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By Leonie Helm
Life Reporter
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The word 'toupee' usually conjures up images of ill-fitting hair pieces in badly matched tones, sitting atop the heads of men who have sadly lost their hair.
Despite lingering stigma, the toupee is having a resurgence in popularity, not just for the older generations, but for the young as well.
"There is so much shame experienced by men in the hair and beauty industry," toupee artist Emily Cheney, from Bountiful, Utah, told Newsweek.
Read More on Beauty and Fashion
"I don't understand the shame," the 23-year-old added, "and I'm excited that I am a part of changing that. I love the difference in confidence I see in the men that I work with, in what should be a normal and fun process."
In a video posted to Cheney's Instagram account @toupeequeen, she can be seen fitting a toupee to 24-year-old Carson Bell, whose wife found Cheney on TikTok. The results are incredible.
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"I started to lose my hair when I was 18," Bell told Newsweek. "I felt really self-conscious, and everywhere I went, I constantly worried about what people thought of the way I looked."
By the age of 20, roughly 20 percent of men have at least some visible hair loss, according to the Bosley Hair Transplant clinic. As a person's 20s are usually full of college, first jobs, and new relationships, hair loss can have a devastating effect on self-esteem and social life. Not everyone is the correct candidate for a toupee, though, according to Cheney.
"We assess everyone who comes in on a client-by-client basis," said Cheney. "We look at their current hair growth and balding pattern. Once we have confirmed they're a good candidate, we shave off the top of their hair and assess the hairline, and cut the toupee down to the correct size."
The toupees are made out of real human hair, and Cheney attaches them to the head using a medical-grade adhesive, cutting and blending the real hair and toupee together to get as natural-looking results as possible.
While Cheney mostly works with men, the service is also available to women, and longer toupees are available.
"Longevity depends on the base type of hair, as well as the hair-attachment style and density," said Cheney. "But the toupees can last from anywhere between four weeks to a year, and you can work out, swim, shower, sweat as much as you like."
Despite admitting reservations about getting a toupee, Bell was thrilled with the results.
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"I gained a lot of confidence almost immediately," Bell said, "and I started looking at myself in a whole new way. My friends and family were all really supportive, and they were all so shocked at how good it looked, and how closely it resembled my old hair."
Toupees like Bell's cost around $1,000, according to Cheney, but this can vary between companies and states. While most clients are thrilled with the immediate results, "for some others, it can take several weeks to get used to it, and alterations might be necessary," said Cheney.
To anyone nervous about trying a toupee, Bell would say: "Don't knock it until you try it. It's no different to getting hair extensions."
Cheney's Top Three Tips For Maintaining a Toupee
Users on Instagram loved the video. "He looks sooooooo good!!! Well done that's the hair this man deserved. He looks 10 yrs younger too," wrote one.
"I think this should be normalized. He looks great! Women all the time get fake nails, hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, etc. Men should feel safe wanting to get things done as well if it helps them feel more confident," commented another user.
Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work, and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.
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