Hair Systems for Men

What a hair system is

A hair system is a thin base, coloured to match your scalp, with real human hair attached to it. It is bonded to a clean, closely shaved area of the scalp, then cut and styled into your own hair so the join disappears. You will also hear it called a hair replacement unit, a hair unit or non-surgical hair replacement. They are the same thing under different names.

Unlike a transplant, there is no surgery, no recovery period and no waiting months to see a result. You leave the first fitting with a full head of hair. The trade-off is maintenance: a system is worn continuously and needs regular professional visits to stay secure and natural.

Hector's has fitted men's hair systems at 73 Lower Richmond Road, Mortlake SW14 since the salon opened in 2003. Clients come to us from Richmond upon Thames, Barnes, East Sheen, Putney, Kew, Chiswick and across south-west London.

Base types, and why the most natural ones don't last as long

The base is the part nobody sees, and it decides almost everything: how natural the hairline looks, how the system feels in summer and how long it lasts. The rule of thumb across the industry is simple: the thinner and more invisible the base, the shorter its life.

Lace bases are a fine mesh. They breathe best and give the most undetectable hairline, which is why they suit men who wear their hair swept back. French lace typically lasts around two to four months, and the finer Swiss lace around one to two.

Skin bases, also called poly, are a thin transparent film. They look like scalp, hold adhesive very well and are the easiest to clean. The thinnest last around a month; thicker skin bases last three to six.

Mono bases use a stronger woven material and last longest, commonly three to six months, at the cost of a slightly less delicate hairline. Hybrid bases combine a lace front for the hairline with a skin or mono perimeter for durability, and they are where many men settle after their first system.

These are typical ranges, not promises. Real lifespan depends on density, colour, your scalp, how you sleep and train, and how carefully the system is cleaned. We will tell you what to expect from the base we recommend for you.

Tape or adhesive

Systems are attached with specialist tape, liquid adhesive or a combination of the two. Tape is easier to remove, lets the scalp breathe more and typically holds for one to two weeks. Liquid adhesive usually holds for two to five weeks and suits men who want longer between re-bonds.

Whichever is used, give a fresh bond 24 to 48 hours to cure before swimming, a heavy gym session or a very hot shower. We choose the attachment around your routine, not the other way round.

Maintenance every three to six weeks

Maintenance visits are what keep a system looking natural. We remove the system, clean and exfoliate the scalp, clean the base and hair, re-bond it and tidy the cut so the system grows in with your own hair at the sides and back.

Most men settle into a visit every three to six weeks, depending on the base and attachment. Leaving it longer is when problems start: lifting at the hairline, build-up under the base and itching. Booking the next visit before you leave keeps the rhythm easy.

Your first appointment, step by step

It starts with a confidential consultation. We look at your pattern of hair loss and the hair you still have, talk through how you live (work, sport, swimming, how much styling you will realistically do) and are honest about what a system can and cannot look like on you.

Next we match colour, density, curl and length to your own hair, and choose a base and attachment method. Then we source a system matched to you.

On fitting day we prepare and shave the area, bond the system and then cut it into your own hair. That cut-in is what makes it look like it grew there. Before you leave, we show you how to wash and style it at home and book your first maintenance visit.

Afro-textured hair systems

Most hair system providers are set up for straight hair. We are an afro and textured hair specialist salon, and we fit afro-textured hair systems for Black men. Curl pattern, density and base colour are matched properly, and the system is blended into fades, tapers and waves. See our dedicated page on hair systems for Black men.

Already have a system? We can fit it

If you bought a system elsewhere or online and need it fitted, cut in or maintained, we can do that. Bring it to a consultation, we will check it suits your hair, and then we fit and style it. Many men come to us after struggling to find a salon willing to work on a system they already own.

What a hair system costs over a year

A hair system is not a one-off purchase. The cost is made up of the system itself, the first fitting and cut-in, maintenance visits every three to six weeks, and replacement systems as each one reaches the end of its life. Many men rotate two systems so one is always ready.

Your yearly cost depends mostly on the base you choose, because that decides how many systems you get through in a year, and on how often you come in for maintenance. We quote the full picture at consultation so you can compare it honestly with other options.

Hair system, transplant or scalp micropigmentation?

A transplant moves your own follicles surgically and depends on having enough donor hair, and the NHS notes it may not be available through the NHS. Scalp micropigmentation tattoos the look of a closely shaved head. A hair system gives you full length and density immediately, without surgery. We explain the non-surgical side honestly; medical decisions belong with a qualified clinician.

Awards and recognition

Hector's is a certified Great Lengths salon. At the Great Lengths UK Awards we won Creative Innovation Great Lengths Stylist 2018/19, we created the winning hair look for the Great Lengths Consumer Awards 2013, and we were Colour and Bridal Great Lengths extensions finalists in 2017.

We were National Braid/Extensions Stylist of the Year three years running, in 2011, 2012 and 2013, which earned us a place in the Hall of Fame, and Bridal Hair Stylist of the Year in 2013, 2014 and 2015. We are repeat winners of National Colourist of the Year, National Weave and Extensions Stylist of the Year and Regional Stylist of the Year, and were national finalists 30 times between 2003 and 2016.

We hold 5 stars in the Good Salon Guide, are members of the Good Barbers Guide, and received 5 stars in the Phorest customer service awards 2016. The full list, with press coverage, is on our awards page.

Hair system questions

Can people tell? A well-matched system that has been properly cut in isn't noticed in everyday life. What gives a system away is a poor colour match, the wrong density or a skipped maintenance visit.

Can I swim, go to the gym and sleep in it? Yes, once the bond has cured. Chlorine and salt water mean it needs cleaning more often.

Will it make my scalp itch? A clean scalp and regular maintenance prevent most itching. Tell us if you have sensitive skin and we will choose a gentler attachment.

Do I have to tell my partner? That is your decision, and we have a story on how other men handle it. Many find that telling someone close makes daily life easier.

How long does the first appointment take? The consultation comes first. Fitting and cut-in is a longer appointment of its own, and we give you a time for it at consultation.