A hair topper, sometimes called a partial wig, is a hairpiece that covers just the area where your hair is thin, usually the top of the head, the part or the crown. It blends into your own hair, so you get fullness exactly where you need it without wearing a full wig.
At Noelle Salon in Melrose, just north of Boston, custom hair toppers are one of the things we do most. Here's what to know.
A hair topper blended into the client's own hair.
Who Hair Toppers Help
Most of our topper clients aren't completely bald. They still have hair on the sides and back, and a topper fills in the rest. Toppers help with:
- Female pattern thinning at the part, top and crown
- Alopecia areata and other patchy hair loss
- Trichotillomania, where an attached topper can also act as a barrier to pulling
- Thinning after illness, chemotherapy or stress
- Hair loss for trans women
If you have very little hair left, mesh integration or a wig may be a better fit. Compare them in Mesh Integration vs. Hair Topper and Hair Toppers vs. Wigs.
Before and after: a hair topper for thinning on top.
Attached or Clip-In?
- Attached toppers stay on day and night. We attach them to your own hair with small beads, and we never shave your head. Where there's no hair at the front hairline, we use tape, and we teach you how to reapply it at home between appointments. You can sleep, work out and go to work without taking it off.
- Clip-in toppers go on and off whenever you like. They're a good choice if you only want extra fullness some of the time.
Learn more in How Do Hair Toppers Attach?
Human Hair vs. Synthetic
We make and fit toppers with human hair. Some clients choose a synthetic topper to clip on and off, but synthetic hair should never be attached: it won't blend or style like your own human hair.
A gray-blended hair topper worn with extensions.
Custom-Fit to You
A topper should look like your hair, not a hairpiece. We match it to your color, texture and density, then cut and style it into your own hair. See how we customize hair toppers and compare topper bases (skin, lace and mono).
Many clients wear a topper together with hair extensions: the topper covers the top, and the extensions add length and fullness underneath.
A hair topper with extensions for length and fullness.
Upkeep
- Attached toppers need a maintenance visit every 4 to 8 weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows. Clients with trichotillomania often have faster-growing hair and come in about every 4 weeks. We never go longer than 8 weeks, because the hair underneath needs to be washed and the topper maintained.
- Replacement: a topper usually lasts 6 to 12 months.
A layered hair topper in soft ash blonde.
A Private, Free Consultation
Every topper starts with a free consultation in a private room. We'll look at your hair loss, talk about what you want, and show you the options. If you need it for insurance, we can provide paperwork for a cranial prosthesis. See does insurance cover wigs and toppers?
Book a free hair loss consultation or see our hair toppers. You can also email photos of your hair to noelle@noellesalon.com first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a hair topper and a partial wig?
They're two names for the same thing: a hairpiece that covers part of the head and blends into your own hair.
Will I have to shave my head?
No. We attach toppers to your own hair with small beads and never shave.
Can I sleep and work out in my topper?
Yes, if it's attached. Clip-in toppers come off at night.
How long does a topper last?
Usually 6 to 12 months, with maintenance every 4 to 8 weeks for attached toppers.
