Common Types of Hair Loss and Matching Products
| Situation (what clients notice) | First choice | Alternative | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Widening part, scalp shows at the front | Small silk base topper | Clip-in bangs if the front is affected | 6x6 to 7x7 cm |
| Thinning on top or at the crown, less volume | Medium topper | Mono topper for more breathability | 8x9 to 10x12 cm |
| Widespread thinning across most of the top | Large topper | Mono top wig, or a topper with bangs | 13x13 cm topper, or wig by cap size |
| Hair loss from chemotherapy, sensitive scalp | Mono top wig with soft lining | Soft caps for days without a wig | Wig by cap size; adjustable cap |
| Alopecia areata (patchy) | Topper or wig, depending on size and spread | Partial piece for a single patch | Topper by patch size, or wig by cap size |
| Total hair loss (alopecia totalis or universalis) | Mono top wig | Vacuum wig for an active lifestyle | Wig by cap size; vacuum made to a head mold |
| Children with hair loss | Children's medical wigs | Soft caps | Child cap sizes |
We describe products and fit here, not medical causes. Clients should get a diagnosis from a doctor or dermatologist, and many clinics work alongside one.
The Three Main Hair Loss Solutions for Women
Hair toppers
A topper is a partial hairpiece that clips into the client's own hair to add coverage and volume on top. The base can be silk (looks like scalp at the part), mono or lace. Toppers suit clients who still have enough hair around the sides and back for the clips to grip.
See Women's Hair Toppers
Hand-tied mono top wigs
A full wig with a hand-tied cap and a monofilament top that looks like scalp at the part. Soft, light and gentle on a sensitive scalp. The usual choice after chemotherapy or for widespread hair loss.
See the Mono Top Medical Wig
Vacuum and silicone base wigs
A custom-fitted wig with a silicone base shaped to the client's head, held by suction and fit rather than clips or bands. Secure for active clients with total hair loss.
See the Vacuum Wig
For a detailed comparison of the first two, read Hair Topper vs Wig.
Base Sizes and Fit
Topper base sizes we make run from 6x6 cm (about 2.4 x 2.4 inches) to 13x13 cm (about 5 x 5 inches), or custom. To choose a size, measure the thinning area front to back and side to side, then add about 1 cm on each side so the clips grip healthy hair. Wig fit is measured by head circumference and front-to-nape length. See Hair Topper Base Sizes Explained and our cap size guide.
What Clinics and Wig Stores Should Stock
| Category | Core stock | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toppers | 6x6, 8x9 and 10x12 cm silk base in your top 6 to 8 colors | Add grey and root-shadow shades for mature clients |
| Mono top wigs | Short and mid-length styles in 6 to 8 colors | Include grey blends |
| Vacuum wigs | Custom per client | Plan around 25–40 days |
| Accessories | Wig grip bands, wig caps and gentle adhesives | See wig caps and grip bands; source soft sleep caps and turbans from a local supplier |
Light, natural densities look best on most mature clients, and we make custom densities for clients who want more volume. Many clients in this market have stopped coloring their hair, so plan grey and silver shades from the start. See grey and silver toppers.
Wholesale Price Ranges
Budgeting a first order is easier with a sense of where each product sits. These are typical factory wholesale ranges in the market as of 2026, per piece, before shipping and duty. They are a market reference, not our price list.
| Product | Typical wholesale range (2026) | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Clip-in bangs, human hair | About US$15 to 40 | Length, fullness, grey blends |
| Silk base topper, human hair | About US$60 to 200 | Base size, length, grey percentage |
| Mono top wig, synthetic | About US$30 to 90 | Cap construction, lining |
| Hand-tied mono top wig, human hair | About US$150 to 450 | Hair grade, length, lace front, fully hand-tied cap |
| Vacuum wig, custom | About US$350 to 900 | Base type, hair length, perforated base |
Retail prices for medical wigs in the US, where many are sold as cranial prostheses, are in Cranial Prosthesis: How Insurance Coverage Works. For our prices on your sizes, colors and lengths, ask for a quote.
Serving Hair Loss Clients Well
Clients with hair loss often arrive feeling vulnerable, so the fitting itself is most of the service: a private room, an unhurried appointment, and fitting samples in the common sizes so they can see and feel each option. Talk about coverage, comfort and how the product looks rather than medical outcomes, and before they leave, show them how to clip, wash and store the piece and book a follow-up.
Two things are specific to medical clients. Chemotherapy hair loss usually starts two to four weeks after the first treatment, so clinics that see clients before treatment can match color and style while their own hair is still there (see Medical Wigs for Chemotherapy Patients). And in the US, many medical wigs are sold as cranial prostheses that some insurance plans cover, so it helps to know the paperwork (see Cranial Prosthesis).
Why Work With a Factory
A retail distributor sells what is on its shelf. A factory can do the two things hair loss clients actually come back for. The first is a replacement that matches: we keep each client's color, base size and density on file and dye the reorder against the same reference, so the second topper blends with the first. The second is grey matching from a sample: send a cut lock of the client's hair and we blend the grey percentage to it rather than picking the nearest stock shade. Toppers start from 3 pieces per color, with base sizes and lengths mixed within a color, and made-to-measure medical wigs from 1 piece. See our custom service and private label.
Sources and review: chemotherapy hair loss timing follows the American Cancer Society; cranial prosthesis coverage is summarized, with its own sources, in our cranial prosthesis article. Product, sizing and price information comes from our own production and the market. This is general information, not medical advice. Information current as of November 2026.
FAQ
Should a clinic stock human hair or synthetic?
Both, for different clients. Human hair toppers blend with the client's own hair and take heat styling, so toppers are almost always human hair. Synthetic mono top wigs keep their style after washing and cost less, which suits many chemotherapy clients who wear a wig for months rather than years.
Can a topper be worn with very thin hair?
Yes, as long as there's enough hair for the clips to grip. For very fine hair, a silk base topper with more clips or a lighter base spreads the hold.
Do you make grey hair toppers and wigs?
Yes. We make grey and silver blends in several percentages, and we can match a client's sample.
Can I order custom sizes and colors?
Yes. Toppers can be made to custom base sizes, colors and densities, and vacuum and children's wigs are made to measure for each client.
Equip Your Fitting Room
A fitting room needs one sample of each topper size and one mono top wig per cap size before it can serve its first client. Order those samples, or get a quote on toppers and medical wigs in your sizes and colors.