What Is a Toupee? Everything You Need to Know Men’s Hairpieces and the Best 10 Toupees for Men

When someone asks, “What is a toupee?” What pops into your head? Chances are, it’s a flashback to some old photos of men in suits with slightly too-perfect hairlines.

Fast forward to 2025, and toupees have undergone a serious upgrade. Some address toupees as a hair replacement system. Regardless, toupees are becoming one of the most refined and widely used solutions for men dealing with hair loss or thinning hair.

In simple language, a toupee is a partial hairpiece or wig designed to cover thinning or balding areas. Similar to hair extensions, human hair toupees are made to blend with your natural hair. This way, it will give you or your client a convincing, full-of-hair look.

However, men’s toupees are a temporary solution and not a miracle cure. They won’t stop hair loss in its tracks, but they can provide instant volume and length, boosting your confidence in the meantime.

In this post, we’re diving into the world of human hair toupees—what they are, how they work, who they’re best suited for, and what your other options might be if you’re not quite sold on sporting one yourself.

What Is a Toupee?

Toupees are mainly used by men. Unlike traditional wigs for men, which are used to cover the entire head, a toupee for men is a small hairpiece worn at the top of the wearer’s scalp, covering areas affected by hair loss or thinning.

Most men’s toupees cover the top of the head up to the front hairline because these areas are most prone to male pattern hair loss. Some men, however, get toupees that cover only the crown; these are called crown hairpieces, hair patches, or hair toppers for men.

A toupee typically consists of the base and the hair. The base is a piece of lace, poly, mono, or a combination of these materials, where synthetic fibers or ethically sourced human hair is attached (usually hand-tied).

The English term toupee comes from the French word toupet, meaning a wisp or tuft of hair. When the first model came out in the early 18th century, they were used for the same purpose as today, which was to cover baldness.

However, at the end of the 18th century, toupees became more of a style than a hair loss solution. They were made with exaggerated hair volume that hardly looked like a part of the wearer’s own hair.

With the development of modern-day toupee-making technology, today’s toupees are made to serve two simple purposes: One, giving you a realistic, full-head-of-hair look in every way. Two, comfortable and breathable, so that you can barely feel it.

Refer to our related post about a toupee vs a wig.

How Do Hair Toupees Work?

Toupees can be secured to the head using professional adhesive or tape. mono and lace toupees, also known as mesh hair systems, whose base has thousands of holes; liquid adhesive will easily seep through and get the hair stuck. So, most stylists only attach mesh hair systems using tape.

Want to know the details of attaching a toupee to your client’s head? Read post: How to Apply a Toupee on Your Client’s Head.

Poly skin toupees, also known as thin skin hair systems, whose base is a thin poly membrane, like human skin. The hair usually gets v-looped or injected into the poly base, ensuring a knotless effect. They can be applied using adhesive or tape, ideal for sports lovers and new wearers.

Read related: Ventilation Techniques for Skin Hair Systems

Did you know that you can’t just brush glue or adhesive on the underside of the thin skin base and attach it to the wearer’s scalp? For details, refer to our post: When Is the Glue Ready for Hair System?

Rarely, some clients want their toupees with clips attached so they can be clipped to their existing hair in several places, like female hair toppers. However, when the term “toupee” or “hair system” is mentioned, most stylists and wearers will have the impression that they should be attached using glue or tape.

Watch and finish watching this short video to get an idea of how to work a human hair toupee:

Men’s Toupee Before and After

Check our client feedback (click to view more) to find out how today’s modern hair system can transform your client’s look!

As one of the best wholesale toupee suppliers, Newtimes Hair manufactures and supplies human hair toupees for men of the highest quality.

How Long Do Toupees Stay On?

For permanent toupees attached using glue or tape, usually every 2-3 weeks, somewhere along the edge of the toupee base will start lifting.

When this happens, you need to go back to your stylist for a touchup — get these lifted spots glued or taped back down. But most permanent toupees remain attached to the scalp for 3-6 weeks on average.

For skin toupees attached with adhesive, to maintain perfect hygiene and prolong their lifespan, it is recommended to go back to the stylist every three weeks for a wash and reattachment, giving the scalp a proper breath.

Wearers wearing toupees with clips don’t have to worry about this. They can put their toupee on in the morning and remove it before bed, so their scalp can breathe and rest properly on a daily basis.

Read related: How to Live an Everyday Life with a Hair System

How Long Do Toupees Last?

When talking about “how long a toupee lasts,” we mean the toupee’s lifespan. It’s different from how long it remains attached to your scalp.

After each maintenance and wash, you can still have your toupee put back on till the next maintenance session. But, after a toupee lives out its lifespan, it cannot be used anymore, you have to throw it away and get a new one.

Thin skin toupees usually last from 3 weeks to 6 months, depending on base thickness. Swiss lace toupees last 3-4 months, and monofilament toupees are the most durable ones, which usually last 6-12 months. However, to prolong its lifespan, a proper caring routine is key.

To get a detailed guide on how long a toupee will last, refer to our related post: How Long Do Toupees Last?

Pros of Wearing a Hair Toupee

The most significant advantage of wearing a toupee is that toupees give you or your client instant volume. It’s a quick and efficient solution used to fight a balding crown.

Male pattern baldness (known as androgenetic alopecia) is a common issue that affects almost 50% of men before they turn 50. The hair loss population is getting younger and younger. Many young guys experience hair loss even in their late 20s.

Toupees can instantly cover up baldness and many common signs of hair thinning. They are an ideal option for a bald patch or diffuse thinning (hair loss happens randomly all over the head), or a bald patch without harming the wearer’s scalp.

This is a key advantage toupees hold over hair transplants. Since hair loss can progress unpredictably and appear in new areas over time, even after the considerable expense and effort of a transplant procedure, there’s no guarantee against future balding.

A toupee offers adaptable, non-invasive coverage regardless of how hair loss evolves. Plus, toupees allow for a wide range of styling options, making the hair look just like real hair. When fitted properly, no one could tell where your real hair ends and the hairpiece begins.

Last not the least, toupees don’t require prescriptions. You or your client can order any shape and size at affordable pricing.

Cons of Using a Hair Toupee

As mentioned in the beginning, toupees for men aren’t a permanent cure. They are a cover-up for hair loss. Yet, the hair loss symptom may continue to get worse over time.

To some people, it may still feel inconvenient to return to the stylist every 3-4 weeks to apply adhesive or tape to reattach it to the scalp. And each time this may take at least half an hour to sit in the stylist’s chair.

In cases of male pattern baldness, certain medications or surgical treatments may help slow or even reverse the condition. Skipping these options and opting straight for a hair system might allow the condition to progress, potentially becoming untreatable over time.

Therefore, for male pattern baldness, it’s generally advisable to explore medical treatments before turning to a toupee.

How Much Does a Toupee Cost a Wearer?

Toupee prices range from $100 to several thousand. A high-quality, perfectly realistic-looking, and comfortable toupee can be quite pricey, especially when it needs to be applied by a highly skilled professional. In that case, a hefty service fee must also be factored in.

As a rule of thumb, the more realistic a toupee looks and the more comfortable it feels on the head, the more it will cost. The old saying, “You get what you pay for,” fits toupees perfectly.

While a natural-looking toupee can mimic real hair almost flawlessly, a poorly made one can be an obvious giveaway. That’s why more expensive options typically deliver better results.

To keep your toupee looking its best, maintenance costs should also be considered. Adhesives, tapes, and various hair products will add up over time.

Related: How Much Does a Toupee Cost a Wearer per Year?

What Does a Bad Toupee Do to Your Hair and Your Look?

What is a toupee as what a good or bad toupee is like? Bad toupees can give you away in several ways, such as

1. Hair texture looks fake. The best toupees are always made with human hair. Bad toupees, like those made from synthetic fibers, often have an artificial, plastic-like texture that gives them away.
2. Hair color doesn’t match yours. If you or your client wears a toupee, the hair color should match their natural hair as closely as possible. Too much contrast will make it obvious where the natural hair ends and the toupee hair begins.
3. A look that’s “too perfect.” Very few 60- or 70-year-olds have a perfectly shaped hairline like a 20-year-old. Bad toupees often come with a flawless Norwood 1 hairline, which looks unnatural for men over 40 or 50.
4. A hair density that’s too high. More density doesn’t mean better. A good-quality toupee should look as natural as possible, meaning the hair density matches the wearer’s natural hair and is age-appropriate. In many cases, Low-density hair systems deliver a more realistic appearance.

Alternative Hair Loss Treatments Besides Toupees

If you or your client has random bald spots on their scalp and is seeking medication that might solve your problem permanently, consider the following:

1. A hair transplant surgery
2. Finasteride
3. Minoxidil
4. Use onion or ginger
5. A well-balanced diet

We’ll briefly go through them one by one.

Hair Transplant Surgery

Hair transplant surgery is a permanent cure. But whether or not it is a permanent cure practically is another question.

Want to know whether hair transplant surgery is right for you? Refer to our related post: Hair Transplant vs. Hair System – Which is Right for You?

Conditions like alopecia areata, diffuse thinning, or any random bald patch due to an unknown disease may not be suitable for hair transplants. It’s recommended to see a dermatologist first because in such conditions, balding and thinning could happen anywhere on the head, and you’ll never know.

If the balding is due to aging or typical male pattern baldness, in the form of a noticeable bald patch at the crown or a receding hairline, hair transplant surgery is recommended.

However, it is not rare that a hair transplant may not be permanent. Take That star Robbie Williams‘ transplant was successful, but the newly grafted hair all fell out in the following eight years, so the singer had to look for toupees or wigs as an alternative for his 2023 Qatar World Cup performance.

Note: It’s always advisable to see a doctor before a transplant.

Finasteride

Male pattern hair loss is due a large part to an excessive level of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is a chemical that damages hair follicles. High DHT levels are usually caused by an enlarged prostate.

Statistics have shown that in a 10-year study carried out in Japan, more than 90 percent of men who took finasteride showed a significantly reduced level of hair loss.

Always visit your doctor first. If you or your client is undergoing hair loss due to an excessive DHT level, get your doctor to prescribe finasteride. However, before seeing any significant results, you can always use a toupee as an alternative.

Minoxidil

Scientists are still working towards fully understanding the medication’s mechanism. But it is broadly believed that the medication helps increase blood flow to the scalp. So the hair follicles will enter the anagen phase (growth) early.

One study has shown that over 80 percent of men suffering from male pattern hair loss who were given minoxidil for 12 months rated the medication effective at boosting hair regrowth.

However, whether it works on you or not, while waiting for new hair to grow out, you can always use a human hair toupee as a temporary solution for an instant transformation.

Use Ginger or Onion

This therapy hasn’t been medically proven. However, many suffering from hair loss have testified that their natural hair had regrown after trying ginger or onion juice on their scalp. The advantage of this method is that ginger and onion have no side effects.

One of the most popular therapies is ginger and onion oil:

1. Mix ginger and onion juice with olive or coconut oil as a carrier.
2. Gently heat the mixture and strain it.
3. Apply the oil to your hair and scalp, and leave it on for a few hours before washing.

Remember, toupees or hair pieces are always your alternative for an instant transformation before the results show.

Following a Well-Balanced Diet

The saying ‘You are what you eat’ couldn’t be truer when it comes to natural human hair. If you’re serious about maintaining healthy, vibrant hair, it’s time to take that phrase to heart.

Watching a hair shaft closely under a microscope, you will see that the hair is built of protein filaments called keratin, which are the building blocks of hair. To achieve great hair health, add various types of protein sources like fish and poultry to your diet.

Apart from an increased protein intake, rich vitamins and minerals from a variety of fruits and vegetables will also benefit hair health. So make sure to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.

Refer to this list of hair growth foods for detailed tips and guidelines.

Newtimes Hair’s 10 Best Toupees for Men

As a toupee manufacturer and supplier, we stock a lot of different hair toupees to meet your clients’ every requirement. It is best if you familiarize yourself with our toupees so you can learn what you can offer to your customers.

Go through the list of 10 of our best toupees for men, and you’ll find out. We offer great discounts for hair businesses. Click the button below to apply!

1. HS25-V Ultra Thin Skin Toupee for Men

A Disposable Thin Skin Hair System: This is a very popular toupee for men because it is so high on realism thanks to its ultra-thin skin base, which is just 0.03mm thick. Your client will not notice the skin material on their scalp, and the knotless V-looped hair(the most realistic ventilating technique), together with the thinness of the skin, will create the illusion of hair growing directly out of the scalp.

2. HS1-V Super Thin Skin Toupee

Extended Lifespan: Like the HS25-V, HS1V is a thin skin hair toupee for men with V-looped hair all over. It still has that undetectable look, but its advantage over the HS25-V is that this men’s toupee will last longer—around two to three months – for the skin is slightly thicker but still ultra-thin.

3. HS1 Super Thin Skin Toupee Wig

No Hair Shedding: HS1 toupee has an all-over skin base, but because of its thicker base (0.08mm), it is considerably more durable than HS25-V. It can last for three to six months. We still ventilate the hair with V-loops, but only across the front 1/2” of the hairline—this is the area that your clients are most concerned about. The rest of the base uses single split knots, a more durable way of ventilating the hair, reducing the possibility of hair shedding from the base.

4. HS7 Full Swiss Lace Hairpiece

Breathable and Airy Feel: Swiss lace is naturally soft, light, and airy, making it a very comfortable base material. It’s ideal for your customers who live in warm climates or frequently exercise, as lace allows the scalp to breathe. We do bleached knots all over the toupee, so your customers will have many different styling options. This hair toupee will last for about three months.

5. HOLLYWOOD Lace with PU Toupee

Lace Toupee for Easy Cleaning and Maintenance: You will now know that thin skin and lace are two very popular base materials, but the beauty of the Hollywood toupee is that it uses both! This toupee is very light and airy, thanks to the Swiss lace, but it has a thin skin perimeter that runs around the back and sides and through the middle of the front. Finally, HOLLYWOOD has a lifespan of around three months.

6. N6 Swiss lace with Clear PU Toupee

Solidity in Base Shape and Contour: The N6 is another of our stock toupees for men that combine Swiss lace and skin to offer wearers the best of both materials. Like HOLLYWOOD, it has a base made of Swiss lace and has clear PU on the back and sides.

7. SUNNY Full Swiss Lace Hair Replacement System

Ultra Soft and Lightweight: To all intents and purposes, our SUNNY hair toupee will be undetectable on your scalp. We enhance its realism by using single split knots across the front 1/2” of the hairline, and we bleach the knots across the whole of this toupee. However, your client should be aware that since Swiss lace is so fine and delicate, it is very fragile, so its undetectability comes at the expense of its lifespan, which is about two months.

8. HS27+ Fine Mono Toupee with Skin Gauze

Ultra Durable: Another hairpiece that must be on our list of best toupees for men is HS27+ because of its ultra-durability. The HS27+ is made of fine mono, a harder-wearing, more durable base material, making this human hair toupee last up to six months. 

9. DURO LACE Hair System

Lace Toupee with Extended Lifespan: DURO LACE has exceptional durability, just as its name suggests, by employing stronger and more resilient lace as its base material. With good maintenance, it can last for three to four months. Durability doesn’t sacrifice its realism.

10. HS15+ Lace Front Skin Hairpiece

Combo: The HS15+ also has 100%, naturally shiny Indian Remy human hair, natural, shiny. The base construction of the HS15+ men’s toupee is a 0.08mm transparent thin skin base with a lace front, which creates a very natural hairline. This Remy hair toupee will last about three to six months.

More Related Articles:

• 7 Most Undetectable Hair Systems for Men
• 7 Most Long-lasting Wigs And Hair Systems for Everyday Use
• Most Comfortable Wigs and Hair Systems at Newtimes Hair
• The Most Lightweight Breathable Wig for Men in Summer

Last Word About Toupee Hair Pieces for Men

Want to use a hairpiece and look your best, having the options for the widest range of hairstyles while working out a more permanent hair loss treatment plan, such as hair transplant surgery, or medications. Here are your takeaways from this article:

1. Most modern toupees for men will look most convincing, but make sure they are fitted professionally. An appropriate maintenance routine will prolong the lifespan of men’s toupees.
2. Hair transplant surgery and medication may not work for everyone suffering from hair loss. Toupees are the ultimate choice for a harmless and workable solution for anyone suffering from hair loss, regardless of the cause.
3. Go to see a dermatologist before using any medication or getting a hair transplant surgery, making sure the treatment works for you.

What is a toupee? In short, a toupee is a hairpiece made to fill in a bald patch on a man’s scalp. If you or your client needs hairpieces or toupees, Newtimes Hair is the expert. Having been making human hair toupees for over 15 years and distributing them to over 2,000 salons, clinics, and cosmetology schools worldwide, we know the ins and outs of any hair systems on the market.

We also work closely with specialists in a number of clinics, so we can get professionally accurate information about scalp and hair health as well as toupees and hair pieces for men. If you are a salon owner or a professional stylist, we are your go-to for every perspective.

Contact us today!