If you’ve been searching for a toupee near you, what you’re probably looking for today is a men’s hair system. They solve the same problem, but they aren’t the same thing.
The word “toupee” usually brings up one picture: a thick hairpiece that sits on top of the head, doesn’t move and doesn’t match the hair around it.
Modern hair systems were built to fix every one of those problems. At Broken Arrow Barbershop in Orem, we fit, color-match and cut men’s hair systems for clients across Utah County, including Provo.
Short answer
A toupee is an older style of hairpiece, usually thick, off-the-shelf and easy to spot. A modern men’s hair system is a thin, custom base with real human hair, color-matched to you, attached securely and cut into your own hair so it blends. Broken Arrow Barbershop, 375 E 800 S, Suite 12, Orem, offers hair systems with a free consultation and color match.
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Why old toupees looked fake
Most of the toupees people picture were heavy, one-size-fits-all pieces. The base was thick, the hair was often synthetic, the density was too high and the hairline was a straight, solid edge.
They were rarely cut into the wearer’s own hair, so the top and the sides never matched. That’s where the reputation comes from.
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What a modern hair system is
A hair system is a thin base, usually fine lace or a skin-like polymer, with real human hair tied or injected into it. It’s attached to the area where you’ve lost hair and cut into your own hair so the two blend.
It’s non-surgical. Nothing is implanted, and it can be removed.
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Side by side
- BaseOld toupee: thick and stiff. Hair system: thin lace or skin, close to the scalp.
- HairOld toupee: often synthetic. Hair system: real human hair.
- Color and densityOld toupee: off the shelf. Hair system: matched to your hair and age.
- HairlineOld toupee: a solid edge. Hair system: soft and irregular, like a real hairline.
- HaircutOld toupee: sits on top. Hair system: cut into your own hair, fades and tapers included.
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The haircut is what makes it work
A hair system that isn’t cut properly can still look like a hairpiece. We cut men’s hair every day, so every system we fit is designed around the finished haircut: the fade or taper on the sides, the texture on top and how you actually style it.
At Broken Arrow, the hair system isn’t the finished product. The finished haircut is.
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Can people tell?
When the base, density, hairline and color are right and the system is cut in, most people can’t. Our clients work out, shower and live normally with it.
See before and after →06
What it costs
The consultation and color match are free. First installation is $1,350, or $1,200 if you agree to be filmed. New systems are $500–$650, and maintenance visits are $175. Your first year can be as low as $5.07 a day.
Hair replacement prices →07
Where to get a hair system near Orem
Broken Arrow Barbershop is at 375 E 800 S, Suite 12, Orem, UT 84097. Clients come from Orem, Provo and across Utah County. Bryton does all of our hair system work, from the free consultation to the final cut.
Book a free consultation →Questions
Is a hair system the same as a toupee?
They solve the same problem, but a modern hair system uses a thinner base, real human hair and a custom color match, and it’s cut into your own hair.
How long does a hair system last?
Usually 2–6 months, depending on the base and how you wear it.
Can I get a fade with a hair system?
Yes. The sides and back are your own hair, so we can fade or taper them like any other haircut.
Do I need a consultation first?
Yes. It’s free and no pressure.