David Hansen's Hairpiece Repairs: How to Make a Good Thing Last!

ATTENTION: TO ALL WEARERS OF HAIR REPLACEMENT SYSTEMS!

Is your hairpiece losing hair?

Does your hairpiece have a torn base?

Does your natural hair have more grey than your hairpiece?

Before you toss it, bring it in to us!

David Hansen Custom Hair Replacement for Men now offers hairpiece repairs, Hair

Additions (colored and grey), Base Repairs, And MORE! 

We offer base repairs, hairpiece alterations, hair additions for thinning pieces, and gray/white additions to keep the piece consistent with your natural hair color to ensure an undetectable look. Our ventilator, Mimi, has over 40 years experience with Custom Hair System reconstruction and Repair. Mimi adds the hair, strand by strand, tying specific knots to allow each individual hair complete mobility on the base. So it moves just like real hair!

At David Hansen Custom Hair Replacement, We Do ON-SITE Hair Piece Repairs, so you can simply bring it by if you live in the Chicagoland area! Most repairs take 2-4 hours, so same-day pickup is usually possible. Please allow 4 working days' notice for all hairpiece repairs. 

Don't live near Downtown Chicago? That's not a problem. You can also Mail in you hair piece from anywhere in the country to get it repaired! First, send us a picture of your hairpiece at davidhansen@davidhansen.com. Let us know what repairs or additions you would like in the email. We will send you a free personalized quote with a time estimation and availability for your piece to be repaired. Then, mail your hair replacement to:

David Hansen Custom Hair Replacement for Men

770 N. LaSalle suite 200 north, 

Chicago, IL 60654. 

We will repair your Hairpiece NO MATTER WHERE you got them! Thats right, David Hansen Custom Hair Replacement for Men will repair your Hairpieces from other manufacturers!

Still not sure if we are worth it? Try us out without ANY risk whatsoever- ALL of our Consultations are FREE. Bring us your Hairpieces that are missing hair, need new hair added, or that need other form of repair.  This includes lace patching, base repair, and adding grey/white hair. At David Hansen Custom Hair Replacement, we want to see you and your Hairpiece looking your very best! 

Questions or Comments Regarding our Hairpiece Repairs? 

1. Leave a comment below,

2. Email us at davidhansen@davidhansen.com, or

3. Call us between 10am-6pm, Monday-Saturday at 312-943-8171

Getting Ready for Your New Hairpiece

If you have decided to invest in a custom hairpiece for the first time, congratulations! Custom pieces are the best way to give you that flawless look. And, as with everything, the better prepared you are to be fitted for your piece, the easier the process. Here are a few steps you can take to ensure a pleasant, productive road to your perfect hair.

1. Let it grow!
When you come in for your first visit, we take a hair sample and draw a map of your hairline.  A perfect hair sample is between 2 and 3 inches long. At this length, we will be able to match 100% human hair to your color and texture. If your hair is too short, you'll have to come back once your hair has reached the right length. Letting your hair grow in advance will allow us to map your hairline clearly and get a good hair sample.

2. Know your options. 
Custom hair pieces are usually attached in one of two ways, bonding and tape. It is VERY important to know the differences between these two methods. While bonding (glue) allows the wearer to keep their hair attached for months at a time, the scalp can become irritated and sticky from nonstop wear. Surgical tape requires the wearer to take the piece off before sleeping and showering. Following the tape method not only extends the life of your piece by years, but is a much healthier option for your scalp. You can read our blog on bonding vs. tape for more information.

3. Keep your head clean. 
A clean, dry scalp will hold tape securely all day, and sometimes for a second day,  depending on how much oil your skin produces. However, excess oil buildup and combined with the natural heat that your head produces will cause bonding glue and surgical tape both to become gummy and messy, with a much weaker hold. Our pieces have the lightest bases that are professionally ventilated. This allows your scalp to breathe and gives you the most comfortable fit. They also blend right in to your scalp, making it impossible to distinguish from your natural hair. Wash your scalp and your natural hair (not your piece!) daily.

4. Keep your hairpiece clean. 
Remove used tape from your piece one it has lost its tackiness. Some people may be able to use the same tape for a second day if their scalp is kept very clean and does not produce much oil. Placing new tape directly over the used tape can cause a sticky buildup that slides around on the scalp. Changing your tape regularly will ensure a secure, comfortable hold each day and will also extend the life of your hair piece.

5. Take it to the cleaners. 
Hair pieces require a gentler brand of care than natural hair. It can dry easily if washed frequently, and can also oxidize (takes on a yellowish hue) if exposed to shampoos with salts, or if frequently exposed to intense sunlight.  Avoid hairspray as well; it contains alcohol that severely dries out the hair. Brushing your piece will remove most dust particles that collect. We recommend that you bring your hair piece back to us every 3 months for a professional shampoo and re-styling. We use sulfate and salt-free shampoos that maintain the integrity of the hair. Regular cleanings will keep your piece in good shape for years to come.

I hope that these tips have helped you better prepare for your new hair piece. Sticking with these simple steps will help you extend the life of your hair piece, giving you a wonderful experience for years to come.

Hair Replacement With Rogaine, Minoxidil, Nizoral, and or Propecia.

In my 50 years as a hair replacement specialist I have encountered individuals from all walks of life. Men who have tried it all without getting the results that they desired. This waste of time and money only lead them to irritation and disappointment. After years of getting their hopes up just to realize another product has failed them, they usually decide to go back to or give hair systems (also referred to as hairpieces, toupees, and hair replacement systems) a try or shave their head. Somebody who cares about their appearance and tried so hard to save his hair should not have to shave it off.

The complaint that I found repeating most often was that topical products such as Rogaine, Minoxidil, Nizoral, and or Propecia made the persons hairs fall out. This may not happen right away, but after you don’t see any results and stop using the product your hair falls out. The hairs get so used to the product it falls out without it. Many times clients found their hair falling out even shortly after starting using Rogaine, Minoxidil, Nizoral, and or Propecia, distributors’ claim that this has to take place in order for new hairs to grow but they do not guarantee that the new hair will grow back.

Irritation and dryness of the scalp is also a side effects noticed by many users of Rogaine, Minoxidil, Nizoral, and or Propecia. The high content of alcohol (especially in the Rogaine) makes the hairs dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. This also has a great impact on the scalp, causing dandruff, itchiness, burning, irritation as well as swelling, and blisters.Some men have also noticed a drop in their sexual drive and performance.

Lastly if you do consider gambling with Rogaine, Minoxidil, Nizoral, and or Propecia make sure you are not allergic to the product. Some issues resulting from an allergic reaction are rashes, itching, chest pain, hives, dizziness, lips, fainting, and face. Other side effects include difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth or tongue, fast heartbeat, sudden, unexplained weight gain, swollen hands or feet.

David Hansen
www.davidhansen.com
Chicago, IL

Chicago Hair Replacement Video

This is a recently shot hair replacement video. This new video features one of my clients. I just recieved his new custom made hair system and I am going to cut it into his hair. You can see here how a proffesional hair piece designer works and what a good quality hairpiece looks like.



DAvid Hansen
www.davidhansen.com

Best Hair Replacement Chicago Happy Holidays

I would like to take this time to wish you and your families a warm and joy filled holiday season. I truly appreciate everyone who reads and follows my hair replacement blog. I have been fortunate enough in my lifetime to do something I love with all my heart, hair replacement is a huge part of my life and i couldn't imagine not being able to provide hairpieces for men anymore. I hope my years of experience and insight into this very confusing industry helped you in bettering yourself inside and out this year, and that my upcoming blogs will be just as interesting and helpful. I would also like to thank everyone writing to me I appreciate all the warm comments and I am always glad to answer any questions.
Ounce again I would like to wish you the best this holiday season.

Thank You
David Hansen
www.davidhansen.com
davidhansen@davidhansen.com
http://youtu.be/UeGl7wrU694

Steps Involved In Getting A Undetectable Hair Replacement Chicago

The Consultation:
A reputable hair replacement designer will insist on interviewing each client before agreeing to make a sale. He is not as anxious to take your money as he is to make sure he understands your hair grooming problems, one of which being whether or not a hair system is really for you.
Naturally, all physical conditions must be taken into account. But just as important, perhaps more so, are the psychological conditions. For example, why does a client want a hairpiece? What are his expectations?
A hairpiece is not a fountain of youth. It cannot replace time. If an older man wants a hair replacement reminiscent of his twenties, it simply cannot be done. His skin color is very different from that which he had in earlier years, and both the style and color of his hairpiece would be unbelievable if he insisted on an exact duplication.
Thus, the necessity for the interview--to understand not only the needs but also the desires of the customer. As I many times explain "If a stylist finds he cannot honestly meet or accept either one of these categories, his integrity should demand he be honest about it. False promises only result in dissatisfied customers."
On the other hand, in essence, a hair replacement system can take five to ten years off a man's appearance. It can restore his self-confidence and, as a result, make him feel younger. It is a sensible and practical investment for mature and realistic people.
The Design and Measurements:
Measurement is a skill requiring a great deal of concentration. Using his experience and knowledge, the stylist must create an exact pattern of the client's head size and balding area. If the measurement is left to an amateur, it is almost certain to guarantee disaster and to be the forerunner of a hair replacement system that refuses to hug the scalp and often appears askew!
The pattern is sketched on a piece of clear plastic put over the patron's existing hair and balding area. The plastic material used in creating the mold of your balding area is very durable and preservable which means you do not have to go through the molding process every time you want a new hair system.
The stylist then makes notations that will assist him in the actual design of the hairpiece; Thickness or lightness of the ventilated hair, age and lifestyle of the patron, facial features, whether existing hair is straight, wavy, curly, etc. All these facts are considered before the proper type of hair can be selected. With today's modern styling it is also important to note if the hair has to be longer that the normal length hair system.
After the fitting, the next critical step involves taking hair samples, cut from specific areas of the temples, the back, as well as any other varying area, help make the hair replacement system look as realistic as possible by giving the designer a true idea of the color blend required. (Samples are small--they'll never be missed, not even on a balding head!)
At this stage it is decided if the client needs additional shading in the front of his hairpiece, such as a sun-bleached look of grey seems not not quite as grey as the temples. Lightening the front of a hair replacement system will soften a mature face. Strong coloring looks fine on someone in his thirties, but would be too harsh on a fifty-year-old whose natural color is beginning to show age fade.
Before we leave this subject, also note that it is advisable to have the stylist shampoo and style a patron's own hair at least ounce before beginning production of the hair system.It is beneficial for him to know exactly what the client's hair will and will not do.
The Fitting:
AS soon as your hairpiece is completed, you will be called in for your fitting. The stylist will shampoo your existing hair and then shape and style it to get the best look possible. Only then is your new hair secured into position, ready to be cut and styled right on your head for maximum fit and good looks.

David Hansen
Chicago, Illinois
www.davidhansen.com

The Best Place To Buy Hair Replacement

If you intend to invest in a high-quality and well-fitted hair replacement, trust only an expert. You can avoid the most common disappointments in the finished product if you start right--by selecting someone who knows his business.
Let me use my business as an example. I have won every hairstyling competition available: State, Midwest, National, Canadian, and World Championship. More recently I have relieved recognition in the field of hairpiece construction and styling. This is the type of man you can put your trust in.
Stay away from mail-order hair replacement and pre-styled creations! You have distinct characteristics which must be analyzed by a professional before your hair system is designed. The hair replacement designer has to create your hair system so that it matches not only your own color but also the density, texture and pattern.
As to mail-ordered hair replacement I would be amazed if a man could take his own measurements and hair samples, determine his most complimentary hairstyle, and that shape and style the hairpiece. He'd have such a rare talent, I'd probably offer him a job! In the case of mail-order systems, there's only one person who comes out smelling like a rose, and that's the seller! That's not what this business is all about. We're here to please the customer. Doing that through the mail is quite inconceivable. I insist on making my own hair replacement, this is the only way i can guarantee a perfect match.
Even if you take a mail-order hairpiece to a local stylist for the cutting and fitting, chances of satisfaction are very limited. Prior consultation is a necessity, just as personal instruction in the handling and care is required.
You'll be able to tell if a man is serious about the quality of his hair replacement just by taking a look at the premises on which he conducts his business. Does he have a private consultation area and fitting rooms that are modern and well equipped? Are there ample supplies and sample pieces on hand? Is the atmosphere a professional one in which transactions are carried out in an orderly and efficient manner? Do his employees and customers respect him?
If the answer to any of these questions is negative, find another distributor, someone who is serious about serving you. Just take a good look around you when you enter a salon, keep your eyes and ears open, and you'll have no trouble deciding whether or not the man is a pro.
The man you are looking for will be innovative and progressive. He'll be willing to give his personal guarantee of satisfaction, and he'll be willing to take the extra time required to guide you in the wear and care of your new hair system.
In most cases, your instinct will be a satisfactory guide. But if you'd like some assurance, look around the internet for complaint and scam websites, consult with previous customers, and take a look at competitors' offers before you're willing to say that one man's services look like the best.

David Hansen
Chicago, IL
www.davidhansen.com

A Good Hair Replacement System Foundation

The part of the hairpiece onto which the hair is sewn is called the base or foundation. It rests directly on your scalp; so it should be as lightweight and airy as your budget will allow. There are many hair replacement base materials:

The gauze cloth is made of two layers of the finest of Swiss silk, tightly woven together in order to hold the individual hairs sewn into the hair system. Because of the lightness of the fabric, its presence is not felt by you as you wear it or by anyone touching the hairpiece while it is on your head. Your scalp can breathe with ease, since a hair replacement made with this type of base would only weigh one or two ounces, including the sewn-in hair. Yet, it has great strength and durability, and it is easy to repair should any damage be done to it.
The lace cloth hair replacement base, consisting of two layers of lace (sometimes made of nylon), is even lighter in weight than the gauze base. Although it is more delicate than gauze, with the proper care, it can prove to be just as durable. There is also a special lace hair system base formulated that is pressed and steamed to retain the shape of the head. Although it molds itself to the head, it is still exceptionally light and provides excellent ventilation.

The hair replacement base that I like the most is fine welded mono. I choose to use this hair system base material out of all the other materials because it is a smooth, light weight material that perfectly retains the persons head shape even after a extended period of time. Fine welded mono hair replacement base also takes on the individuals skin color making it the least noticeable and the most durable hair system base available.

Plastic bases, sometimes referred to as skin bases, do not have the impressive quality of the fine welded mono hairpiece bases. You can't expect it to look as natural as human hair sewn into a fine welded mono base. Plastics are much hotter than then the other types of bases and rip very easily. They looses hair easily, and they lay much flatter on the scalp. To repair a plastic base requires so much time and effort, it is often cheaper to buy a new one. Cleaning must be done with caution, as certain cleaning fluids are strong enough to actually dissolve the hair replacement base.

David Hansen
www.davidhansen.com