As a woman who has dealt with hair loss for almost 15 years, I have to say that the world of fake hair is pretty wild right now. From extensions to wigs, and now toppers, there are a multitude of faux hair options for people to choose from. Whether you want to simply change up your look, add some fullness, or perhaps you’re dealing with hair loss like me; I am having a blast since I’ve discovered the topper world. Now, toppers aren’t exactly a new form of fake hair; they’re just getting a lot more attention lately, so here’s the full lowdown of everything you need to know about toppers.

Alternative Hair Solutions

Let’s start with how toppers differ from other forms of alternative hair. Extensions can take different forms (clip-in, tape-in, sew-in or micro link), but that’s another post entirely. Whatever form extensions take, they are separate pieces of hair that are secured to your existing hair and then blended in. They can be worn for as long as you like, some forms for months at a time. Extensions do not cover the crown area and often cannot hide thinning or bald spots at the top of the scalp. Alternatively, wigs are placed on the top of the head, with your natural hair wrapped and tucked underneath. We all know what wigs are, for the most part, so the main takeaway is that, with wigs, your natural hair is hidden, making the wig look very full on the top.

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What Are Hair Toppers?

With toppers, they’re kind of a mix of both extensions and wigs; honestly, you get the best of both worlds here. They clip in at the top of your hair, but since they have a much smaller cap, they sit flatter. With toppers, you also get to rock your natural hair and blend it in with the topper. Similar to other forms of fake hair, you can purchase curly hair toppers, toppers with bangs, or even custom pieces with balayage to match your own style. The possibilities are really endless.