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I got bangs! I vowed to become more of a hat person, adding a few dad caps and a Stetson to my wardrobe. Then, I ordered some inexpensive, pre-tied headscarves in hopes that I might look chic and not like I\u2019m wearing a half-assed Little Steven Halloween costume. But sometimes you just want to look like you have more hair, period. I didn\u2019t feel like a candidate for a full wig\u2014and as a theatre nerd, I already know I don\u2019t love wearing them\u2014so when the concept of a topper was brought to my attention, I immediately leaned in.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s be so for real right now: A topper is, for all intents and purposes, a toupee. That\u2019s a very unglamorous way to put it, I know. Toupees are typically thought of as a solution for bald men, not women\u2014and not a particularly believable solution either. They\u2019ve been visual punchlines for as long as any of us can remember; if the mere mention of toupees made you think of Stan from The Golden Girls<\/em> or the grandfather from Christmas Vacation<\/em>, you\u2019re not alone. But a topper, aside from its somewhat similar name, is aimed at those of us with longer hairstyles, and unlike a toupee\u2019s typical adhesive, it clips on to the hair you already have.<\/p>\n \u201cA topper is ideal for anyone experiencing medium to advanced thinning,\u201d says Haven Whiteman, a hairstylist and extension specialist with Luxy Hair. The brand, best known for their clip-in and halo extensions, also makes human-hair Remy toppers in more than a dozen colors. \u201cUnlike clip-in wefts, toppers are designed to add coverage and density across the top of the head, sides, and crown\u2014areas where thinning is most noticeable.\u201d<\/p>\n Picking a color is taking a pretty pricey gamble\u2014a $200 one if you\u2019re lucky enough to catch them on sale. (Some companies offer to match you based on a photo, while others let you order a swatch for a few bucks.) Even though I kind of knew what to expect when I received a few toppers to try gratis because of my job, I was still taken aback by how they kind of look like disembodied scalps, with a firm, mesh base hiding under the hair. But as weird as that is, I had to appreciate how realistic they look; I was especially impressed by the quality of the feel and nuanced color. But I wasn\u2019t so sure it would look realistic on<\/em>.<\/p>\n Although you can wear it right out of the box, Whiteman says human-hair toppers can be customized just like your own hair. I turned to my stylist, Billy Hannam at Anushka Spa & Salon in Palm Beach, to help me figure out how to make these toppers look like I\u2019m\u2026 not wearing one. He\u2019s been helping me shape my existing hair to seem as not-scant as possible, so I trusted him to transform them into a natural-looking part of my shaggy, layered style. After comparing three toppers, we spent my appointment focused on a dark brown, 12-inch long style with pre-cut bangs by Irresistible Me, a brand that also uses human hair for their toppers, extensions, and wigs. The color was an outrageously perfect match, and the bangs would make it easier to blend into my existing cut.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n