Have you noticed you have less hair than you used to? It’s not a nice feeling. Your hair may feel intrinsically linked to your identity, [1] and losing it may also mean losing your confidence. In turn, that can affect multiple areas of your life, including your work and relationships. It’s not something you ever want to put up with.
The good news is that there are so many options for hair restoration in this day and age, many of them providing highly natural results. The two that many people land on are hair transplants and wigs – two very different options that work well for many people. The question is, which one is best? It’s a difficult question to answer, considering how different they are, but that’s what this article will do.
Hair Transplant vs Wigs: What Exactly Are They?
First, let’s define these two hair restoration options. First, there’s the hair transplant, an effective surgical procedure that uses hair follicles from your head and transplants them into the thinning or balding section. Once these follicles have taken root, they can grow hair naturally, with the results lasting forever.
On the other hand, wigs are hairpieces made from animal or human hair and are worn over the scalp. These are not permanent – instead, the wearer takes them on and off when necessary (usually taking them off before sleeping). It’s important to note that wigs vary in quality, with the best wigs made from natural hair typically being more expensive than synthetic hair wigs.
Hair Transplant Vs Wigs: The Advantages and Disadvantages
The Advantages of Hair Transplants
It’s Natural Hair
One of the best things about a hair transplant is that it allows you to grow natural hair. These hairs usually come from your own scalp, meaning you’ll enjoy the same colour and texture as you’re used to. Just look at our patients gallery to see how incredible the results of a hair transplant really are.
No Maintenance
With a hair transplant, you don’t have to worry about maintenance. The hair will grow on its own – you won’t need to apply a hairpiece or take any medications. It will be as though you never lost hair to begin with.
It’s a Simple Treatment
Hair transplants have developed well over the years. These days, they are a very simple procedure that allows you to be in and out of the hair clinic in a single day. It shouldn’t be painful, either, as the procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic.
It’s Permanent
The results from hair transplant hair loss treatment are permanent. That means you won’t have to worry about other hair restoration treatments down the line – you can have faith in the locks on your head!
The Disadvantages of Hair Transplants
They’re Costly
Due to the nature of hair transplants – they are a surgical procedure that requires a skilled surgeon and high-quality tools – they aren’t exactly cheap. You’ll need to pay quite a lot to undergo this procedure. However, keep in mind many hair clinics offer financing options.
Recovery Time
While most people are fine to go back to their daily lives within a matter of days, there may be some complications from recovery. For example, you might experience swelling on the scalp after the surgery.
It’s Not Instant
Unlike a wig, which gives you instant results, you’ll need to wait a while before the full results of a hair transplant show through. After all, the hair follicles need to regrow all the hair! Usually, people can see some results after around three months with full results showing through after a year.
There Are Minor Risks
There are some risks involved in hair transplants, like with any surgery. For example, there’s a minor chance the patient could end up with an infection. The best way to avoid this is by going to an experienced surgeon and ensuring you’re well-informed about the procedure.
You Might Need a Second Hair Transplant
In some cases, a second hair transplant is needed. This is usually because of ongoing hair loss – if someone has androgenetic alopecia, their hair may keep falling out. Usually, a second procedure is enough to fix this.
The Advantages of Wigs
Wigs Can Look Very Natural
Wigs have come a long way over the years. They used to look a lot more obvious than they do now! These days, you can find natural-looking wigs that blend seamlessly into the scalp, even giving the appearance of baby hair. It means people won’t be able to tell it’s not your natural hair.
They Can Be Custom Made
The best wigs are custom-made, which involves the wig maker specifically tailoring the wig to your head. The result is incredibly natural; it will be a wig that works for your face shape, head shape, and complexion. Sometimes, it creates a look that people prefer to their own natural hair, even before they have experienced hair loss!
It Doesn’t Require Surgery
One of the reasons so many people opt for wigs rather than hair restoration surgery is that it’s not invasive. Not everyone likes the idea of getting local anaesthetic and having their follicles grafted from their scalp. In this case, a wig provides an alternative.
They’re Great for Temporary Hair Loss
Not every type of hair loss is permanent, which means they don’t always need a permanent solution like hair transplant surgery. In this situation, a wig works really well, as it needn’t last forever. For example, wigs are often used during cancer treatment as a way to hide the hair loss caused by chemotherapy. [2] Cancer patients can wear these wigs while they go through treatment and during growing their hair. Then, once they are happy with their hair, they can opt to stop wearing a wig.
You Can Try New Hair Colours and Styles
Wigs allow you to quickly and easily try new hair colours and styles without 100% committing to them. You might be interested in what you’d look like as a blonde but don’t want to dye your real hair – you can put on a wig and see how it looks! It gives you more freedom when it comes to style.
The Disadvantages of Wigs
Wigs Require Maintenance
You can’t just put a wig on and never worry about it again. Wigs need to be taken on and off, which means a lot of maintenance. Not only that, but you’ll need to look after the wig as though it was your actual hair to keep it looking good.
They Can Feel Uncomfortable
Unfortunately, some wigs can feel uncomfortable on the scalp, sometimes causing itching. It usually depends on the type of wig you use and whether you put it on effectively. For a wig that doesn’t feel uncomfortable, you’ll need a high-quality one.
Some Wigs Are Poor Quality
As mentioned, not all wigs are the same. A low-quality wig usually won’t look that good, no matter how well you style it. Usually, you’ll need to spend a good amount of money to enjoy a wig that works well for you.
It’s Not Your Own Hair
Some people get put off wigs because they know it’s not their own hair. If you like the idea of having natural locks, a wig might not be the best hair restoration option for you.
Hair Transplant vs Wig: The Takeaway
Comparing the advantages and disadvantages of hair transplants and wigs can help you make a more informed decision about which one is best for you. Looking at both of them, it’s clear that hair transplants make a lot more sense for someone who has experienced permanent hair loss (perhaps due to androgenetic alopecia) and requires a permanent solution that gives them natural results. However, wigs can work for some people, too – especially those who want a temporary fix.
Should You Get a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant might be the solution to your hair loss. If you have male or female pattern baldness, a FUE hair transplant can take healthy follicles from a donor area and transplant them into the balding areas of the scalp. As a result, you will then begin growing hairs from that area. It’s a fantastic solution. If you’re a good candidate for hair transplants and have the funds, it’s something to consider – you might be surprised at how incredible the results can be!
Wig vs Hair Transplant: In Summary
When it comes to picking between a hair wig or hair transplant, it can be tricky. Both have pros and cons. Wigs allow you to experiment with hairstyles more and can look great, but they do require ongoing maintenance. On the other hand, hair transplants are more costly but give you a permanent, natural look, allowing you to grow your own hair and never worry about hair loss going forward.
Are you ready to get a hair transplant or speak to someone about potentially getting one? If so, you’re in the right place. Get in touch with our team or download our excellent hair track app, where you can contact the top surgeons in the hair restoration business. You don’t need to wait any longer to enjoy a full head of natural locks.
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