13 tips to increase the lifespan of your toupee

For men experiencing hair loss, a hair system (toupee) is a great solution that offers a natural and comfortable way to regain their confidence.

Our customers typically get between 12 to 18 months of wear from our Cool Lace systems and between 9 to 12 months from our Silk Lace systems. There are many factors that affect the lifespan of a hair system, including environmental factors, lifestyle, and maintenance routines.

Here are 13 essential tips that will help to increase the lifespan of your hair system:

1. Avoid washing with hot water. Hot water can damage the shaft of the hair, making it dry, frizzy, and brittle over time. When maintaining your toupee, avoid using hot water whenever possible. Instead, use lukewarm water to wash your toupee, as it will help to retain the quality of the hair.

2. Avoid blow-drying with high heat. Blow-drying your toupee with hot air will damage the hair shaft, making it dry and brittle. It’s best to avoid high heat when blow-drying your toupee. Instead, use cool air to dry your hair, as it will help to maintain the quality of the hair over time.

3. Avoid combing your hair while it’s wet. Combing your hair while it’s wet can cause damage to the hair shaft, resulting in hair breakage. Before combing your hair, ensure that it’s dry by using a hair dryer with cool air. Avoid sleeping while your toupee is wet too, as the rubbing between your hair and your pillow can also cause hair to break when it is wet.

4. Use a stand for your toupee. Using a wig stand will help to retain the shape of your toupee over time. When not in use, store your toupee on a wig stand to maintain its shape and prevent it from becoming tangled or damaged.

5. Use conditioners often. Apply conditioner every time you maintain your hair system. Conditioning the hair will help to keep it looking healthy and shiny, thereby extending the lifespan of the toupee.

6. Never tug excessively when removing adhesive tape. When removing adhesive tape from your toupee, be sure to apply enough tape removal solution, and let it sit for a minute before trying to peel off the tape. Tugging the tape strongly may stretch the base of your toupee or even tear it. Always be gentle when removing adhesive tape from your toupee. If in doubt, apply more removal solution and wait!

7. Be selective with hair styling products. Hair styling products that are easy to wash off, and avoid products that contain alcohol. Hair styling products can damage the hair shaft, so it’s best to use them sparingly. When using hair styling products, choose products that are easy to wash off and do not contain alcohol. If possible, choose a hairstyle that requires minimum styling.

8. Be gentle when styling your hair. Avoid tugging and pulling your hair excessively when styling your hair system, as this may cause hair breakage. Instead, be gentle when styling your toupee, and use a blow dryer (on cool air mode) to help you create the style you want.

9. Apply hair oil regularly. Oil helps to keep moisture in hair. Applying hair oils such as argan oil or coconut oil to your toupee during every maintenance will help to keep it looking smooth and hydrated. Dry and brittle hair is more likely to break or become damaged, which can shorten the lifespan of your toupee. For the best results, apply hair oil to the toupee when it is dry, using a small amount at a time to avoid making it look greasy.

10. Avoid being in the sunlight for extended periods. Sunlight and heat can damage the hair, causing it to become dry, brittle, and lose its color. It is essential to keep your toupee out of direct sunlight whenever possible, especially during the hottest part of the day. If you do need to be in the sun, wear a hat or use a toupee with a built-in UV protectant.

11. After swimming, shampoo your toupee. It is totally fine to swim with a toupee. However, chlorine water and sea water can cause hair to become dry and brittle, so it is essential to shampoo your toupee after swimming. This will help to remove any chemicals or saltwater residue that may have accumulated on the toupee, preventing them from damaging the hair shaft over time. You can also apply leave-in conditioner before dipping into the water to protect your toupee.

12. Be careful when shampooing your toupee. While washing your hair with a toupee on, make sure to avoid rubbing the hair in a circular motion as it may result in tangles and breakage. It's best to follow the natural direction of the hair and shampoo it gently to prevent damage. Rubbing the hair in all directions may cause tangling and make detangling harder, leading to breakage.

13. Avoid scratching. On the rare occasion that your scalp itches while wearing the hair system, refrain from aggressive scratching as it may cause hairs to break or damage to the toupee's base. Rather than scratching, you can attempt to alleviate the itch by softly tapping the affected area. If the itching persists, you could go to a washroom, unclip the back and sides and give your scalp a good scratch before clipping it back on.

By following these tips, you can extend the lifespan of your toupee, reducing the overall cost of wearing a hair system over time. It is important to remember that regular maintenance and proper care are key to keeping your toupee looking great for as long as possible.

If these tips seem overwhelming, don't worry. You'll get better at maintaining your toupee with time. I recall when I was looking after my first few systems, I frequently tangled the hair and had to spend significant amount of time to detangle it, resulting in hair breakage and even tearing of some of the toupees. But now, maintaining my toupee is a piece of cake!

A hair toupee is a great solution for men with hair loss, and with proper care, it can continue to look fresh for longer. Using hair oil, avoiding hot water, and shampooing after swimming are all simple steps that can help to extend the lifespan of your toupee. Following these tips will not only keep you looking fantastic for a longer period of time but also save you money in the long run. For more useful tips on maintaining men's hair systems, be sure to follow EasyMane.