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One would argue that with a hair replacement system, you would have to spend every year for all the hair, services and products—compared to a hair transplant, which you would only have to spend on once. Why, then, would a hair replacement system be the smarter, more cost effective choice for addressing your hair loss?

In this post, you’ll find out why hair replacement systems are more cost effective than a hair transplant, and even other hair loss solutions available today, by taking a look at 

• Why hair replacement is better in terms of cost than a hair transplant
• What’s covered by the cost of a hair replacement system
• What affects hair replacement system cost
• Why hair replacement is more cost effective than wigs
• How to choose a hair replacement system provider according to cost considerations

Hair Replacement Cost vs Hair Transplant Cost

If one were to add up the cost of a hair replacement, their calculations might look something like this:

If the cost of a hair transplant amounts to around that much, wouldn’t it be better to just go for the hair transplant? The answer to that depends on whether you take a short or long-term view of both solutions—whether you are willing to spend $30,000 all at once, in one go, the way you would for a hair transplant, or spread out over 10 years. 

Here are some other things you’ll need to consider at this point for the cost of a hair transplant:

• Hair transplant surgery is not for everyone. Whether you’re a suitable candidate for a hair transplant will depend on your age, the cause of your hair loss, and your personal medical history. This means that even if you want to get a hair transplant, your doctor may not advise you to have one because of risks or complications that could arise specific only to you.

• Hair transplant results are not guaranteed. Have you ever seen photos of a hair transplant procedure?

Looks painful, doesn’t it? And it certainly isn’t pretty. Yet, even if you grin and bear it, you can’t be sure that it’s going to give you the full head of hair you want. There’s a possibility that the results won’t be what you thought they would be—hair might grow, yes, but maybe not as full or luxuriant as you’d hoped.

• Scarred for life. Depending on the kind of hair transplant procedure you undergo, scar formation is pretty much guaranteed even if the results aren’t. Hair transplant patients often have to arrange their hair (or hat, scarf or what have you) in such a way as to hide the scars, particularly while waiting for the transplant hair to grow (yes, hair transplants take no little time to grow—you’ll have to wait months for the hair from a transplant to grow out). 

• You might need to do it—and spend on it, again. As if the first procedure didn’t already cost and arm and a leg, there’s a possibility that that procedure won’t go quite so well as planned or the area to be treated is that large. That means having one or more transplants to repair or augment the results of the first, and these succeeding procedures often end up costing more.

• You’ll still suffer from hair loss later on, anyway. Even if the transplant goes well, the fact remains that hair loss is a natural part of life, even for people who don’t suffer from the kind of hair loss that drives them to consider a transplant. Your transplant may give you a new head of hair, but that hair will still shed just like everyone else’s.

• Hair transplants are not covered by insurance. Since hair transplants are classified under cosmetic procedures—meaning (psychological impact notwithstanding) they are not life-or-death—most if not all insurance companies don’t cover them. This means you could very well be in debt for quite a while after your transplant, which could cost you anywhere from S$4,500 to S$11,500.

• There are also other hair transplant medications you need to spend on. Ever heard of surgery that didn’t require you to take meds? Hair transplants are no different, and depending on the kind of pain management pills and other medications you’ll have to take, you could end up spending up to S$200 on them (for one procedure).

• Hair transplants also come with other fees. Then, of course there are the fees for the initial consultation and the follow-up visits to the hair transplant clinic which could set you back about S$50 to S$100 a visit.

So what exactly are you paying for when you get a hair replacement system?

The cost of a hair replacement system covers more than just the hair—after all, you are paying for a system, not just the hair that goes onto your head. 

On average, hair replacement costs cover some or all of the following:

• The hairpiece, or the replacement hair itself
• Cutting and styling (both your hair and/or the replacement hair)
• Replacements for the replacement hair
• Customisation (e.g. lace, knots, hair type/colour)
• Shipping and storage
• Cleaning and maintenance (both service and cleaning & styling products)

What makes a hair replacement system cost more or less?

Even with an average cost estimate, the exact cost of a hair replacement system varies according to certain factors that can cause it to go up or down. These factors include:

• Hair Type. Because of where and how it’s sourced, remy hair will cost more than natural, non-remy human hair, which in turn could cost more than synthetic hair. 
• Amount of Hair. Longer, thicker replacement hair will cost more if it’s remy, but amount may not affect the cost of synthetic hair as much. This also applies to whether the hair replacement will be covering all or part of the head.
• Studio Type. Just like any salon, hair replacement studios can be high end with superstar stylists, or smaller “startup” types with stylists who may not be celebrities but could be just as skilled.
• Maintenance. How often a hair replacement system is styled, cleaned and replaced can also affect its overall cost. 

Hair Replacement Cost vs Cost of Wigs, Toupees, and the Like

While you might pay out considerably less for a wig, toupee or some other non-permanent, non-surgical hair loss solution in one go, a hair replacement system will eventually turn out to be the more cost effective investment. (Reacquaint yourself with the difference between wigs, toupees, etc. and hair replacement systems, here.) And here’s why:

• Long-term solution. Wigs, toupees and the like weren’t meant to last very long. They aren’t designed or constructed for semi-permanent attachment to a person’s head for months at a time, which means they aren’t as durable. Relying on a wig means buying one every so often, every time it wears out, and what you spend on these repeat purchases adds up over time. 
• Payment schemes. Even if they were meant to be worn for extended periods, hair replacement systems don’t last forever and also need to be replaced, albeit much less often. In anticipation of this need, a good hair replacement system provider offers payment schemes that come out cheaper than making one-time payments with every replacement.
• Professional service. Many people who buy wigs and so on end up wearing them themselves without the benefit of a stylist. Getting a hair replacement system at a reputable studio means not having to pay extra every time for making sure that nobody notices the hair on your head isn’t naturally your own. 

How can I tell whether a hair replacement system provider charges reasonable rates?

Once you’ve settled on getting a hair replacement system as the best investment for addressing your hair loss, it’ll be time for you to choose exactly where to invest your hard-earned hair loss solution budget. 

As you shop around for a hair replacement system provider, find out whether that provider is completely transparent about payment schemes and each scheme’s coverage as well as the quality of what you’re paying for. They should also have a great and verifiable track record of clients who are delighted in terms of value for money.

Red flags you need to watch out for include:

• Fixed, exclusive contracts that oblige you to pay in advance 
• Insistence on keeping your hair replacement system and products with them onsite
• Charging way too low for their products to be of any genuine high quality

Hair replacement system costs that are totally transparent, no strings attached. 

We’ll tell you everything you need to know and answer any questions you care to ask about our pricing. That’s the kind of transparency we advocate at Aremyhair, because we believe in being straightforward about what you get for what you paid. 

Because your hair loss situation is as unique as you are, we’ll only be able to give you the exact cost of your hair replacement system when you come in for a consultation. That’s the only time we can assess and discuss, in person, the hair replacement system that would suit you best. 

Do note that we never, ever, ask first-time visitors to our studio to commit to a one-year package or pre-pay for anything long-term. We’d be happy to welcome you as one of our valued clients only if and when you’d be happy and comfortable about joining us at Aremyhair. 

How about a “first date” to see if we hit it off? Get in touch with us for an exploratory consultation with us at Aremyhair, today.