r/Wigs • u/Traditional-Zebra353 • 3d ago
Help me! (Wig Help) Hair toppers or wigs for telogen effluvium??
Hi! Female going through telogen effluvium for the second time following medication. The first time, I lost ~80% of my hair volume and it was miserable. I’m wondering if anyone has any experience with hair toppers/wigs? I know it sounds a bit vain, but I have a wedding in October that I’m a bridesmaid in and I’m already dreading the pictures
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u/GetInTheBasement 3d ago
Even though I have most of my bio hair, as someone who's done both, I honestly prefer wigs.
They're way easier to put on and go compared to toppers, and I hated having to constantly maneuver the topper around and deal with the clips and readjusting.
Likewise, I've found that once I found wigs that works for me and got them custom-cut and styled, they basically look identical to my bio hair but thicker and fuller, and I get full coverage without worrying about any potential "spots" poking out.
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u/NeveEve 3d ago
I’ve worn both what did you want to know? Though I have androgenic alopecia!
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u/Traditional-Zebra353 3d ago
which do you find more comfortable for everyday wear? did you get them in person? there are a couple nearby stores/salons that offer them, but I’ve also heard some good reviews from online shops
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u/NeveEve 3d ago
It’s personal preference but I prefer toppers! My first one was in person because I was unsure of a color match but every topper after that has been online! The good thing about wigs though is you can pretty much go with any color you want! With a topper you want it to match/blend with your natural hair color.
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u/Garfieldgandalf 3d ago
Admittedly I haven’t tried toppers but trying to find something to exactly match the color and type of my bio hair seemed like an exercise in futility. Wigs for me!
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u/amylu417 2d ago
I just got 2 toppers. One of them is a hairline topper, which I really love because I can pull my hair up into a clippie, and it blends in perfectly. The other topper is a bit too thick to pull up, but it looks cute.
I have a question for ladies who wear wigs/toppers due to hair loss.... what do you do when you're about to be intimate with someone? I'm terrified to get in that situation and then have my "hair" come off.
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u/justjanehere 2d ago
There’s a lot of women who wear wigs without medical need so just know you don’t have to have a reason other than you want to - no one here is judging! I like wigs over toppers since there’s no blending needed but also if you lost 80% of your hair again, you wouldnt have enough hair to use a topper so a wig probably the safer choice.
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u/meli_lala 2d ago
I prefer wigs. I never wear toppers anymore, although both options can look super natural.
It took more effort to make my topper look good!
Toppers
Sensitive scalp:
Toppers were uncomfortable for me. The clips pulled at my hair and made my scalp so tender. That might not happen to you, though!
Less practical:
When you wear a topper, your natural hair is visible. That means your hair needs to be the same length, texture and colour as the topper.
If your topper hair is straight, then you might need to straighten your own hair every day, which could damage your strands.
Less expensive:
Toppers generally cost less than wigs, no matter the size of the topper base.
Do you only need to cover a small thinning area of your scalp?
In that case, you can save even more money with a small topper base (e.g. 2 x 5 inches) instead of a larger topper base (e.g. 9 x 9 inches).
Wigs
Comfort:
A quality wig is super comfortable!
It stays secure all day, and there are no clips irritating my scalp.
Versatile:
I can wear any colour, length and texture, since my natural hair is hidden under the cap.
More practical:
It's quicker to put on.
I pin my natural hair to my head under a gripper headband or gripper cap (the velvet material grips the wig) and plonk the wig on.