Money

Toupee or not toupee: the bald truth

By Huang Yuli (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-14 08:00

A male customer is fitted for a wig at the Lukul Hair Dressing and Wig Making shop. Photos Provided to China Daily

A balding model grows in happiness as he tries on two wigs provided by Rebecca Hair Products Co Ltd. Photos Provided to China Daily

Beijing is growing and so too is a need for quality wigs for male executives

There's nothing more unsightly than the awkwardly placed wisps of hair that result from a bad comb over.

It can make or break a business deal or terrorize an unsuspecting date.

But Beijing men have to worry no more as the Japanese trend of tailored toupees for men takes root in Beijing. Among a handful of new shops catering to the cranium cozy trend is Lukul on Jinbao Street.

Here technicians consult with businessmen to take the exact measurements of each customer's head shape, making notes as they pick out the style, material, color, length, thickness and texture.

The wigs are made from real human hair, planted strand by strand, so it is no surprise it takes a month and a half from placing an order until the wig is completed.

"The hair in Lukul's wigs is never permed or dyed and is planted in a highly breathable bionic scalp," said Urita Tsugumi, technical director of the store.

She said the techniques are based on 15 years of Japanese experience designing wigs. The most difficult part is to make the wig look real and feel natural. To achieve that, they trim the finished wig slightly as the customer tries it on.

The place also provides more than 10 shades of white hair, in case a customer wants to make it appear more real.

"It is popular in Japan to put some white hair in a wig. Here people prefer to look younger, but we still retain it as an option for really old clients," she said.

One of the biggest concerns from customers is that a wig might drop off. According to Urita, the edge of the wig's backside is made of silica gel, which can be fixed firmly to the head. Some patients still worry though, such as those going through chemotherapy.

"In such cases we add a layer of specially-made gel for extra fixation," Urita said.

Another problem many men have is they like to comb all their hair backwards and this is sometimes a problem for wig wearers because if the edge isn't handled well, observant eyes can easily tell it is not real hair.

Lukul launched a special model for this group, with which many tiny and fine hairs are implanted along the front edge, mixed together with other hair of normal length.

According to Tan Zhigang, deputy general manager of Lukul's Beijing branch, its customers vary from business people to showbiz stars and most buy two at a time to give themselves the option of changing the headpiece.

The price for a tailored man wig at Lukul starts from 15,000 yuan. Alternatively, at the Rebecca wig products store on Financial Street, it ranges from 4,800 yuan to 5,500 yuan. Both stores offer free wash and maintenance services for their wigs.

China Daily

(China Daily 09/14/2010)