Cosmetic Cover ups, Camouflage

A number of non-prescription products offer "camouflage" for thinning hair. They are applied to the scalp and/or hair to give the appearance of "fullness" to thinning scalp hair. Some are applied directly to the scalp to disguise the appearance of bald scalp under thinning hair. Some are fibers that attach to hair to "bulk up" the appearance of thinning hair. All camouflage products are offered in a variety of colors to match natural hair color. Camouflage agents may be, for some young men, an acceptable short-term solution to improved cosmetic appearance while they wait for hair transplantation.

Hair Systems

A well-designed hairpiece/ hair system can provide
an acceptable appearance for some patients with
thinning hair. However, one hairpiece may not serve
over a period of years if hair loss is progressive.

A hairpiece requires monthly maintenance and
usually must be replaced regularly. The patient and
physician hair restoration specialist can determine
whether a hairpiece is an acceptable short-term
alternative while the patient waits for hair transplantation. 

There are patients for whom a hairpiece and camouflage
agents may be a long-term or even life-time solution to
hair loss. A patient with these characteristics is typically a
very young man with a strong family history of hair loss,
and aggressive male pattern hair loss that began early.
Hair transplantation may never be an option for such a
patient, who will lose so much hair that none is available
for transplantation.