Hair Loss Glossary
Get clear on those confusing medical hair loss terms
Alopecia - This is the medically accepted term for 'baldness'.
Androgenic Alopecia - The type of baldness that is determined by genetics and hereditary patterns.
Baby Hair - The very soft, short hair sewn into the front of a wig to give the hairpiece a more natural looking appearance.
Bonding - An attachment method for hairpieces that means the same as 'fusion'. It involves gluing the wig or toupee directly to your scalp or existing hair.
Chemotherapy - This process is commonly used in the treatment of cancers and involves highly toxic chemicals and drugs which often result in complete hair loss.
Clips - An attachment method for hairpieces, which is available in all different materials and allows the wig to be clipped directly onto existing hair.
Crown - The area of the scalp at the very top where signs of balding typically appear first.
Daily Wear - Daily wear hairpieces are clipped or taped during the day and removed nightly. The benefit to daily wear is it will last longer because the style is maintained overnight. This is very popular because it is easy to take care of and sometimes more comfortable to sleep without a hair addition.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) - This hormone is formed when testosterone meets the 5-alpha reductase enzyme and is commonly recognized as the main cause of shrinking follicles and ultimately hair loss.
Donor Area - The area of scalp just above the ears and towards the back of the head which always has active follicles to reliably generate hair.
Extended Wear - Extended wear hairpieces are permanently attached for weeks at a time through bonding or sewing. This option is sometimes preferred because it feels more like real hair, having to live with it 24/7, rather than removing it on a nightly basis. The downside is that if they're worn all the time these hairpieces can have a shorter life span and need to be replaced more frequently.
Freestyle - This is a term indicating how a hairpiece will behave when it comes to parting it. A freestyle hairpiece means that it can be parted anywhere and is a great option to eliminate style limitations.
Fusion - An attachment method for hairpieces meaning the same as 'bonding'. It involves gluing the wig or toupee directly to your scalp or existing hair.
Grafting - Basically, after a series of steps, a section of hair-bearing scalp is removed from the lower back of the head and transplanted to the balding area.
Hair transplant - A surgical hair addition procedure that essentially relocates a hair-bearing section of scalp to a balding area of scalp.
Human Hair - This hair is the most realistic variety of hairpiece available. It hangs naturally, is soft and very manageable. This hair usually comes from Europe and is receptive to chemical treatments, color or perms. It is also okay to subject it to low heats such as blow-drying, straightening irons, curling irons and hot curlers - all on low settings. It is more costly than synthetic hair, but well worth it for the quality.
Keratin - is the main protein that forms hair and nails.
Menopause - occurs when a woman's ovaries permanently stop secreting estrogen, leading to the cessation of the menstrual cycle.
Polyurethane - A material attached to the border of the hairpiece providing the main function of helping maintain a desirable form. It is available in a variety of grades from light to heavy.
Recipient area - The bald area of the scalp on which hair-bearing sections from the donor area can be surgically added.
Synthetic Hair - This hair is for a fairly natural looking hairpiece. It is not as manageable as human hair, does not have the same free flowing behavior, but is good to hold a style. It is available in a variety of styles, colors and textures. It is extremely heat sensitive and should not be exposed to hair dryers, curling irons, straightening irons or hot curlers.
