In the world of hair replacement systems, you will undoubtedly hear the term hair density quite a bit. So what exactly is hair density? It’s essentially the amount of hair that is ventilated onto the base of a hair system. The more hair there is, the higher the hair density which basically means you’ll have a hairpiece with thicker hair. But with that said, there’s more than you need to know which we’ll explain in this blog post.
The importance of hair density
If you’re getting a hair system, you’ll naturally want to have plenty of hair. After all, you’ve missed having so much hair and will want to get as much as you can on your scalp. That said, it’s important not to go overboard and request more hair than a person your age would normally have. Remember this — the more hair density, the less realistic, the more detectable your hair system will be.
This might not make sense for you at first, but think about it. If a man in his fifties has thicker hair than a young adult, it’ll stand out, right? It’s not only about how natural looking the system is. Too much hair density can result in an uncomfortable wearing experience and make the hairpiece hard to attach, maintain and manage.
All this and the fact that heavier hair densities are usually more expensive, it’s not really really recommended to go for them no matter how tempting it can be to get more hair.
What are the typical hair densities by age or gender?
Everyone is different. A 20-year-old can have thicker hair than an 18-year-old. A man in his forties could have thicker hair than someone in their late twenties. But as a whole, there are some general densities that are appropriate for both men and women in certain age ranges.
Scalp micropigmentation is a cosmetic procedure that can be done to make hair loss less visible. It is a permanent solution for balding, thinning hair, and receding hairlines.
It’s important to remember that men and women losing their hair don’t generally shed the same amount of hair or in the same areas. This is one of the reasons why men’s toupees only cover certain areas of the scalp. This is also why the hair densities differ for both genders.
Before you read the following table, another thing to keep in mind is that every hair system supplier will have different hair density levels.
| Age | Male | Female |
| 20 | 120% | 130% |
| 30 | 110% | 120% |
| 40 | 100% | 120% |
| 50 | 90% | 120% |
| 60 | 80% | 110% |
| 70 | 70% | 110% |
Base materials also matter
It’s important to consider the base material as well. Whether it’s a poly skin, full lace or monofilament system, not every base material can handle each hair density.
Why is this the case? Some materials such as poly skin are fine which means too much hair can shed quickly. Keep the following thresholds in mind:
- Thin skin poly: 100%
- Lace: 120%
- Monofilament: 130%+
Other hair density factors to consider
The following are other facts you should consider when it comes to hair density.
- Your density could vary depending on manufacturing inconsistencies.
- Different hair system suppliers will have differing hair densities. Medium hair density could be different for one supplier compared to another.
- Since human hair systems are handmade, there will also be some slight discrepancy between your orders.
- Some hairstyles require more hair density than others.
- Hair density can appear thinner if there is a high contrast with your hair and skin color. This is why it’s important to match them up as much as possible.
You should now know everything there is to know about hair density and why it’s important in the world of non-surgical hair replacement systems.
