Hi SAS.  I posted this question yesterday, but Jenny R thought that maybe I should direct it to you because you have some experience in these matters. 

I suffer from hair loss problems and recently got a custom made piece.  I love it, except the part can look a little fake at times.  Can you recommend any product that might help to disguise the mesh part?  I only need to cover a little of it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

Hi Miami Girl:

I did see the picture of you and your topper in Heralopecia.

So, are you having difficulty with the part area or the front hairline area (or both?)

To me, the part area looked a little 'wiggy' and I think that's because the hair surrounding the part area is a little too full and doesn't lie down flat enough.  Perhaps maybe it's just the way it was combed back, though.  It's hard to tell from a picture.

I'm sure your stylist is probably aware that you can thin out the density of hair pieces.  Many times you have to do this to make them look more natural. 

To thin the piece, your stylist would take the first few teeth of her thinning shears and  lay those first few teeth all the way down to the base and cut.  You want those teeth as flush with the base as possible, because you don't want to create little 'stubble' like hairs on the piece, as they would just poke out.

Well, in any case, I'd go back in to see the stylist and I'm sure she can help you because the piece looks pretty good, it just needs a little more customization.

Hi Ladies.  Thanks so much for the advice.

SAS:  What does "scalloped" mean?  How can you add baby hairs?  I'll try to gel & foundation trick. Yes, it is bonded on and most of my hair line is shaved.  Last night I saw Peggy and she pulled some of my natural hair forward from the back of my head to give it a more "natural" effect, but that part is still visible and fake looking.  It's not the entire part that bothers me, just the front area (the most visible area), which is probably the hardest part to disguise.  Thanks for your help. 

Metalgirl: I've having difficulty with both areas.  The hairline looks somewhat fake,which prevents me from wearing my hair back, but it's the part that's really bothering me.  Don't get me wrong...I'm 90% happy with the piece, but there is still room for improvement.  I saw her last night and she decided that we should replace the base with a more "realistic" material.  Unfortunately, these things take time and money, so I'll just have to make do for now.  She did cut in some more layers and will cut in even more next week.  I guess that it's just a constant "work in progress".  I wonder how natural the hairline can look? Thanks for your help & advice.

SAS: You overwhelm me!  Thank you so much for all of the info. The part is actually better today.  I washed it for the first time last night and my hair is a little messier today, which I think makes it look more natural and makes the part less visible.  It's still a ton of hair, so I may need to trim it down some more. 

The piece has a skin base with a lace front.  I'm not sure what the new base will be, but I probably won't have that done for a while. These things tend to cost a lot, so I have to take baby steps.

I definitely think that you should learn more about the process.  It's a very valuable and marketable skill.  I just noticed that your in LA, so am I.  You should contact my stylist. She's been in the business for a very long time and is really knowledgeable.  She also is a really nice lady and could probably offer you some advice on where to learn this.  She might even teach you some things herself.  She designed my piece, picked out the hair, etc...and let's just say that I'm not the least bit disappointed.  Again, thank you for your help and advice.  Have a great day!

I'm puzzled, a lace front is usually the most natural looking hairline that you can get, and you feel it still looks funky?

A skin base is also usually natural looking as well.

I agree with SAS about the scalloped front idea.  In one class I took, they told us to trim the lace front with pinking shears in order to avoid a straight line cut.

As for the part issue, do you feel the part is too wide?  Maybe that's the problem, that too much part is showing. If that's the case, more hair  can be ventillated in the part area to decrease it. 

As far as pieces go, I think some manufacturers do a better job making them than others.  For instance, one of Gemtress' toppers I don't really care for, the base is too think and it's hard to make it look natural.  I like New Concepts pieces and International Hairgoods pieces.

I wouldn't stress too much on your hair, because it really does look good, it's just because you know it's a piece you look at it with a critical eye.

I'm fairly new at this, so please overlook the incorrect terminology.  It looks like mesh to me, so that's what I've been referring to it as, but it's really lace.

I think the extent of the hygienic issues with an all Poly base would depend on how often she plans to remove and reattach, but I have heard of it not being recommend for that reason.  It is not breathable like a lace or mono base, but it is used when it is desirable to bond the entire piece instead of just bonding around the edges.

SAS: You're the best.  I can't thank you enough.  I think one reason Peggy chose the base that she did is because I wanted something durable.  I hate having bangs, but asked her today if she could cut some in to cover the front area.  She's going to do that this afternoon, but hadn't suggested it sooner because she knew how much I objected to it.  Hopefully that will solve this issue once and for all, but eventually I will get the new base (not sure what kind).  I had my boyfriend take some close up shots last night so that I could post them, but after reviewing them I got depressed.  My hair looked really "wiggy" in the pictures, which led me to make the decision that like it or not I was going to have to have bangs.  I'll post all of the pics Monday.

Once again ladies...thanks for all of the help and support.  Have a great weekend! 

Miamigirl,

If you were my client, I'd provide you with a new, differently designed piece, free of charge. How much did you pay for this frustration? 

I'm sure Peggy is trying her best to please you, but I think the piece is just not that well made, and that's the factory's fault.

In any case, pieces like yours, the wholesale price is about $100-300, so if I were in this situation, I'd buy the client a new piece, and just eat the cost (it's a write off anyway).  I'd rather eat a few hundred dollars and have a happy client! 

I agree, these pieces should be customized to suit Miamigirl's needs. 

 And at $1600 each, Peggy would still be making a healthy profit even if she paid for a new piece.  I personally think that $1600 is a rip off, price gauging!  When I sell pieces, I only mark them up by $100 -$200 or so (which helps pay for the time I spend writing out the spec plans on paper so the factory understands what I want).  The $1300 plus that Peggy marked them up to me is ridiculous.

As for extension hair, I never have and never will mark up the cost of it.  And guess what, I'm the busiest extensionist in town!

I'm so glad that you finally got the piece to work for you!  Sometimes cutting bangs is a fun change to your appearance!  I recently just cut some on myself and it's fun.

I'm sure Peggy is very nice and good at what she  does, and we are not trying to disrespect her, but I'm telling you, I order from all the major wholesale hairpiece makers and the kind of piece you have would be tops $300-400 (stylist's cost).  There are only a few major wholesale distributors in the US for hair pieces and I have been to all of their classes and know their product offerings.

As with all products, the price is usually what the market will bear, so apparently in your area $1600 is considered  acceptable, even though that's a huge mark up.  I just don't feel right making that much profit off of a person, it's not doing them any favors.

The only kind of piece that would be in the $1600 price range would be a full wig made of 100% European hair.

Anyway, good luck and enjoy your hair!

You can get a custom made 3/4 piece, with high quality human hair for $300-$400? or is just stock piece?  I would have to think that that hair alone costs at least $800.  Am I wrong?  I'm so new to this.

Sorry...just read your last comment.  My piece is 100% European hair and is pretty much a full piece.  I mean it's technically considered to be a 3/4 piece, but the hair (before it was trimmed) was at least 18 inches and the piece extends all the way down the back of my head.  Is the price making more sense now? 

Yes, that does make a lot more sense!

Hi Jenny.  The first piece cost $700-$800, but the quality was not even remotely close to what I have now. 

I'll send some pics as soon as I take them.