Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life!

The average adult changes careers approximately 7 times during their life. Why do you think that is? People settle on careers every day. Performing the same daily tasks can quickly become monotonous if you aren't interested in what you are doing. So many people, probably yourself at some point, have switched jobs just for a change of pace. 

So, why not do something you love? Start in a broad area, gain experience, and eventually you will be able to zero in on something you are absolutely passionate about.  This is the path that David Hansen chose to take that eventually led to his 50+ year (and counting!) career in Men's Custom Hair Replacement.  

Born the son of an Illinois barber, David lived in the back of a barber shop during the majority of his childhood. From an early age he was exposed to the world of hair design, watching thousands of haircuts being performed. At the age of 12 he began to cut hair for his friends and class mates. This was the foundation of his career. As he learned the tricks of the trade from his father, he eventually decided that hair dressing, rather than traditional barbering, was more his style.

 In 1962, David moved to Chicago.  He took a job at Chicago's famous Continental Barber Salon, where he worked with the best stylists from all over Europe. He studied their techniques, which were new to him and the United States, and became so proficient he quickly became the most popular stylist at the shop. Impressed by his boss' many trophies, he asked for some advice on how to win some of his own. He agreed to show David the ropes of not just styling natural hair, but how to create and style men's hairpieces.  He began to enter and win styling competitions, then hairpiece competitions.  It was then, after over a decade of learning different areas under the broad umbrella of the hair world, that David found his absolute passion. 

 David Hansen opened his first Custom Hair Restoration Salon for Men in 1965. He was so enthusiastic about his craft that he continued participating in Men's Hair Replacement competitions, and teaching other barbers and hairdressers his craft. When he would meet someone with skills unbeknownst to him, he would show not jealousy, but an incredible desire to learn from them. He had a desire to be the very best, not for bragger's rights, but to be able to give men who are suffering a hairpiece that was absolutely realistic and completely undetectable.  

His business grew exponentially over the years. Although success was always a friend to him, he observed that as his business grew, the less of a difference there was between his pieces and the inferior ones of his flashier rivals.  in 1980, he downsized, getting back to a more personal relationship with his customers. He vowed to work on each person that walked through the door himself, and that each piece he created would be even more realistic than the next. 

The love for what he does has kept him in business with a loyal and steady clientele ever since. He holds himself to a higher standard, able to find the balance between functionality and style.  Many of our clients have commented that he knows their hair better than they do. He will work on each piece until it is to the exact specifications it ought to be.  By the time a client walks out the door, there is no indication whatsoever that he is wearing a Hair Replacement System. 

The passion David Hansen has for the work that he does reflects in the quality of each piece he creates. His love for his art has given him over 50 years of experience, and over 50 years as the very best in his field. He is an inspiration for me, and all those that meet him.  

Getting Ready for Your New Hairpiece

If you have decided to invest in a custom hairpiece for the first time, congratulations! Custom pieces are the best way to give you that flawless look. And, as with everything, the better prepared you are to be fitted for your piece, the easier the process. Here are a few steps you can take to ensure a pleasant, productive road to your perfect hair.

1. Let it grow!
When you come in for your first visit, we take a hair sample and draw a map of your hairline.  A perfect hair sample is between 2 and 3 inches long. At this length, we will be able to match 100% human hair to your color and texture. If your hair is too short, you'll have to come back once your hair has reached the right length. Letting your hair grow in advance will allow us to map your hairline clearly and get a good hair sample.

2. Know your options. 
Custom hair pieces are usually attached in one of two ways, bonding and tape. It is VERY important to know the differences between these two methods. While bonding (glue) allows the wearer to keep their hair attached for months at a time, the scalp can become irritated and sticky from nonstop wear. Surgical tape requires the wearer to take the piece off before sleeping and showering. Following the tape method not only extends the life of your piece by years, but is a much healthier option for your scalp. You can read our blog on bonding vs. tape for more information.

3. Keep your head clean. 
A clean, dry scalp will hold tape securely all day, and sometimes for a second day,  depending on how much oil your skin produces. However, excess oil buildup and combined with the natural heat that your head produces will cause bonding glue and surgical tape both to become gummy and messy, with a much weaker hold. Our pieces have the lightest bases that are professionally ventilated. This allows your scalp to breathe and gives you the most comfortable fit. They also blend right in to your scalp, making it impossible to distinguish from your natural hair. Wash your scalp and your natural hair (not your piece!) daily.

4. Keep your hairpiece clean. 
Remove used tape from your piece one it has lost its tackiness. Some people may be able to use the same tape for a second day if their scalp is kept very clean and does not produce much oil. Placing new tape directly over the used tape can cause a sticky buildup that slides around on the scalp. Changing your tape regularly will ensure a secure, comfortable hold each day and will also extend the life of your hair piece.

5. Take it to the cleaners. 
Hair pieces require a gentler brand of care than natural hair. It can dry easily if washed frequently, and can also oxidize (takes on a yellowish hue) if exposed to shampoos with salts, or if frequently exposed to intense sunlight.  Avoid hairspray as well; it contains alcohol that severely dries out the hair. Brushing your piece will remove most dust particles that collect. We recommend that you bring your hair piece back to us every 3 months for a professional shampoo and re-styling. We use sulfate and salt-free shampoos that maintain the integrity of the hair. Regular cleanings will keep your piece in good shape for years to come.

I hope that these tips have helped you better prepare for your new hair piece. Sticking with these simple steps will help you extend the life of your hair piece, giving you a wonderful experience for years to come.

Price, Time, and Financial Arrangements Involved in Hair Replacement Palm Springs

Time Involved

Expect to wait a good 6 to 8 weeks for your hairpiece to be custom-made. Remember, there is a great deal of work to be done in making the base, matching and blending the hair, and sewing the strands into the hair replacement system.
You will be required to make only two or three visits to the salon in order to purchase a hair system: one or two for the interview consultation, design and measurement, and a final visit when the hair replacement is completed and ready to be cut and styled on your head.

The Price

And now for a subject that interests everyone: Just how much does one of these hair systems cost?
The price varies. As states in an earlier chapter, you can buy the cheapest stock hairpiece available or go the full route and order a custom made system. Before making your decision, remember that you are buying something that will become a part of you. It won't be just an ornament or a passing fad. It will be your hair. Only you can decide how much value to place on the hairpiece.
We are talking about a necessity for a man who is particular about his appearance and who desires to retain his youthful appearance. Good quality hair replacement were ounce a luxury--available to only the famous and the elite. Today, quality is within the reach of every man who cares about himself.
Stock hair systems with synthetic hair are naturally the least expensive, averaging around $350.00 for a full system. Although the quality is not as impressive as in a custom made hair replacement system, there is still a great deal of work that goes into its production.
Next in range, the semi-custom piece with a fine welded mono base, will run approximately $1,200.00 for the standard 5 inch by 8 inch size. Of course, if you are only beginning to bald, you can save money by just ordering a custom made partial piece for $850.00.
Finally, for the ultimate in hairpieces, the custom-made piece with European human hair and a fine welded mono base , you will have to pay $1,700.00 for a full piece (5" by 8"). As with any high-quality item, the increased durability and effectiveness makes up for the higher price. This fact is especially true where hair replacement systems are concerned.

Financial Arrangements

Most of the large hairpiece shops will trap you into a contract that seems fordable because it is spread out over a year or two but in reality you pay a lot more for a lower quality hair system. On the other hand, most local hair replacement salons arrangement is to have the customer put down 50% at the time of the order (due to the fact that the article is custom made and cannot be sold to anyone else) and then pay thee balance at the time of delivery.

The Guarantee

a reputable dealer will guarantee his creation.

David Hansen
www.davidhansen.com

Human Hair VS. Synthetic Hair

There are two basic kinds of fibers used in hair replacement today: human hair and synthetic hair.
"Human hair" can be a misleading term. There are several sources, and quality varies greatly. First quality human hair is European, the most natural looking and feeling. It is rarely machine sewn and is most advantageous when hand tied into a custom hairpiece.
While all European hair is of premium quality, that which is secured from convents is considered superior. Its colors are natural and no chemicals have been added. For this reason, while all hair eventually fades, European is the slowest to do so.
In addition, due to its finer texture, European hair will hold its curl and retain a style longer than any other human hair.
Oriental and Asian hair are also classified as human. In fact, an advertisement claiming that human hair is used, often means it is one of the later two. If it is European, it will say that--so do not be fooled.
The Oriental and Asian fibers almost always require bleaching followed by tinting, thus resulting in quicker fading. Much more difficult to blend in with your own hair, their structure and texture very greatly from that of Caucasians. They are sometimes hand tied into a semi-custom piece, but their primary use is in machine-sewn stock pieces manufactured in the Orient.
n option to European or other human hair is a synthetic. Synthetics are used almost solely in machine productions. An exception to this rule, however, is grey hair. If gray is required in your hairpiece, chances are a synthetic hair will be used, even if it is a hand-sewn, custom made creation. Not only is long, grey, human hair scarce, it is also the most fragile and the quickest to oxidize.
As a result, a high-quality synthetic is a better investment when gray is needed.
One of the most impressive sources of grey hair is transformed is quite intriguing to watch. The desired amount of goat hair is boiled and processed until it finally turns into beautiful human-looking strands. It is totally undetectable in a custom-made hairpiece, and achieves a much better appearance than any man-made synthetic hair replacement.
Synthetics, however, are not to be undermined. In machine-made productions their worth is undeniable. Naturally, the best synthetic is a matter of opinion. Some prefer Dynel from Union Carbide, Kanekalon from Japan, Venicelon or Curlon form Italy, or others. While all synthetics have their individual advantages, many of the pros, including David Hansen prefer Elura form Monsanto. In fact, if a client declines the use of goat hair in his hair replacement, David's second recommendation for an impressive grey fiber is white Elura. Elura is heat resistant and can take the styling of a hot comb or blow dryer. It is, also said to
be structured closer to real hair than any other fiber. Perhaps this is why it does not have the "silky" or "buttery" feeling of cheaper synthetics. It feels like and performs like and performs like human hair .
Synthetics are quite advantageous if you are an outdoors man. True, they are not as impressive as human hair, but they are resistant to sunburn and fading caused by the elements. Having a synthetic as a second hairpiece will allow a man the freedom to enjoy the outdoors while his custom-made hairpiece is safe at home, ready for the office and his indoor social life. If he gets the urge to jump into the pool, his synthetic won't tangle like human hair and it drips dry in just minutes.
Another advantage of synthetics? They are more readily available. Growing a head full of long hair can take a few years, whereas synthetics can be mass produced in a matter of minutes.
In spite of the advances made by manufacturers, however, some human hair shades remain too hard to duplicate with synthetic fibers. In addition, unlike synthetics used for women's wigs, men's synthetics do hot hold a style well. A woman's hair style can be baked into her wig before she receives it, but this is not suitable for man's hairpiece. His style is not finalized until the piece is actually on his head and styled together with his existing hair. The biggest disadvantage of synthetic hair, however, is the color appearance in sunlight. Under day light or bright scrutinization you can often observe a somewhat shiny and tricky color change.
If you deal with a reputable hair replacement stylist, you have no reason to doubt the quality of hair being used in your hair system. However, if you wish to test the authenticity of the hair further, a simple match test will tell the difference between human hair and synthetic hair. Simply cut out one small strand of hair from the hairpiece. A flick of your lighter will tell you if the hair is human or synthetic if you look for these characteristics:
1. As the human hair burns it gives off a pungent odor that is very much like that of burning chicken feathers.
2. Synthetic fibers leave very little odor as they burn. If you rub your finger through the burnt ash, you'll be able to feel tiny hard beads, prevalent even if only small amount of synthetic fibers have been blended with the human hair.
Some say that human hair will be on the way out as soon as synthetics can be perfected. Not so! I believe that if, when you speak of "human hair," they are referring to Oriental or Asian hair, than the possibility does exist, because some synthetics (such as Elura), are already superior. If they are speaking of European hair becoming obsolete, however, they couldn't be further from the truth. European is the best that money can buy . It can never be duplicated, because it is the real thing. As long as there are men who care enough about their appearance to order a custom-made hair replacement, European hair will continue to be sold as Number one.
David Hansen
www.davidhansen.com

Sectional Hair Implants

Sectional implanting is a relatively new method whereby human hair is embedded by degrees into a strong, tissue-thin membrane. The membrane is adhered to the scalp before the hair is added.
The advantages of this accidents or burns, but it is not yet widely accepted by the barbering profession as a convenient means of hair replacement for the balding man.
In spite of claims that the membrane is skin-like and thin enough not to cause discomfort, it is, nevertheless, difficult for the scalp to breathe when completely covered by any type of synthetic or plastic. In addition, one has to wonder at the advisability of wearing something that does not allow the scalp to be accessible for easy cleaning.
The most important factor that you'll have to consider in your evaluation of this method is whether or not you would be comfortable with your scalp encased in a synthetic membrane.

David Hansen
www.davidhansen.com