Alopecia World
www.alopeciaworld.com
Bonded Hair Pieces
The question I get asked the most about living with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is about my bonded hairpiece. A bonded hairpiece simply means its kind of like a wig only its bonded – or glued – to my scalp so it’s technically “semi-permanent.”
I first noticed my hair receding and thinning in 2013. I spent a lot of time trying to figure my hair loss out on my own and then with my medical doctor all to no avail. By the time I was accurately diagnosed by a dermatologist in the summer of 2016, I had lost so much hair it was beyond a clip-in topper solution. I started searching the internet for a wig place and found Tampa Bay Custom Hair (TBCH). Not only did they have traditional wigs and toppers, but they had the “bonded” hairpiece as well. I was still reeling from my diagnosis when I found TBCH and met Sandy at one of their three salons in the Tampa, Florida area. She spent a good amount of time with me, helping me select the best option for my busy lifestyle which turned out to be bonded hair.
A bonded hairpiece is a piece that looks remarkably like a wig. Mine is made of human hair and takes about two weeks to create. The salon can match my bio hair color and curl pattern so it looks like my own hair – just back to the fullness I once knew years ago. A mold is made of my scalp so that the piece fits like a glove. Around the inside perimeter of the cap part is a special wide tape that sticks to the scalp really well. People who have dry skin can usually just use the tape without any glue; people who have oily skin tend to need the glue for extra stick. I’m dry so I use the tape along with some “ghost bond” glue just in the front part of the cap along my forehead area. I have never had any problems with “lifting” of the piece.
The bond holds so well that I can style it like any normal head of hair. I sleep in it, shower in it, swim in it – I basically wear it 24/7 for about five weeks until I go back to TBCH and they remove the hair piece, clean off the old glue and tape, wash the piece, and clean my scalp (this is the best part! It feels so good to have my scalp scrubbed!). Then they reapply the piece using the same process of tape and glue.
There are two questions you may have: does the hairpiece or glue ever irritate your scalp and how much does it cost? In the nearly four years I’ve worn bonded pieces, I’ve only had an irritation from the glue once. Because of that, my hairstylist left a “vent” the next time she bonded the hair to my scalp. That allowed that irritated spot to heal and better allowed the water to drain off my scalp when I washed my hair. Sometimes I get general itchy spots and I just pat my head to “scratch” the area, but it’s nothing I can’t live with.
Regarding cost. This option is not cheap and for me, it’s not covered by insurance (that’s a whole other story!). I’d say if you only have minimal receding or thinning, a clip-in topper or some pretty scarves and hats may be the best and least expensive option. However, if you’ve lost a lot of your hair as I have (I’d say I’ve lost 3/4 of my bio hair), a wig or bonded piece may be your answer depending on if you want a daily wear piece or a semi-permanent, bonded piece. I wanted something I didn’t have to take on and off every day. In that case, it can cost anywhere from $1,600-$3,000/year. For me, it’s been worth it as it gave me my self-confidence back and gave me freedom to fully participate in my family and professional work life again instead of constantly worrying about people looking at my bare scalp and receding hairline.
I hope this helps explain what a bonded hairpiece is. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I’m not shy about my disease at all and am happy to provide answers as to how I’ve coped.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Bloomingdalekid on
-
Thank you for your explanation. My piece, too, is a bonded hairpiece but I chose to have them put clips in because I had continuous problems with the piece lifting off my forehead (tape AND glue). The piece was attached to my head with crimping pieces that were quite painful when the piece was first attached. I am only 1 of 2 clients that has gone to the bonded piece with clips and tape only on the front. Lucky you that it only takes a few weeks to make... mine took 3 months to get and I had to order two at once for close to $4200.... but, like you, well worth the money. I am much more comfortable being able to take it off every night to sleep and since I’m retired I have the luxury of not having to wear it every day since many days I don’t leave the house, other than going outside and doing yard work, and I just wear a hat. You are such a wonderful contributor to this website... thank you for everything you do for this group. Have a great time at the CARF convention - I look forward to your notes being posted!
-
-
Permalink Reply by pauliegirl on
-
Thank you SO much for this thorough and thoughtful post! What a great thing to give so many of us peace of mind for if and when we feel the need/desire to go this route and alleviate the emotional distress that can accompany this thing that has happened to us.
You have piqued my interest with the insurance comment! I think there should be a movement towards mandating at least some coverage. I mean, people who lose breasts get their implant surgeries paid for and this is frankly no different imo! Anyways, if you are ever compelled to share about this part of the story, I am interested to hear. Thank you again! -
-
-
Hi everyone,
How do you cope with FFA?
I have had FFA for 4 years now and I can´t cope with it anymore, it really has ruined the past 4 years of my life. Most of you seem to cope really good with this awful disease, happy smiles, bonded hair etc.
I CANNOT. I have unlike so many of you bleeding wounds, more or less the whole scalp is covered with red inflamed areas. I have tried every possible medication, even those with severe sideeffects, different diets etc without any improvement. My bleeding scalp makes it impossible to have bonded hair, scarves or really anything on my head, I have been isolated in my home for the past 2 years. Now we are all isolated due to the Coronavirus, but for me it has been like that for a long time.
I cry when I look at myself in the mirror. I had the most beautiful hair! Now I look at a monster. Will I look like this when I am dead? I am not one of those Beautiful women that you can see on this site. With this disease it is immpossible to have an even, round and smooth scalp.
How do you cope??? How can you have a social life. The best in my life are my grandchildren BUT I can´t meet them outdoors. The wind will reveal my scalp.. and I can´t take the comments from the Children.
Everey day starts with antidepressives and ends with sleepingpills
From a very sad, desperate and depressed woman.
-
-
Permalink Reply by CurlyK on
-
Louise,
I'm so so sorry to read your post and all that you are going through. I can't imagine constantly dealing with a bleeding scalp. Have you tried a different dermatologist or sought out any at a university research/medical hospital that has a derm department? I only had bleeding once at a really raw, sore spot that almost precluded them putting the bonded piece back on my head. It took a while for it to stop but it finally did. Another thought is to wear a soft cotton cap on the scalp with a scarf over it. The soft cotton would protect and soothe the irritated scalp. Another huge help is a cooling cap to reduce inflammation.
The deeper heart question you ask about "how do you cope" is one that gives me pause to stop and reflect. I, too, cried a lot. I lived in fear every single day of who would see, who would know, how many coworkers were talking about my hair loss behind my back, when would my grandchildren ask me about my hair or worse, laugh at my lack of hair. I was depressed, anxious, and most of all scared.
Two things got me through my darkest days and back into the light: acceptance and my faith. Once I accepted the disease and the fact that I couldn't control it nor cure it, the anxiety lifted and was replaced with more of a resiliency. I determined not to let it control my thoughts or prevent me from enjoying life. I found that once I let others "in" on my secret, a HUGE weight lifted. I told my family, my boss, and my closest coworkers and found each of them to be sympathetic and supportive. Now that I was no longer living with a secret, I didn't have to hide anymore. My faith has also taught me that God looks at our heart more than our outward appearance; it also taught me that God keeps each one of my tears in a bottle, for my anguish does not go unnoticed by Him.
I still have days when I wonder how I got FFA and even WHY I got FFA - questions I may never have answers to. But I know that there is more good to life to enjoy and I didn't want to miss a single minute of it.
-
-
-
Curly K, what happens with your bonded hair if you can't make it in for appointments? If your appointment gets cancelled, like with what is going on with the coronavirus, does your bonded hair start to get loose?
Also I was wondering with your bonded hair do you ever go days without thinking about your hair and the fact that you are wearing hair, or are you always aware that there is something on your head? Does it become natural and a part of you over time?
Love your look and how you are always changing things up with your new hair! Also love your attitude and the fact that you are so willing to share and encourage us.
-
-
-
KarenD, well, in the almost four years I've worn hair, I've always been able to make it in for appointments...until COVID-19. The hair salon has closed for the month of April so I'll miss that appointment. Instead of going at the five week mark, I may be looking at ten weeks. I had the foresight to by some double sided tape when I was at the salon a few weeks ago. I'll use this in case the piece lifts up too much. I've been fortunate that I'm really dry and not oily so the bond sticks fairly well. But this virus may take me into unchartered waters! If worst comes to worst, I will take the piece off and wear my scarves again. I'm not afraid of doing that because it just is what it is and most people in my life know about my disease.
Do I ever go days without thinking about my hair... hmm. At first, yes. I was almost afraid to touch it. I was afraid I'd brush it too hard or be too rough with it when putting product in it. But my stylist showed me how strong the bond really is as she styles it as if its a regular head of hair. So now I'm much more comfortable with washing, conditioning, adding product, blowing it dry, etc. I also don't think about my hair all the time like I used to so I'd say my bonded hair has truly become my new normal. :)
-
© 2024 Created by Alopecia World.
Powered by
