Hi Eric... my side hair actually is incredibly thin. Its getting to the point where you see portions of the scalp through it (big portions) so my template is to cover the whole head rather than just my balding spot.

I'm currently closest to a norwood IV, with more advanced side temple and side recession. My back hair is also thinning near the top so I guess its just the luck of the draw - I didn't exactly have a thick hair shaft as a child so every little bit of thinning is that much worse.

Your question about template making - you can make the template any way you want, traditionally if you're doing a template for a topper you only do the top of the head and not the full head (like me) and it doesn't matter if you don't get your balding area exactly - a little bit bigger can be trimmed down, but getting it just right is a better option. In my experience though, I wouldn't do it too small.. I brought michigan baldy's dvd (hes a topper wearer, at least in the vid) and he said he likes to make his a little smaller so he can strech it .. but don't take that as advice for yourself, bigger is better than smaller - but ideally the exact balding area is better.

I attached some pictures of hairstyles i'll be going for at the bottom - note though as I'm getting a fullcap it makes it much easier to pull off (as I can ensure an even density of hair). I don't know what your side hair is like density wise so keep that in mind.

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Paul, that looks awesome, much appreciated. I agree with your input and especially the tendency to make templates bigger.. I'm not sure what style would suit me as its been quite long since I've had enough hair to choose any style (when I started wearing a topper my side hair density wasn't hot to begin with) but I was thinking of the styles pictured below. Either way, I'd like to include some of my hair at the nape as a transition as you say - soften it up, depends if my color match is close enough I guess.

I'll snip up my template tonight according to your suggested line and post up some pics tomorrow / this evening. Thanks!


attached are some hair styles I'll probably go for, although my color will be different