that down, that is roughly 50 cents a day for the hair piece.

So what are the best steps to take to make a hair piece last 10 years? The answers are very simple. It only takes a few little things each day to keep your hair piece soft, flexible, and looking like new.

1. The method of adhesive used to attach a hair piece is crucial in determining its life expectancy.  Using a bonding (glue) method requires constant wear for 2-3 months at a time. This will shorten the life of the hair piece by 75%. Even the most durable natural human hair piece will only last 2-3 years when using the bonding method.  Surgical tape is inexpensive, easy to change, and allows the wearer to remove and adjust the hair piece while still providing a secure hold. A hair piece secured with surgical tape WILL last longer than a bonded piece. To learn a little more about tape vs. bonding, read our previous posts.

2. Keep your head clean. A hair piece can take on excess oil from the scalp if it is worn for too long and become dirty. It is also the cause of hair pieces sliding around on the head. The excess oil from the scalp damages the adhesive of the tape and makes it less effective.  Always thoroughly shampoo the hair AND scalp to ensure the piece stays clean and creates a clean surface for secure attachment.

3. Keep your piece clean. Hair pieces do not need to be washed as often as live hair, and they can dry out and turn a yellowish hue if shampooed too frequently or with shampoos that contain sulfates. Hair restoration salons like David Hansen Studios clean pieces with the proper tools and shampoos when clients come in for haircuts every 4-6 weeks.

4. Know when to take your hair piece off. Take your piece off before showering and sleeping. If you are going to swim with your head UNDER the water, take it off. It is that simple. Shampooing the piece with regular hair will cause it to age quickly. Sleeping in the piece can cause matting that has to be brushed out with force, causing the piece to lose hair and develop bald patches. If you are going into a pool, but do not plan on getting your head wet, you can wear it.  Chlorine and other salts and minerals that are found in pools, oceans, and other bodies of water make the hair brittle and cause it to break easily and often.  Taking your hair piece off at these times WILL protect the integrity of the hair and extend the life of your piece.

5.  Change the tape. A clean scalp can allow  you to re-use tape once on occasion. Check the tape on the piece after removing it. Press your finger to it to check the tackiness. If the tape has lost its stickiness, remove it and replace it. Putting new tape on top of old tape (layering) can cause the adhesive to melt and create a very sticky mess that will need additional cleaning. Tape is inexpensive and can be purchased pre-cut from David Hansen. It's so simple!

A lot of keeping a hair piece clean comes back to common sense. By creating good hair piece habits, you can enjoy your custom made hair replacement system for years to come!

Hair Pieces- The Best Place To Buy: The Price

Time Involved

Expect to wait a good month for your hairpiece to be custom-made. Remember, there is a great deal of work to be done in making the base, matching and blending the hair, and sewing the strands into the piece. 

You will be required to make only two or three visits to a shop in order to buy a hairpiece: one or two for and a final visit when the hairpiece is completed and ready to be cut and styled on your head. 

The Price

And now for a subject that interests everyone: Just how much does one of these hairpieces cost? 

The prices varies. As stated in an earlier chapter, you can buy the cheapest stock piece available or go the full route and order a custom made. Before making your decision, remember that you are buying something that will become a part of you. It won't be just an ornament or passing fad. It will be your hair. Only you can decide how much value to place on it. 

We are talking about a necessity for a man who is particular about his appearance and who desires to retain his youthful appearance. Good quality hairpieces were once a luxury- available to only the famous and the elite. Today, quality is within the reach of every man who cares about himself. 

Stock pieces with synthetic hair are naturally the least expensive, averaging around $350 for a full piece. Although the quality is not as impressive as in a custom made, there is still a great deal of work that goes into its production. 

Next in range, the semi-custom piece with a guaze or skin base, will run approximately $500 for the standard 5 inch by 8 inch size. Of course, if you are only beginning to bald, you can save money by just ordering a partial. For every inch ordered that is larger than the average size you should expect to pay an additional $50. However, this is required only in extreme balding cases. In fact, adjustments in the design of this type of hairpiece, may even bring the price down somewhat. 

Finally, for the ultimate in hairpieces, the custom-made piece with European hair and a lace base, you will have to pay between $500 and $600 for a full piece (5" by 8"). Again, for extra large pieces $50 will be required for each additional inch. As with any high quality item, the increased durability and effectiveness makes up for the higher price. This fact is especially true where hairpieces are concerned.
For custom pieces and styling check out my site at davidhansen.com 

Cancer hair loss

www.davidhansen.com
The common name for medical hair loss solution is cranial prosthesis.

These are designed by David Hansen for people experiencing hair loss due to:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation
• All types of Alopecia
• Burn victims
• Accident victims

Chemotherapy and radiation

• Many radiation and chemotherapy patients experience hair loss during their treatment. This could last anywhere from a year up, meanwhile there are solutions to this excessive hair loss. Custom made full skull-caps are especially designed to cover the entire balding area from the widow’s peak all the way to the nape of the neck. This gives the patient a full head of natural looking hair, similar to the way they had it before the hair loss.
  

Chemotherapy and cancer treatment hair loss

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, chemotherapy drugs, and radiation may result in hair loss. This can vary from temporary to permanent hair loss. While with chemotherapy the hair loss is usually temporary when it comes to radiation it can go either way.

With chemotherapy if an individual is going to lose their hair varies with each patient. Some people experience hair loss that usually begins one to three weeks after the beginning of treatment, others do not experience hair loss at all. The hair loss due to chemotherapy usually starts growing back anywhere from six months to a year after the treatment.

Since custom made cranial prosthesis take six to eight weeks to be produced depending on the time of the year, it is better to order your prosthesis before the hair loss occurs. By planning in advance it is also possible for David Hansen the hair replacement specialist(main page) to match your original hair color, texture, and wave pattern.

 

Insurance coverage options

Individuals experiencing hair loss due to medical reasons such as cancer, alopecia, accidents, or burns may be eligible for between 80 to a 100% reimbursement from their insurance provider.

 

There are several guidelines you need to follow in order to receive 

this coverage:

• Check the benefits of your insurance (usually there is a section under covered expenses that relates to prostheses.)
• You would need to ask your physician to write you a prescription for FULL CRANIAL HAIR PROSTHESIS
• To be safe you may also want to ask the physician to write a letter explaining the impact hair loss has on a person’s well being that are symptomatic  of your condition.  Low self esteem, depression and isolation are some common symptoms.
• Once you order your cranial hair prosthesis keep the copy of your sales or invoice receipt.
• You may also include a letter from you explaining the importance of the prosthesis for your well being.

Things to know when living with a hairpiece

Things to know when living with a hairpiece

When a person starts to wear a hair replacement system, there are certain things they must know in order to have it look natural and last for as long as possible. Here I will explain how it is to live with one and still live your daily life.

When thinking of getting a custom-made hairpiece, it would typically take 6-8 weeks from order date to come in to get it to the right specifications. The specifications would include color, texture, wave pattern of your natural hair and style. Reasons for that are not only to give the natural look but also to prevent any changes to the style when you come in for fitting of hairpiece.

Typically, a hairpiece can weigh about 2 ounces. It weighs that little after the cut and styling with your own natural hair. This is an advantage for you since it will feel undetectable and blend in with your own.

If you have read my previous blogs, I have stated that a tape on hairpiece is the best way and most sanitized way to wear a hair replacement system compared to when you bond on a hairpiece. It takes just a few minutes to put tape on the hairpiece. The tape used would be double-sided tape, and all that is needed is a few small pieces. When put on properly and when applied to a clean scalp, the hairpiece will not budge. Winds would blow YOU away before the hairpiece!

The hair replacement specialist will explain and show you how to place and tape on the hairpiece. If you can spare 3-4 minutes a day and have a wide-tooth comb or a bristle brush, a tape on hairpiece is for you. With time and more practice, you will probably do it with-in 1-2 minutes.  That type of comb and/or brush is best not only for your hairpiece but also for your own natural hair.

For the hairpiece to last the longest and keep looking its best, it is best not to shower and sleep in it. If you leave the hairpiece on, you are shortening the life of it. Your hairpiece is like clothing; you wouldn’t shower or sleep in it if you intend to wear it continuously. It also best not to swim or do strenuous activities outdoors whiling wearing it. Extensive sun can also cause the hairpiece to lighten in color, as much as 3-4 shades lighter. It is best and also suggested to have a synthetic one to knock around in and also your custom made hairpiece for all other activities.

When the hairpiece is in need of a servicing, bring it to your hair replacement specialist. The hairpiece is just like a car, you would take it to a mechanic unless you are a mechanic yourself, and it goes the same for the hairpiece. It must be cleaned with special fluid that performs best only by a professional. Typically, every time you would need a haircut, the hairpiece should be treated just as good.

A hairpiece, if taken care of, would last up to a year and maybe longer, with few or no adjustments or repairs required. The main “repairs” needed for a hairpiece is re-coloring, addition of more hair, and/or replacement of base.  It may seem like a custom made hairpiece is expensive but it would be well worth the money in the end compared to a stock piece, which you would probably have to keep buying month after month and end up paying the same amount. Quality is always better than quantity. Hope this helped to give some answers and feedback. Good Luck & Good Looking

David Hansen,

The Ultimate Mens Hairstylist & Hairpiece Specialist

Chicago, IL

www.davidhansen.com

312-943-8171

How to choose best hair loss system from best person

How to choose best hair loss system from best person

     By researching and investing the time to find the right hair replacement system, you will save money and time in the end. You can avoid disappointment with the finished product with the right start. To start you should have trust in an expert of hair systems. When you have that trust, you will feel safe and you will know “the expert” will help you look good.

         I believe you should stay away from mail-order hairpieces and pre-styled creations. It is preferably best to buy a hairpiece from experts that specialize in manufacturing their own custom-made hair replacement system. Only then will you own a quality, customized product. With a custom-made hairpiece, you’re measured with all the curves and shapes it has to perfect the fit of the hair system, to give it the right fit. With mail order, you get none of those specifications, which means the hairpiece might not “fit like a glove”. The correct hair replacement system is kind of like a good suit. You are measured over all to perfect the fit, so you will look good. You can choose the quality of material by how good you want to look, same goes for hairpieces. You will pay more to look your best, cotton vs. silk as mail order vs. custom-made. The right stylist will give you the correct option in their eyes for the best beneficial result for you, and not only be anxious to see money in the end.

  The steps involved in this is an interview and asking the right questions to decide if a hairpiece is in the right category for you. Asking a client questions about daily life activities will also clarify their wants/needs for the hair replacement system. A hairpiece is not a fountain of youth. Although it does help and take some years off a person’s age, it will not help you look like you did in your twenties. After the interview, the design and measurement are taken into account. Texture and color are also taken into account so that the custom-made hairpiece will look just as natural and blend in with your real hair. Amount of hair is decided on if you need a partial or a full cap hair loss system. Production of hairpiece does usually take 6-8 weeks, but that is only to benefit client into assembling hairpiece to perfection. As soon as hairpiece is completed, client is called in to get cut and styled with hairpiece on for the best look possible. Only then is when your new hair be secured into the right position.

        David Hansen’s sale is not complete until you (the client) is completely satisfied. I look to create a bond between barber and customer. I guarantee that hair replacement systems I create live up to the workmanship and quality of materials agreed upon. If any more questions feel free to ask me, I’m more than willing to give an honest opinion about the matter.  

David Hansen

The Ultimate Mens Hairstylist & Hairpiece Specialist

Chicago, Il

www.davidhansen.com

312-943-8171

What is your best choice? Tape On or Bonding a Hair Piece?

With so many products out there to choose from it is hard to decide which is the best hair loss solution. Mother Nature changes her mood every day and you shouldn’t have to struggle with decisions such as that.

Since the hot and humid summer days are upon us people tend to perspire more than usual. It is during these days that having a hair replacement held on with tape is ideal, you can still enjoy most of your regular activities without worrying that the hair piece will fall off. The tape is made form two-way adhesive, strong and hypo-allergenic material. A custom made hair piece designed specifically for you can be ventilated, this allows your scalp to“breath”. You also have the option of taking the hair replacement system off in order to clean your scalp whenever necessary. The amount of tape needed varies depending on how much you perspire and the activities involved in your everyday life. A single piece can be used for a couple days or changed daily.

                                                           

Bonding is Semi-permanent which means it gets glued on for a relatively long time(1month to 3 months) without the option of taking the system off. There are both good and bad aspects associated with this method of hair replacement attachment. You don’t have to worry about your hair piece coming off in water, or about applying tape daily or every other day. The flaw in this becomes that because the piece is wore 24/7 its lifespan is very short. This leads to expensive routine visits to hair loss professional so that the hair replacement system can be removed/replaced and clean. Not giving the scalp enough breathing room can cause more damage to the hair that is left over and trying to grow. This is also very unsanitary resulting in unpleasant odor, as well as a collection of dead skins and oils underneath the piece. For some people leaving the hairpiece on without taking it off can also cause irritated skin and cause open cuts on scalp.

I prefer tape-on because it is simpler, sanitary, and more affordable. My clients enjoy this easier way of maintenance with fewer problems. I can show each individual how to switch tape on the hair loss system to make the process faster by the minute and EASIER for each and every individual. Being you have male pattern baldness, or hair loss from a medical condition (alopecia, chemotherapy), it is best to research your options and choose the right hair replacement system for you. Tape on and bonding each have its own pros and cons, but in the end it is always up to you.

Thank You,

David Hansen

www.davidhansen.com