I attached links to some pictures of my hair to give a better outlook on the matter.

Looking at them, some might think it is too early to make the switch but I am not sure it is due to two major factors:

1. Concealer works only at the crown and is messy so any physical contact is risky, at best. Besides it puts restrictions on clothing and bed linen. I used to be able to minimise it by wearing concealer two days in a row, which made it shed very little the second day, but recently I noticed I don’t get that good coverage the next day anymore and so have to replenish, and that’s about 10-15min time wasted each morning.

2. Hairline - it is about 2cm too high and with my facial features it is a disadvantage.


Now, onto specific questions:

Sample size

I was told sample size should be 3cm long and at thickness of a pencil. This is a lot for someone with relatively short hair. Even if I am able to gather pencile-thick sample, it won’t be 3cm long because I don’t want to make my crown thinner than it already is.
On the other hand, I suppose it is somewhat important to get the sample large enough because of my a-typical blond shade. What size is good enough, then?


Template

As you can see, my crown needs replacing. If I understand correctly, having a partial has no advantages over a topper, at the same time being more difficult to match, more work at applying and when off, you look worse than with shaved top. That’s why I’m thinking of full top unit (not full cap, but like the guy in the logo here). The question is - how far back beyond the crown should I go and how wide should I shave?


Density

Being blond and fair, my hair is fine but dense. What density should I go for so that overall there is no transparency at all, and in the crown area, the visible scalp is restricted to at the very most that this (preferably LESS): http://img51.imageshack.us/i/7nondirectdaylight.jpg/ )
As you can see, this is pretty much what I am achieving now with concealer on crown and I’d like to keep it this way

Also - is denser unit less detectable to touch?


Graduation

I want a non-graduated hairline. Even now sometimes I am not sold alcohol if I can't produce an ID so I'd like to keep things as dense as realism allows. Particularly so because I always had thick hair and I still do at the back, sides, and partially in front.

Colour

Judging from the pictures in various light conditions (incandescent light, overcast daylight and bright daylight) what do you think my hair colour is in terms of TopLace colour numbering? Do you think it would be difficult to reproduce by the factory?

If after some time of getting the unit I decide to put on some highlights of slightly lighter blond than my own, can this be done, or do I have to think about it before ordering?


Base

I was thinking about French lace but reading through here I found Swiss is less detectable to touch and feel, as well as to your own scalp skin awareness. Is Swiss significantly less durable and prone to damage? I plan on reaplication of every 7 days and quick showering every 1 - 2 days. Hairstyle combed forward with hairline exposed only partially but I’d like it to look natural when I run my fingers through the hair or when wind reverses my hairstyle (I live in a pretty windy place).


Bond

What kind of bonding agent should I choose as a beginner? Which one is less detectable to touch? What is easier to maintain? What holds the longest? I understand there probably is none being best in all categories, but taking all factors into consideration, what would be your choice?

Any input will be appreciated.

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Pics with concealer (1-2 months old, for colour/density estimation):
http://img576.imageshack.us/g/2temple.jpg/

Pics without concealer (2-3 years old, today situation is a bit worse, crown in particular):
http://img88.imageshack.us/g/1crown.jpg/

Recent wet pictures:
http://img132.imageshack.us/g/wet1n.jpg/

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The style I am aiming at is a mix of this:
http://static.tvfanatic.com/images/galle...58x837.jpg

and that:
http://weblogs.cw11.com/news/local/morni...n1002a.jpg

with sides more like in the last one as mine are a bit too uncontrollable when long.