Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD Have you seen or heard of a man weave? Okay, before you laugh, don’t let the cheesy, tongue-in-cheek term ‘man weave’ turn you off. These amazing hair replacement systems, also known as cranial prostheses, are revolutionizing life for many men. Man weaves, done well, are utterly convincing and natural looking. It’s no wonder the man weave is growing exponentially in popularity.
Alopecia (hair loss) affects millions of women and men. Whether your hair loss is from male pattern baldness, alopecia areata, cancer treatment, or another scalp issue, hair loss can be depressing and totally impact your self esteem. For those with scarring alopecias, like CCCA, hair pieces can be vital to improving self-esteem and image.
Male Hair Loss Treatments
Unfortunately, the list of treatments for thinning or balding men is not long. For male pattern baldness, there are topical treatments like Rogaine. There is also the option of taking a pill, Propecia, which must be prescribed by a doctor. Both of these options can be helpful for some (not all!) men with male pattern hair loss. Surgical options for those with hair loss include hair transplants, which can be costly and are not always the most convincing, if not done by a pro. More recently, doctors have discovered PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections, which are showing promise for regrowing hair for many thinning men (and women).
The Man-Weave Option
But what about the man who isn’t interested in taking a pill, using a medication, or having an expensive surgical procedure performed to restore his hair? What other options are there? Well, until recently, the list of options wasn’t great. There’s the much maligned toupee, which often looks fake and obvious. The man weave has now changed the game! Balding and thinning men now have a natural looking, surgery free, option for regaining their crowning glory.
When we hear the term ‘weave,’ most of us instantly think of women. Wigs and weaves are big business, especially in the African American community. Market research firm Mintel estimates that more than half of black consumers wear a wig, weave or extensions.
While the idea of a man wearing a weave may sound odd to some, the fact is this: Men care about their hair too. Men are interested in looking their best, and for many men, wearing a man weave is a viable and attractive alternative to attain fuller, thicker and more youthful hair.
Man weaves can be fully human hair, or a mix of both human and synthetic hair fibers. They are applied to the scalp using glues (the exact technique is closely guarded—and people shell out a lot of money to learn the technique). Once applied, the hair installation is then expertly cut and styled to naturally blend with the existing hair.
Man weaves can cost between $300 to $2000 for the initial installation, depending on the level of customization. From there, maintenance costs can range from $100 to $200 dollars every 1-3 months. For many men, this is a small price to pay for the amazing boost of confidence and esteem that a good looking head of hair can give.
Wade Menendez has been a trail blazer in the world of cranial prosthesis for men. His story has been recently featured in numerous media outlets, including NPR and the New York Post. Menendez, the owner of W Hair Loft in Glen Burnie, Maryland has been a barber since 2004, and has been doing hair replacement for men for the last few years. Needless to say, his business is blowing up.
Here’s a video from Vice News featuring Mr. Menendez and showing some of the natural as all heck results of his man weaves.
