I'm 31. For many years, I had that typical male balding pattern and for 4 years now, I've been wearing a toplace hairpiece with which I got along very well. As my hairstyle is quite long, it took a while before I noticed what was going on with the rest of my hair.

RADICAL THINNING. Over the last 12 months, it seems like I have LOST ABOUT 70% of what I had of rest hair. The thing is: My rest hair has thinned so heavily that it hardly fits to the avarage/low hair piece density. And it's getting worse.

In my case, it can have many reasons: First of all, I have a slight iron deficiency as I'm not only a vegetarien but also had poor nutrition habits throughout the last years. PLUS I'm having a thyroid disfunction (hypofunction) which hasn't been treated for 24 months. PLUS I'm having stress and bad sleeping...

What really SHOCKED me, last week, is that when I went to a hair specialist, he told me that the hair I've been losing in my sides and back is very UNLIKELY TO COME BACK! Even after successfully treating the deficiency symptoms.

That was like a slap in my face. And I'm still shocked.

I want at least my back and side hair back!!! Please! I'm taking the thyroxin again, I started a better nutrition and I would even give up vegetarianism after many years.

Are the chances really that bad?

Hi there...sorry to hear of your problems. Hmmmm, a few things `going on` obviously. Firstly I`m no medical [or any other] `` Expert`` so my in-put is purely as an `ordinary`person, and my own experiences generally. It is not necessary to stop being vegetarian to be `healthy`.... a sensible multi-vitamin daily will normally assist with any possible deficiencies... men in general do not lose Iron and do not need iron supplements...I`d advise you to have a chat/consultation with your doctor who can do some blood tests for a definitive answer to what you may need or not as the case may be. I was strictly vegetarian for many years and my blood-count was way above what was considered `normal`for a healthy male... so that nails that myth that veggies are not generally healthy.....eating a balanced diet including proteins such as from goats cheese/milk and plenty of fresh veg like broccoli/cabbage etc will provide iron etc. Your physician can advise on your hair-loss status too and whether or not it will re-grow. It may be typical baldness which has advanced [early-ish] in your case , or it may be temporary due to stress etc. I too am not a great sleeper, but find `melatonin` helpful rather than prescribed synthetic pharmacological drugs...it`s available in the USA over the counter in health food stores [`Wholehealth`being one] You may find it helpful..... so my advice is see your doctor and discuss your situation with him/her..best regards, Paul.

Well, the good thing is that at least we know now that full caps are a viable option. When I started doing it everyone said "NO!....you can't get good results with a full cap!" but we have blown that myth right out of the water. Hopefully you get the issue sorted out so you don't have to make any changes. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Yeah, hopefully... but this hope gets smaller day by day. Hair status is very poor, I've already been to my doctor who did blood tests, resulting in bad ferritin values and anemia and thyroid disfunction. We'll see whether or not my hair will recover within the next months when getting those values back to normal. (2 months passed with thyroxin and better nutrition, no change so far, even getting worse, I think).

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
- Right man, but I feel there IS something broke and I am thinking seriously about changing to a full cap (about spring of 2012). It could fix several issues at once, but would bring new problems at the beginning, I suppose:

I'm wearing a long hair style (12 inches), by the way!

The PRO sides for a full wig:
+ never again trouble about coulour/structure matching
+ any density and length will be okay, won't have to cut own hair to fit the wig
+ in windy weather, my COMPLETE hair will move like ONE piece. Currently, when the wind blows, my topper wig hair blows up easily while my own hair stays lying down - that looks totally fake then. That's why, outsides I often wear a headband - but that fits well to my overall "hippie look"

The CONTRA sides would be:
- after MASTERING the topper attachment after years, the attachment of a full cap may vary and I'll have to start learning it again. Maybe it's generally more difficult than attaching a topper and one can make more mistakes then? It takes much more time, doesn't it?
- more expensive (but that would still be okay as long as Toplace keeps the current price niveau)
- complete head covers with a lace base and fake hair, even in the nape, above the sideburn... mmh, what does this actually FEEL like??
- There are occasions when it's practical to wear a ponytail (for example when working at machines and so on). Till now, that looked greatly natural because the lower hairline in the nape was fed by my own hair. I'm afraid that when wearing a full cap, a ponytail could expose some edges?

By the way, would it be easy to stay at my habit of wearing 5 days in a row? Or is this different with ful caps?

Last but not least, my sci-fi question
I'd like to make the BEST sample of my head shape that's possible. Idea: Ain't there already 3D scanners used for industrial purposes? Wouldn't it be great to 3D-scan one's head (including ears, eyes, everything) store it to a software file and have it reproduced in ANY kind of material? Wouldn't that be the most adequate sample the wig factory could EVER get from your head shape? and stored to a software file, this sample could be reproduced over and over again for later use. What do you think?

(08-25-2011, 02:44 AM)UncleDonald Wrote: The CONTRA sides would be:
- after MASTERING the topper attachment after years, the attachment of a full cap may vary and I'll have to start learning it again. Maybe it's generally more difficult than attaching a topper and one can make more mistakes then? It takes much more time, doesn't it?

I wouldn't say it is more difficult. Takes a little more time to attach but the method I use allows me to get it on straight every time. I always had issues with attaching partial units- either the hairline was a bit off or it didn't line up on the sides and back. With a full cap I attach at the nape first using a strip of tape that is pre-applied to the unit. From that point the hair is "anchored" in place and I simply roll it forward to get it to fall into place.

Quote:- more expensive (but that would still be okay as long as Toplace keeps the current price niveau)

True, but this is counteracted to an extent by the fact that you only have to cut it once. You will save time or money not having to worry about maintenance cuts.

Quote:- complete head covers with a lace base and fake hair, even in the nape, above the sideburn... mmh, what does this actually FEEL like??

I am assuming you are asking what it feels like to you, the person who is wearing it?

To me it feels the same as wearing a partial. The sensation might be a little bit different in the beginning but as with anything you get used to it. The key with a full cap is to use plenty of attachment points so it doesn't slide around on your head. If it moves it can cause irritation and discomfort.

Quote:- There are occasions when it's practical to wear a ponytail (for example when working at machines and so on). Till now, that looked greatly natural because the lower hairline in the nape was fed by my own hair. I'm afraid that when wearing a full cap, a ponytail could expose some edges?

Haven't really had much feedback from men who wear full caps regarding this issue, but I have seen pictures of women wearing an "up do" style with a full cap and it looked excellent. Probably going to be like with the hairline where maintenance is the key. If you wear it this way you will also probably want to specify to the factory that you need the nape area crafted with the same care as the hairline (small, well bleached knots).

Quote:By the way, would it be easy to stay at my habit of wearing 5 days in a row? Or is this different with ful caps?

I am able to get up to a one week attachment with a full cap, and my body breaks down adhesives and tapes FAST. My biggest problem was with irritation. I finally realized that if I used more tape to anchor it down better I could get a couple more days out of my attachments.

Quote:Last but not least, my sci-fi question
I'd like to make the BEST sample of my head shape that's possible. Idea: Ain't there already 3D scanners used for industrial purposes? Wouldn't it be great to 3D-scan one's head (including ears, eyes, everything) store it to a software file and have it reproduced in ANY kind of material? Wouldn't that be the most adequate sample the wig factory could EVER get from your head shape? and stored to a software file, this sample could be reproduced over and over again for later use. What do you think?

That would be pretty cool. Maybe even have a virtual map of your head where you could transpose different hairlines, colors, etc. right on a computer screen, in real time just like a plastic surgeon might do.

Until the day comes where we can buy a 3-D laser scanner for $49.95 a tape template is more than adequate though. And it doesn't have to be absolutely perfect. You don't have to mimic every single minute bump on your head. Just as long as the factory knows the basic shape of your head and the placement of the hairline, temples, nape, etc. you will be fine.

Let us know how it goes!

Hey JRob (and also Paul),
thank you for your detailed reply. It helped me a lot

Hope your health-issues will improve very soon .. I`m sure your doctor can help resolve them so it`s wise to follow his/her advice. I don`t swallow everything the medical profession tells us, but certainly, there are times when we have to be guided and advised by them....I`m a great believer in `prevention is better than cure` but even people with ideal diets and lifestyles can and do fall ill, and need medical attention. My main `gripe` is the over-use of anti-biotics for relatively minor ailments which has helped the rise of so -called `super-bugs` which are resistant to them. JRob is very experienced in the full-cap arena, and is always willing to advise...... I totally agree with his observation that at least, if there is no sign of your improving, you have the option of going the full-cap route. I`m wearing my first full-cap only a few weeks now and far happier than struggling with physically blending-in toppers onto worsening/thinning growing hair and color-blending when the hair oxides as all system hair does.....the full-cap world has it`s own slightly different issues [mostly to do with bonding materials] but as you are already experienced at wearing toppers, you`ll find it relatively easy to get used to.... my 2nd fullcap is in transit at the moment and I should have it within the next 10 days or so ......so more pics to follow for the forum !! Hope it all works out whatever route you go...feel free to post any further questions you might have as they arise ...cheers, Paul.

What is actually the look&feel of a full cap when working out and sweating?

and - different topic, sorry - does any of you have experience with that so-called X5 hair laser? (shall stimulate/support hair growth, and one hair specialist recommended it to me).

Don't know about the hair laser but as far as the full cap and sweating goes I usually try to wear a bandana because when you work up a really good sweat the hair around the edges will get soaked while the rest stays dry. I haven't really tested this but it could potentially look odd and might accentuate any lines a the edge of the base. I throw a bandana on tied like a headband just so I don't have to think about it.